Kilo Code
Open-source AI coding agent with zero markup on any model
Overview
Kilo Code started as a VS Code extension and has since grown into a full agentic coding platform under the shorter name Kilo, covering VS Code, JetBrains, a CLI, and cloud agents. The pitch is simple: give developers a coding agent that does not lock them into one model or charge a markup on inference. You can bring your own API keys, run local models through Ollama or LM Studio, or buy monthly credits through Kilo Pass. The agent itself has separate modes for writing code, planning architecture, and debugging, and the whole codebase is open source under MIT, so teams that need to audit what the agent is doing or self-host it can actually do that.
That flexibility is also the catch. Kilo is not a one-click install and forget tool. Between editor extensions, CLI usage, cloud agents, model routing, BYOK, Kilo Pass credits, and the separately priced KiloClaw automation product, there is a lot of surface area to learn before it feels simple. It is a strong fit for developers who already have opinions about which model they want running their code and want control over cost and data, and a weaker fit for someone who just wants a Copilot-style autocomplete with no setup.
Key Features
Multi-Platform Agent: Works inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, the CLI, and cloud environments, with tasks handed off seamlessly between them.
Specialized Modes: Code, Architect, and Debug modes plus custom modes for different stages of building software.
Zero Markup Model Routing: Access to 500+ models across 60+ providers at the provider's own rate, with the option to bring your own API keys.
Open Source Core: MIT-licensed codebase you can fork, self-host, and audit, including full prompt and context visibility.
KiloClaw: An always-on hosted agent that runs scheduled automations and background coding tasks through Telegram, Discord, or Slack.
Team Controls: Usage analytics, shared agent modes, centralized billing, and data privacy controls on the Teams plan.
Pricing
Starting price
$15/mo per user (Teams plan); AI inference is billed separately and usage-based
Free & Open Source: $0/month. VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI extensions with a full agentic coding assistant; AI usage billed separately.
Teams: $15/user/month, 14-day free trial. Adds usage analytics, an AI adoption score, shared agent modes, centralized billing, and priority support.
Enterprise: Custom pricing. Adds provider/model limits, audit logs, SSO/OIDC/SCIM, and SLA commitments.
Kilo Pass (AI credits): Starter $19/month, Pro $49/month, Expert $199/month, each with bonus credit value.
KiloClaw (hosted automation agent): $55/month, 1-day free trial, AI inference billed separately.
Disclaimer: pricing may change, confirm on Kilo's own pricing page before buying.
Pros
Model Freedom: Switch between 500+ models from 60+ providers without being locked to one vendor.
No Markup: Pay the provider's own inference rate instead of a marked-up subscription tax.
Open Source: Full prompt and context visibility, and the option to self-host for regulated teams.
Broad Platform Coverage: VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI all get first-class support.
Free Tier: The extension itself is free; you only pay for AI usage or team features.
Cons
Steep Setup: Choosing between BYOK, Kilo Gateway, Kilo Pass, and local models means more decisions than a plug-and-play tool.
Variable Costs: Usage-based inference pricing makes monthly spend harder to predict than a flat subscription.
Fast-Moving Product: Features like KiloClaw and Kilo Pass are new and still maturing.
Not Turnkey: Best suited to technical users; non-developers will find the amount of configuration overwhelming.
What Makes It Unique
Zero-Markup, Open-Source Agent: Unlike closed coding assistants that bundle model costs into a flat fee, Kilo lets you see and pay the exact provider rate for inference while keeping the entire agent codebase open for audit.
Kay Score
7.6
/ 10
Tool Information
Pricing
$15/mo per user (Teams plan); AI inference is billed separately and usage-based
Category
Coding & Development
Platform
Web / iOS / Android
Last Updated
