Roo Code vs Claude Code in 2026: VS Code Extension vs Terminal Agent Compared

Roo Code is a model-agnostic VS Code extension with custom AI modes. Claude Code is a terminal-native agent with Agent Teams. Different paradigms for different workflows.

February 27, 2026 · 1 min read

Summary

Quick Decision (Feb 2026)

  • Choose Roo Code if: You want model flexibility, custom AI personas, and prefer working inside VS Code with a visual sidebar
  • Choose Claude Code if: You want Agent Teams for multi-agent orchestration, 1M token context, and prefer terminal-based workflows
  • Key tradeoff: Roo Code = customization and model choice. Claude Code = orchestration depth and code quality.
1.2M
Roo Code VS Code installs
80.8%
Claude Opus 4.6 SWE-bench
22K+
Roo Code GitHub stars

Architecture: IDE Extension vs Terminal Agent

The fundamental difference is where these tools live. Roo Code is a VS Code extension that works in your sidebar. Claude Code is a terminal application you invoke from the command line. This shapes everything about how you interact with each tool.

Roo Code: VS Code Sidebar

Lives in your VS Code sidebar. Visual interface with mode switching, file previews, and diff views. Feels like a collaborator sitting next to you in the editor. Model-agnostic: connect any LLM via API key.

Claude Code: Terminal-Native

Runs from your terminal with full shell access. Works alongside any IDE, not inside one. Agent Teams spawn sub-agents in parallel git worktrees. Locked to Claude models but gets exclusive features like compaction and 1M context.

AspectRoo CodeClaude Code
InterfaceVS Code sidebar panelTerminal CLI + VS Code extension
Runs whereInside VS CodeTerminal (any IDE alongside)
Model lock-inNone (BYOK, any model)Claude only (Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.6)
Multi-agentCustom modes (specialized personas)Agent Teams (coordinated sub-agents)
Open sourceYes (Apache-2.0)Yes (CLI open source)
File editingDirect in-editor with diffsTerminal-based with approval
Context windowModel-dependent1M tokens (beta)

Feature Comparison

FeatureRoo CodeClaude Code
Custom AI personasYes: Code, Architect, Ask, Debug + custom modesNo (single agent, configurable via CLAUDE.md)
Mode marketplaceYes: browse and install community modesNo
Agent TeamsNoYes: coordinated sub-agents with task deps
CompactionNoYes: automatic context summarization
Terminal commandsYes (with approval)Yes (native terminal)
File editingMulti-file with inline diffsMulti-file with approval
MCP supportYes (marketplace)Yes (built-in)
Git integrationYesYes (commits, worktrees)
Hooks systemNoYes (pre/post command hooks)
Agent SDKNoYes (programmatic agent control)
Cloud tasksYes (Roo Cloud, $5/hr)No (runs locally)
SOC 2 complianceYes (enterprise)Anthropic enterprise plans

Custom Modes vs Agent Teams: Two Approaches to Multi-Agent

Both tools support multi-agent-like workflows, but the approach is fundamentally different. Roo Code gives you specialized personas. Claude Code gives you coordinated teams.

Roo Code: Custom Modes

Define specialized AI personas with scoped permissions. A security reviewer mode only reads files. A test writer mode only modifies test directories. An architect mode plans without executing. Switch between modes manually. Each mode has its own system prompt and tool restrictions.

Claude Code: Agent Teams

Spawn multiple sub-agents that work simultaneously in parallel git worktrees. A lead agent coordinates, assigns tasks, and synthesizes results. Teammates communicate via direct messaging. Shared task lists track dependencies. Each agent gets a dedicated context window.

Roo Code Custom Mode Definition

// .roo/modes/security-reviewer.json
{
  "name": "Security Reviewer",
  "description": "Reviews code for security vulnerabilities",
  "systemPrompt": "You are a security expert. Review code for...",
  "allowedTools": ["read_file", "search_files", "list_files"],
  // Cannot write files or run commands - read-only mode
  "blockedTools": ["write_to_file", "execute_command"]
}

Claude Code Agent Teams in Action

# Terminal: Claude Code spawns a team
$ claude "Refactor the auth system and add tests"

# Lead agent creates task list:
# Task 1: Research current auth patterns (researcher agent)
# Task 2: Implement new auth flow (blocked on Task 1)
# Task 3: Write integration tests (parallel with Task 2)

# Each agent works in its own git worktree
# Agents message each other: "research done, found 3 patterns"
# Lead synthesizes all work into final PR

Which Approach Is Better?

Custom modes are better for solo developers who want to switch between AI specializations quickly. You are always in control, manually switching between modes as needed.

Agent Teams are better for complex, multi-step tasks where subtasks have dependencies and need coordination. The agents work autonomously in parallel, which is faster for large refactors but uses more tokens.

Model Support and Flexibility

This is where the tools diverge most sharply. Roo Code is model-agnostic. Claude Code is Claude-only.

