Kilo Code Review 2026: Open-Source AI Coding Agent with 500+ Models

The AI coding agent space got crowded fast. After Cline proved that autonomous agents inside VS Code could actually work, forks and competitors started popping up everywhere. Kilo Code is one of the more ambitious entries — an open-source agent that forked both Cline and Roo Code, raised $8 million in seed funding, and now claims over 1.5 million users.

But does it actually deliver something the originals don't? We spent time with the extension, the CLI, and the pricing model to find out.

For the directory entry, start here:

• Kilo Code on Vibe Coding

If you're comparing options:

• Cline on Vibe Coding — the original autonomous agent it forked from

What is Kilo Code?

Kilo Code is an open-source AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and as a standalone CLI tool. It takes natural language instructions and executes multi-step development tasks — creating files, editing code, running terminal commands, and testing in a browser.

What separates it from the tools it forked is scope. While Cline focuses on being a solid VS Code agent and Roo Code adds custom modes, Kilo Code is trying to be an all-in-one agentic engineering platform. That means orchestration, cloud execution, code review automation, voice commands, and cross-platform sessions all under one roof.

The open-source codebase is licensed under Apache-2.0, so you can inspect every line. The CLI uses an MIT license.

Core Features

Orchestrator Mode

This is Kilo Code's headline feature. Instead of running a single agent that does everything sequentially, Orchestrator mode breaks a complex task into subtasks and routes each one to the right specialist mode — architect for planning, coder for implementation, debugger for fixing issues.

In practice, you give a high-level instruction like "refactor the authentication module to use JWT and add refresh token support." The orchestrator creates a plan, delegates file changes to the code agent, routes testing to the debug agent, and coordinates the results. It's agent-on-agent coordination, and when it works, it handles tasks that would trip up a single-pass agent.

500+ AI Models with Zero Markup

Kilo Code connects to over 500 AI models through OpenRouter and direct provider integrations. Claude 4.5 Sonnet, GPT-5, Gemini 3 Pro — they're all available at exact provider rates. No markup, no per-token commission. A dollar of Kilo credits equals a dollar of model costs.

You can also bring your own API keys from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or any compatible provider. Or run local models if you prefer to keep everything on-device.

This is a meaningful differentiator. Several competing tools add margins on top of API costs or bundle model access into expensive subscriptions.

Memory Bank

AI agents have a context problem — they forget everything between sessions. Kilo Code's Memory Bank addresses this by storing architectural decisions, project conventions, and codebase context in structured Markdown files within your repository.

When you start a new session, the agent reads these files to rebuild its understanding. It's not perfect (large projects can still overwhelm context windows), but it noticeably reduces the "explain the project from scratch" problem.

Agent Modes

Beyond the orchestrator, Kilo Code ships with several specialist modes:

• Code mode: Generate, complete, and transform code
• Architect mode: System design, planning, and high-level technical decisions
• Debug mode: Diagnose bugs and propose fixes
• Ask mode: Get explanations without modifying files
• Custom modes: Build your own for security audits, performance reviews, or domain-specific tasks

Each mode constrains the agent's behaviour so it stays focused. The debug agent won't start rewriting your architecture, and the architect won't start editing files.

Cross-Platform Support

Unlike Cline (VS Code only), Kilo Code works across:

• VS Code and VS Code-based editors
• JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm, etc.)
• CLI for terminal-based workflows
• Slack integration for triggering agents from chat

The CLI launched as Kilo CLI 1.0 with full support for the same 500+ models. You can start a task on your phone via Slack, pick it up in VS Code, and finish it in the terminal.

Additional Capabilities

• Voice commands: Speak instructions to the agent instead of typing
• Cloud agents: Offload agent execution to the cloud so your local machine stays free
• Automated code review: Agents analyse pull requests and provide feedback before merging
• MCP Server Marketplace: Browse and install Model Context Protocol servers to extend what the agent can do
• Inline autocomplete: Standard AI-powered code completions alongside the agentic features

Pricing, Plans, and Hidden Costs

Free tier

The extension and CLI are free to install and use. If you bring your own API key (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.), you pay the provider directly and Kilo charges nothing extra. New users also get $20 in free credits to try out models without setting up API keys.

Kilo Pass (Optional Subscription)

Kilo Pass is an optional credit subscription — not a software license. You're buying AI model credits at a slight discount:

• $19/month: Base credit allocation plus bonus credits
• $49/month: More credits and higher bonus
• $199/month: Heavy-usage tier with the largest bonus allocation

Credits never expire. Monthly bonus credits expire at month-end. The key selling point is convenience — one balance instead of managing multiple provider accounts.

