Kilo Code is an MIT-licensed, open source AI coding agent that runs in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and the command line. Give it instructions in natural language and it writes code, refactors existing code, fixes bugs, and works across multiple files as an agent. Its two defining traits are model choice and pricing transparency: it connects to more than 500 models through its own gateway and adds no markup on top of model costs. You can also bring your own API keys (BYOK) or run local models. Kilo Code, Inc. was acquired in July 2026 by Anaconda, known for its data science platform, and the company has stated that existing products, plans, and support continue unchanged.
Key Features
- VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI: The same agent is available as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains extension for IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm, and a terminal CLI, so switching editors does not mean relearning the tool
- Modes for different roles: Code mode for implementation, Architect mode for planning and design, and Debug mode for isolating problems, plus Custom modes you define with your own rules
- 500+ models with no markup: Kilo Gateway gives you a single entry point to models from 60+ providers at the providers’ own rates. Choose frontier models, open-weight models, your own API keys, or local models as the situation requires
- Auto Model routing: Routes tasks automatically across efficient, frontier, and free tiers based on how demanding the task is, making it easy to reserve high-end models for the hard parts
- MCP server integration: Supports the Model Context Protocol, so external services and internal tools can be connected as extensions of the agent
- Open source (MIT): The code is published on GitHub, so you can inspect it before adopting it — helpful when your organization requires review of external tools
Pricing
Note that Kilo Code separates the platform fee from the AI inference cost.
| Plan | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Free & Open Source | $0 | VS Code / JetBrains / CLI extensions, agent features, works with any model |
| Teams | $15 per user per month | Everything in Free plus usage analytics, shared agent modes, centralized billing, team management, data privacy controls, priority support |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Everything in Teams plus model/provider limits, audit logs, SSO / OIDC / SCIM, SLA commitments, dedicated support |
For inference, there are three options.
| Option | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Free models / BYOK / local | $0 | Free models via the gateway, your own API keys, local models |
| Kilo Gateway | $0 per month plus usage | Pay-as-you-go access to 500+ models from 60+ providers at provider rates |
| Kilo Pass | $19 (Starter) / $49 (Pro) / $199 (Expert) per month | Monthly credits with bonus credits, plus Auto Model routing |
Running agents and code reviews in the cloud is billed separately by the hour.
Pricing is current as of August 2026. Check the official site for the latest information.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The extension itself is free and open source, so you can try it without spending anything
- No markup on model costs, so it stays clear what you are paying for each model
- No lock-in to a single model vendor — swap in new models as they are released
- The same agent works from VS Code, JetBrains, or the CLI
- MIT-licensed and public, so organizations that require a review process can inspect it
⚠️ Cons
- Even with a free extension, inference costs are separate, so monthly spend can be hard to predict depending on usage
- The freedom to configure models and modes comes with an initial learning curve
- Granting an agent broad permissions can lead to unintended file changes, so reviewing diffs remains essential
- The company only came under Anaconda in July 2026, so the long-term product direction awaits further announcements
Comparison with Similar Services
| Criteria | Kilo Code | Cline | Roo Code | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | IDE extension + CLI | IDE extension | IDE extension | Dedicated editor |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model choice | 500+ models, BYOK and local | Mainly BYOK | Mainly BYOK | Mainly vendor-provided models |
| Markup on model costs | None | None (at cost) | None (at cost) | Bundled into subscription |
| JetBrains support | Yes | Limited | Limited | No (own editor) |
| Team features | Teams / Enterprise plans | Limited | Limited | Team plan available |
Who Is It For
- Developers who want to try AI coding assistance for free and pay only once they need to
- People who want to keep control over model choice and switch as new models arrive
- Anyone using both VS Code and JetBrains who wants one agent across both
- Terminal-centric developers who want to invoke the agent from the CLI
- Teams in organizations that require source code review before adopting external tools
Summary
Kilo Code is an AI coding agent built around three ideas: being open source, letting you choose your model freely, and adding no markup to model costs. The extension itself is free, so the barrier to entry is low, and all you have to decide is how you want to pay for inference. A practical approach is to start with free models or an API key you already have, then consider Kilo Pass or a team plan once your usage grows.