Free (BYOK)
$0
Forever
- Open-source extension for VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI
- $20 in starter credits
- Bring your own API key
- All core agent + autocomplete features
Kilo Code — Coding Agents Platform
Founded 2024|San Francisco, California|1-10 people|Free + paid credits (BYOK, zero markup)
What is Kilo Code?
Kilo Code is an open-source AI coding agent that runs as an extension in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and as a standalone CLI. It was forked from Cline and Roo Code in 2024 and now serves 1.5M+ developers, ranking as the most-used open-source coding agent extension.
Kilo's standout feature is Orchestrator mode, which decomposes complex tasks into subtasks and routes them to specialist sub-agents — Architect for planning, Coder for implementation, and Debugger for testing and fixes. It also provides inline autocomplete, browser automation, automated refactoring, and connects to 500+ models across 60+ providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Mistral, local Ollama, OpenRouter).
Pricing is BYO API key with zero markup — Kilo charges the exact list price of Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. Optional Kilo Pass credit subscriptions start at $19/mo, with Teams at $15/user/mo. Co-founded by GitLab co-founder Sid Sijbrandij; raised $8M in seed funding (December 2025) led by Cota Capital with participation from General Catalyst, Breakers, Quiet Capital, and Tokyo Black.
Key features
Core capabilities this platform advertises.
- Orchestrator mode routes complex tasks to specialist sub-agents (Architect / Coder / Debugger)
- 500+ models across 60+ providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Mistral, Ollama, OpenRouter)
- Runs in VS Code, JetBrains, and as a standalone CLI
- Inline autocomplete, browser automation, and automated refactoring
- Open-source (forked from Cline + Roo Code) with 1.5M+ active users
Strengths and tradeoffs
What this tool does well, and the limitations to keep in mind.
Pros
- Most-used open-source coding agent (1.5M+ users, #1 on OpenRouter)
- Zero markup — pays Anthropic/OpenAI/Google list price
- Orchestrator routes complex work to specialist sub-agents
- 500+ models across 60+ providers, including local
- BYOK credits never expire
Cons
- Newer than incumbents like GitHub Copilot — fewer enterprise references
- Quality is bounded by your chosen model and prompt
- Community support rather than dedicated enterprise SLAs
- Orchestrator workflows have a learning curve to configure
Plans & pricing
What's included in each plan, and how the tiers compare.
Kilo Pass — Starter
$19
Month
- Up to ~$26.60/mo in model credits
- Annual billing gives 50% bonus credits
Kilo Pass — Pro
$49
Month
- Up to ~$68.60/mo in model credits
- Best for daily heavy users
Kilo Pass — Expert
$199
Month
- Up to ~$278.60/mo in model credits
- Power user / agent-heavy workflows
Teams
$15
User/month
- Usage analytics + AI adoption score
- Shared agent modes and BYOK
- Centralized billing, team management
- Data privacy controls + priority support
Enterprise
Contact sales
Contact sales for a quote
- Limit allowed models / providers
- Shared private gateway BYOK
- Audit logs, SSO, OIDC, SCIM
- SLA commitments + dedicated support
Common use cases
Developers and teams who want an open-source coding agent in their existing IDE, with full model freedom and no API markup
- Orchestrated multi-step refactors across an existing codebase
- Cost-conscious AI coding via BYOK with zero provider markup
- Multi-IDE team standardization across VS Code and JetBrains
- Local-first private coding workflows with Ollama
- Architectural planning and automated debugging from a single agent
Using Kilo Code with Respan
Integrate Kilo's open-source coding agent with Respan to add AI-powered code assistance to development workflows. Leverage Kilo's no-markup credit system alongside Respan's orchestration for cost-effective AI coding at scale.
- Access 1.5M+ coder community and 25T+ token experience
- No markup fees—use credits at provider standard rates
- Credits never expire with 1:1 conversion
- Open-source transparency and flexibility
Best Kilo Code alternatives & competitors
Top companies in Coding Agents you can use instead of Kilo Code.
Claude Code
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Open Code
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Sweep
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Syntropy
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Approxima
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Compare Kilo Code
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Last verified: April 29, 2026