ModelRoo CodeClaude Code
Claude Opus 4.6Yes (via API key)Yes (native, optimized)
Claude Sonnet 4.6Yes (via API key)Yes (native, optimized)
GPT-4o / GPT-5.3YesNo
Gemini 2.5 ProYesNo
DeepSeek R1YesNo
Local models (Ollama)YesNo
OpenRouterYesNo
Different model per modeYes (per custom mode)N/A

The Model Lock-In Tradeoff

Roo Code's model flexibility is its biggest advantage over Claude Code. You can use GPT-5.3 for one task and Claude Opus for another, or run a local model for privacy-sensitive code. Claude Code only works with Claude models, but it gets exclusive features (Agent Teams, compaction, 1M context) that no BYOK tool can replicate. You are trading flexibility for depth.

Pricing Comparison

TierRoo CodeClaude Code
Free tierExtension free (BYOK)Included with Claude Pro ($20/mo)
Pro/individual$20/mo (Roo Cloud features)$20/mo (Claude Pro)
Mid-tierN/A$100/mo (Claude Max 5x)
High-tierN/A$200/mo (Claude Max 20x)
Cloud tasks$5/hourN/A (runs locally)
Model costsDirect from provider (BYOK)Included in subscription
EnterpriseCustom (SOC 2, SSO)Anthropic enterprise plans

Real Cost Comparison

The cost comparison is nuanced. Roo Code's extension is free, but you pay API costs directly to model providers. A heavy day of coding with Claude Opus via Roo Code can cost $20-50 in API calls. Claude Code's Pro plan ($20/mo) includes usage up to a limit, then charges overflow at API rates.

For light-to-moderate use, Claude Pro is cheaper because the subscription covers most usage. For heavy use with cheaper models (Sonnet, GPT-4o, local), Roo Code's BYOK approach can be more cost-effective.

Performance on Large Codebases

Both tools handle multi-file editing, but they approach large codebases differently.

Roo Code: VS Code Integration

Lives inside VS Code, so it benefits from VS Code's language servers, file tree, and search. Feels more interactive for navigating code. Performance can degrade with very large files due to VS Code extension memory constraints.

Claude Code: Terminal Power

Terminal-based, so it can handle any file size without IDE overhead. 1M token context window (beta) fits more code in a single session. Agent Teams distribute work across worktrees, avoiding context pollution. Compaction prevents context overflow on long sessions.

For enterprise codebases with hundreds of thousands of lines, Claude Code's 1M token context and Agent Teams give it a structural advantage. For typical projects under 50K lines, both tools work well.

Decision Framework

Your PriorityBest ChoiceWhy
Model flexibility (GPT, Gemini, local)Roo CodeBYOK with 20+ providers, any model per mode
Best Claude experienceClaude CodeNative integration, Agent Teams, compaction, 1M context
Custom AI personasRoo CodeCustom modes with scoped permissions + marketplace
Multi-agent orchestrationClaude CodeAgent Teams with task deps and inter-agent messaging
VS Code-native experienceRoo CodeSidebar panel with inline diffs and file previews
Terminal-first workflowClaude CodeNative CLI, works alongside any IDE
Privacy / local modelsRoo CodeOllama, LM Studio, any local model
Highest code qualityClaude Code80.8% SWE-bench Verified (Opus 4.6)
Lowest cost for heavy useRoo CodeBYOK with cheaper models (Sonnet, GPT-4o mini)
Enterprise complianceEitherBoth offer SOC 2 and enterprise plans

The Bottom Line

Roo Code and Claude Code serve different developer preferences. Roo Code is for developers who want choice: choose your model, choose your persona, choose your workflow, all inside VS Code. Claude Code is for developers who want depth: the deepest Claude integration, the most powerful multi-agent system, and terminal-native performance. If you use Claude models anyway, Claude Code gives you exclusive features you cannot get through Roo Code. If you want model flexibility or prefer VS Code's visual interface, Roo Code is the better fit.

For related comparisons, see Roo Code vs Cline, Cline vs Claude Code, and our full list of GitHub Copilot alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Roo Code or Claude Code better for coding in 2026?

It depends on your workflow. Roo Code is better if you want model flexibility, custom AI personas, and a VS Code-native experience. Claude Code is better if you want Agent Teams for multi-agent orchestration, 1M token context, and prefer terminal workflows. Roo Code wins on customization; Claude Code wins on orchestration depth.

Is Roo Code a fork of Cline?

Yes. Roo Code forked from Cline to move faster on features like custom modes, a mode marketplace, Roo Cloud team features, and SOC 2 compliance. It has since diverged with 22K+ GitHub stars and 1.2M VS Code installs.

Can Roo Code use Claude models?

Yes. Roo Code is model-agnostic. You can connect Claude via your API key. But you will not get Claude Code's exclusive features like Agent Teams, compaction, or the 1M token context window. Those require Anthropic's Claude Code product.

What are Roo Code custom modes?

Custom Modes define specialized AI personas with scoped tool permissions. A security reviewer mode can only read files. A test writer mode can only modify test directories. An architect mode plans without executing. The Mode Gallery lets teams share pretested configurations.

What are Claude Code Agent Teams?

Agent Teams spawn multiple sub-agents that work in parallel git worktrees. A lead agent coordinates, assigns tasks, and synthesizes results. Teammates communicate via messaging and share a task list with dependency tracking. Each agent gets a dedicated context window. This is a research preview feature.

Better Code Search for Roo Code and Claude Code

WarpGrep is an agentic code search tool that works as an MCP server inside both Roo Code and Claude Code. Better search means better context means better code, regardless of which tool you prefer.

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