Realistic monthly costs

Based on typical usage patterns:

• Light usage (a few agent tasks per day): $10–20/month
• Moderate usage (daily development): $30–60/month
• Heavy usage (multi-hour sessions): $80–200+/month

Hidden costs and gotchas

Orchestrator mode uses more tokens than single-agent mode because it runs multiple agents. A task that costs $0.50 with a direct agent might cost $1.50+ through the orchestrator. The productivity gains can justify this, but keep an eye on your balance when using complex workflows.

Pros and Cons

What we like

• Model flexibility: 500+ models with zero markup means you can experiment freely
• Orchestrator mode: Genuinely useful for complex, multi-step tasks
• Cross-platform: VS Code + JetBrains + CLI covers most developers
• Open source: Apache-2.0 license means full transparency
• Memory Bank: Reduces context loss between sessions
• Free to start: $20 in starter credits and BYO API key option

What could be better

• Feature sprawl: Voice commands, cloud agents, Slack bots, one-click deploy — it's a lot for a tool that's still relatively new
• Orchestrator token costs: Multi-agent coordination burns through credits faster than expected
• Some features feel early-stage: Cloud agents and one-click deployment are still maturing
• Fork complexity: Built on top of Cline and Roo Code, which means inherited technical debt alongside inherited features
• Community is still building: Smaller ecosystem of custom modes and MCP servers compared to Cline's established community

How Kilo Code Compares

Kilo Code vs Cline

Kilo Code forked Cline and added orchestrator mode, cross-platform support, and the Kilo Pass pricing model. Cline remains VS Code-only and requires BYO API keys exclusively.

Pick Cline if you want a proven, focused VS Code agent with a mature community. Pick Kilo Code if you want multi-model flexibility, JetBrains support, or orchestrator mode for complex tasks.

Both are open source. Both use the same core approach of human-in-the-loop approval for file changes and commands. The practical difference is Kilo Code's broader ambition versus Cline's stability.

Kilo Code vs Cursor

Cursor is an AI-first code editor — a complete IDE replacement. Kilo Code is a plugin that lives inside your existing editor.

Pick Cursor if you want a polished, integrated editing experience with built-in AI features and agent mode. Pick Kilo Code if you're committed to VS Code or JetBrains and want agent capabilities without switching editors. Cursor also handles autocomplete and chat more seamlessly since it controls the entire editor, while Kilo Code's inline completions compete with VS Code's native suggestions.

Kilo Code vs GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is primarily an autocomplete tool with growing agent features. Kilo Code is primarily an agent with added autocomplete.

Pick Copilot for seamless GitHub integration, predictable $10-19/month pricing, and reliable autocomplete. Pick Kilo Code for autonomous multi-step workflows, model choice, and open-source transparency. Copilot is the safe corporate choice; Kilo Code is the power-user pick.

Who Should Use Kilo Code

Best for

• Developers who use multiple IDEs — the cross-platform support (VS Code + JetBrains + CLI) is a genuine advantage over VS Code-only tools
• Cost-conscious developers who want multi-model access without markup — BYO API keys means you only pay provider rates
• Open-source advocates who want to inspect and contribute to their tools
• Vibe coders who want to move fast with an orchestrator that handles complex tasks end-to-end
• Teams exploring AI workflows who need the flexibility to switch models based on task type

Not ideal for

• Developers who prefer stability over features — Kilo Code is moving fast and some features are still rough
• Beginners who might be overwhelmed by the number of modes, models, and configuration options
• Teams with strict security requirements — while open source, some features like cloud agents send code to external servers

Verdict

Kilo Code is the most ambitious fork in the Cline family tree. The orchestrator mode is its strongest differentiator — when you have a task that's too complex for a single-pass agent, breaking it into coordinated subtasks genuinely helps. The 500+ model support with zero markup on pricing is also a real competitive advantage.

The risk is feature sprawl. Voice commands, cloud agents, Slack integration, one-click deployment, automated code review — it's a lot of surface area for a tool that launched recently. Some of these features work well now, others need more baking.

If you're already using Cline and want more model flexibility or JetBrains support, Kilo Code is worth trying. If you're new to agentic coding, Cline or Cursor might be easier starting points with more predictable behaviour.

Rating: 7.5/10

Try Kilo Code:

• Install from VS Code Marketplace
• View on GitHub
• Kilo Code pricing

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