Kilo Code

Overview

Kilo Code is an open-source coding assistant that pairs editor and terminal tools with remote agents and a broad choice of AI models. It suits developers who want to choose their own model or provider rather than commit to one, but separate charges for team access, inference and cloud compute make total cost worth tracking.

It can generate, refactor and debug code, automate reviews and deploy applications. Its MIT-licensed source can be inspected, modified, forked or self-hosted. Kilo says it was made in Amsterdam and was acquired by Anaconda in July 2026, with existing products, plans and support continuing unchanged at the announcement.

Key features

Assistance and model choice

Code completion, chat and agentic coding cover different levels of help, from suggestions to delegated work. Modes include Code, Architect, Debug, Custom and Auto; Auto Model routes work through Efficient, Frontier or Free strategies based on capability and cost. More than 500 models from over 60 providers are supported, including free and local models, alongside BYOK. That breadth is useful for developers who want control over model choice, though the provider’s inference charges remain separate from platform access.

Editors, terminal and cloud work

Kilo works in VS Code and JetBrains editors, including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm and WebStorm, and offers a CLI. Codebase indexing and terminal access support work across a project. Cloud Agents run remotely, can create branches and can optionally commit and push changes. Cloud compute is billed by the second, without rounding up or a minimum usage charge, a practical advantage for intermittent jobs; it is still a separate usage cost.

Integrations and security

Official integrations include GitHub, GitLab and DoltHub, with Bitbucket Cloud for organizations. Kilo for Slack can answer repository questions, implement changes, create branches and open pull requests, but requires a paid Slack plan and available Kilo credits. Security Agent can sync GitHub Dependabot alerts, triage findings with AI and help dismiss or remediate them. Enterprise adds privacy controls, audit logs, SSO, OIDC, SCIM and SLA commitments; Kilo’s security materials also describe encryption in transit and at rest, RBAC and paid-plan no-retention support.

Pricing

Kilo separates platform access, AI inference and cloud compute. The free tier has no hosted-credit requirement and routes to free models where available, but usage can still be billed separately when using a provider or compute. Hosted inference through Kilo Gateway is $0 /mo + usage at exact provider rates, with no inference markup. Cloud compute is usage-based.

Kilo Pass plans are described as pay monthly and cancel anytime; credits are capped at the stated maximums, so they are not a flat-rate substitute for unlimited inference. Teams is the clearest paid step up for collaboration, while Free and Auto Free avoid a platform fee but do not remove separate provider or compute costs. Enterprise trials last 14 days and include Enterprise features for evaluation.

Platforms

Kilo’s supported surfaces span VS Code, JetBrains, CLI and cloud agents, as well as web, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. The range gives developers several ways to reach the service, while the core editor workflow is centered on VS Code and JetBrains. Slack is another surface, subject to its paid-plan and credit requirements.

Who it's for

Kilo is a strong fit for developers who want agentic coding in familiar editors, the option to bring provider keys or run local models, and a path from solo use to team controls. Teams that need shared modes and billing can justify the per-user plan; organizations needing identity controls and contractual commitments should look at Enterprise. It is less suited to buyers seeking a single predictable price covering platform, model use and remote compute.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Wide model choice: Support for more than 500 models across 60+ providers, plus BYOK and local options, gives model-conscious developers flexibility.
• Open source: MIT licensing allows inspection, modification and self-hosting.
• Usage-based cloud compute: Per-second billing without rounding or a minimum avoids paying for unused compute time.
• Team and enterprise controls: Shared billing and agent modes scale into SSO, audit logs and SLA commitments at higher tiers.

Cons

• Costs are split: Platform access, inference and cloud compute are separate, so the plan price alone may not represent total spend.
• Free use depends on the route: Free models are used where available; other provider usage can be billed separately.
• Slack has prerequisites: Its coding workflow requires both a paid Slack plan and Kilo credits.
• Enterprise is not self-serve priced: Organizations must seek custom pricing rather than compare a fixed monthly rate.

Alternatives

GitHub Codespaces is worth considering when the priority is hosted development environments with usage-priced 2-core and 4-core compute; Kilo is more directly centered on model-flexible coding assistance and agents.

Replit may suit someone looking for a browser- and mobile-accessible development workspace with free daily usage, one live project and one background task at a time, rather than Kilo’s model and agent options.

Claude Code is an alternative for readers considering a paid coding assistant; its listed Pro plan is $17 a month, while Claude Code is not included in its free plan.

CodeGPT is another freemium assistant with BYOK and a stated allowance of 10 daily Economy interactions on Free, which may suit users comparing a defined free interaction limit with Kilo’s free-model routing.

Cursor is an option for those comparing a free plan with limited Agent requests or a $20 a month Pro plan; Kilo stands out for its open-source license and broad provider choice.

Devin offers a free plan with limited usage for one member and a $20 a month Pro plan for one member, making it a comparison point for those weighing per-member agent plans.

Gemini Code Assist is a free alternative for individuals with no-cost access and 1,000 model requests per day, suited to readers who prefer that stated daily allowance over Kilo’s provider flexibility.

JetBrains Junie offers five AI credits on its Free to Start plan, with AI usage billed separately, and may suit developers comparing an assistant tied to the JetBrains ecosystem.

Browse more options in AI Code Generators and AI Coding Assistants.

Verdict

Choose Kilo Code if you want an open-source coding agent that can work across editors and terminals while leaving model choice, BYOK and local use in your hands. Its breadth and team controls are compelling, but anyone who values a consolidated, predictable bill should compare alternatives before committing to paid inference or cloud-agent usage.