Kilo Code
Open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal with access to hundreds of models.
About
Descended from the Roo Code and Cline lineage, Kilo Code combines features of both into an MIT-licensed coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains extension, and a standalone CLI, with the extensions rebuilt on top of the CLI for speed. It plans, writes, and fixes code through distinct modes such as architect, coder, and debugger, supports subagent delegation for parallel work, and speaks MCP for external tool access. Models come either through your own API keys, including local servers, or through the optional Kilo gateway, which exposes more than 500 models behind a single account; the company also sells KiloClaw, hosted infrastructure for running agents remotely, making the overall offering freemium while the client code stays open. The repository has grown past 26,000 GitHub stars with hundreds of thousands of extension installs. Teams pick it when they want an actively developed, open alternative to proprietary coding agents that works across editors and keeps the agent logic auditable.
Should you use Kilo Code?
Pick it when
Pick Kilo Code when you want an actively developed open agent that works the same in VS Code, JetBrains, and a CLI, with architect, coder, and debugger modes, and the option of one account for 500-plus models instead of juggling keys.
Look elsewhere when
Skip it if you would rather run the original project: Cline is the upstream lineage, with a parallel task board in git worktrees and headless CI runs. If you want to stay out of the editor entirely, Aider or OpenCode work from the terminal.
Alternatives to Kilo Code
- Cline
The Apache-2.0 project Kilo descends from, with headless CI runs and a parallel task board in git worktrees; pick it for the original rather than a merged fork.
- Roo Code
The other parent project with similar modes, but archived since May 2026, so Kilo Code is a maintained place where those ideas continue.
- Cursor
Polished proprietary editor with Tab completion and cloud background agents, but paid beyond a limited free tier and not auditable like Kilo's MIT client.
- OpenCode
Terminal-only MIT agent with LSP and many providers plus a paid Zen endpoint similar to Kilo's gateway, if you do not need editor extensions.
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Details
- Category
- AI Code Assistants
- Price
- Freemium
- Platform
- Hybrid
- Difficulty
- Easy (2/5)
- License
- MIT
- Added
- Jul 29, 2026