Cline and Roo Code are the two open-source AI coding agents most people mean when they say "MCP in VS Code" — and Roo Code began life as a fork of Cline, so they share DNA. Both run MCP servers first-class; the differences are in defaults, configuration surface and how much they let you tune. If you're choosing between them for an MCP-heavy workflow, here's the split.
Same roots, different defaults
Because Roo Code forked from Cline, the core experience rhymes: an agent in the sidebar, tool calls mid-task, stdio and remote MCP servers both supported. Where they diverge is philosophy. Cline leans toward a curated, guided experience with its built-in MCP marketplace; Roo Code leans toward configurability — more modes, more knobs, and per-project control that appeals to people who want to tune the agent's behaviour.
Configuring MCP in Cline
Cline manages servers through its MCP Servers view and a cline_mcp_settings.json file, plus a one-click marketplace for discovery. It's the smoother on-ramp: add a server, Cline validates and reloads it, and you rarely touch raw JSON. See the full walkthrough in the Cline MCP setup guide.
Configuring MCP in Roo Code
Roo Code exposes two clear levels. Global servers live in an mcp_settings.json reachable from VS Code settings and apply across every workspace; project servers live in a .roo/mcp.json at the repo root, which you commit so a whole team shares the same tools. After you add a server, Roo auto-detects its tools and resources. That project/global split is Roo's standout feature for team setups.
Which to pick
If you want the fastest path to a working agent with a marketplace to browse, Cline is the gentler choice. If you want version-controlled, per-project MCP config and finer control over agent modes, Roo Code's structure pays off — especially on a team where everyone should get identical tools from a checked-in file. Neither is wrong; they're tuned for different appetites for configuration.
Going further
Either way, the servers you'll want are the same — start with best MCP servers for developers and best MCP servers for Cursor. For the broader field of editors, read Claude Desktop vs Cursor vs Windsurf and the VS Code MCP setup guide. Keep third-party servers vetted with MCP security best practices.