Is Kilo Code really free to use?

Yes. Kilo Code offers a free tier that requires no credit card to get started. Free tier users are routed to the best available free and experimental models. Paid tiers unlock Balanced, Efficient, and Frontier model routing at cost with zero markup on AI inference. You can also bring your own API keys from providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, or others.

How does Kilo Code differ from Cursor or GitHub Copilot?

Kilo Code is fully open source under the MIT license, which means you can inspect every prompt and context decision — something neither Cursor nor GitHub Copilot offer. It also provides zero-markup model access across 500+ models, supports bring-your-own-keys, and runs across VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, and cloud environments from a single unified agent. Cursor and Copilot are closed-source and primarily tied to their own billing and model selection.

Does Kilo Code support MCP (Model Context Protocol)?

Yes, Kilo Code supports MCP, allowing the agent to connect to external tools and data sources through a standardized protocol. This extends the agent's capabilities beyond the codebase to interact with APIs, databases, and other developer tooling as part of its agentic workflows.

Kilo Code

Open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI.

Kilo Code

kilocode.ai

Kilo Code is a fully open-source AI coding agent supporting 500+ models at zero markup. It runs across VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, and cloud environments with multiple specialized modes — Code, Architect, Debug — making it ideal for developers who want transparency, flexibility, and cost control.

What Is Kilo Code?

Kilo Code is an open-source AI coding agent built for developers who want power and transparency without vendor lock-in. Ranked #1 Open Source Product of the Month and used by developers at Meta, Amazon, Airbnb, and PayPal, Kilo provides a single agent that works across VS Code, JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm), the command line, cloud environments, and Slack. With over 3 million users and 40 trillion tokens processed, it has quickly become one of the most adopted open-source coding agents available.

Key Features and Agent Modes

Kilo Code ships with several specialized modes to match different engineering tasks. Code Mode handles writing, refactoring, and shipping production-ready code with full codebase awareness. Architect Mode helps plan complex features before writing a single line. Debug Mode traces errors and suggests targeted fixes. Ask Mode answers questions about your codebase. Auto Mode uses intelligent routing to select the right strategy based on your budget and the complexity of the work. Each mode is available within the same agent, so there is no need to switch tools mid-workflow.

Pricing and Model Access

One of Kilo Code's defining characteristics is its pricing model. Unlike many AI coding tools that mark up inference costs, Kilo routes requests through its Gateway at cost — zero markup. Developers can choose from four routing tiers: Free (best available free and experimental models), Efficient (session-aware routing for smarter spend), Balanced (cost-effective paid models for everyday work), and Frontier (latest and most capable paid models). You can also bring your own API keys or run local models entirely. There is a free tier that requires no credit card to get started.

Open Source and Transparency

Kilo Code is MIT-licensed and fully auditable. Every prompt, context window decision, and model routing choice can be inspected. There is no silent model switching. Developers can fork the repository, modify behavior, or self-host the entire stack. This level of transparency is rare among AI coding tools and makes Kilo particularly appealing to security-conscious teams and enterprises that need to audit AI interactions in their development workflows.

Platform and Ecosystem Coverage

Kilo runs wherever developers work. The VS Code extension is available on both the VS Code Marketplace and Open VSX. JetBrains support covers IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, and WebStorm through a native Kotlin plugin built for split mode — keeping the UI local while indexing and execution run remotely. The CLI enables terminal-first workflows, while Cloud Agents allow remote, parallel execution with isolated worktrees. A Slack integration and dedicated Code Reviewer agent round out the ecosystem, enabling code review workflows without leaving familiar tools.

Best for

·Developers who want full transparency and control over their AI coding agent
·Teams needing a single agent that works across multiple IDEs and cloud environments
·Cost-conscious engineers who want access to frontier models without markup

Key features

·500+ models with zero inference markup and bring-your-own-keys support
·Multiple agent modes: Code, Architect, Debug, Ask, and Auto
·Auto Model routing selects the right model based on task and budget
·Works across VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, CLI, cloud agents, and Slack
·Full prompt and context window transparency via MIT-licensed open source
·Cloud agents and code review workflows without switching tools

Pros

Truly open source (MIT license) with full prompt and context visibility — no black boxes
Zero markup on AI inference with support for 500+ models and bring-your-own-keys
Unified agent experience across VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, and cloud with seamless handoff

Cons

Newer platform compared to incumbents like Cursor, so some enterprise integrations are still maturing
Auto Model routing adds abstraction that may confuse developers who want direct model control
Cloud agent and Slack features are newer and may lack the polish of core IDE functionality

Comparisons featuring Kilo Code

Kilo Code vs Cline

FAQ

Is Kilo Code really free to use?: Yes. Kilo Code offers a free tier that requires no credit card to get started. Free tier users are routed to the best available free and experimental models. Paid tiers unlock Balanced, Efficient, and Frontier model routing at cost with zero markup on AI inference. You can also bring your own API keys from providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, or others.
How does Kilo Code differ from Cursor or GitHub Copilot?: Kilo Code is fully open source under the MIT license, which means you can inspect every prompt and context decision — something neither Cursor nor GitHub Copilot offer. It also provides zero-markup model access across 500+ models, supports bring-your-own-keys, and runs across VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, and cloud environments from a single unified agent. Cursor and Copilot are closed-source and primarily tied to their own billing and model selection.
Does Kilo Code support MCP (Model Context Protocol)?: Yes, Kilo Code supports MCP, allowing the agent to connect to external tools and data sources through a standardized protocol. This extends the agent's capabilities beyond the codebase to interact with APIs, databases, and other developer tooling as part of its agentic workflows.

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