Kilo Code
by Kilo Code
Open-source agentic coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains with model freedom, terminal automation, MCP protocol support, and CI/CD CLI workflows.
Last verified: June 2026
Kilo Code: Open-Source Agentic Coding Assistant
Kilo Code is an open-source agentic coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, founded by a GitLab co-founder and backed by $8M in seed funding. Unlike closed-source alternatives, Kilo Code gives developers complete model freedom — use any cloud or local model — and full transparency into the agentic loop.
Agentic Development Loop
Kilo Code uses a plan-act-observe-fix loop that enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks. It can read files, write code, execute terminal commands, control a browser, and iterate based on results — all without human intervention at each step.
Key Features
- Model freedom: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Ollama, local models — your choice
- Agentic loop: Plan, act, observe, and fix autonomously
- Terminal automation: Execute commands, run tests, manage processes
- Browser control: Interact with web apps for testing and debugging
- MCP protocol: Connect to Model Context Protocol servers
- CLI for CI/CD: Integrate AI coding into pipelines
- Open source: Full transparency, community-driven
Pricing
Kilo Code is free and open source. You pay only for the AI model API usage of your chosen provider.
Pros
- + Open source with model freedom
- + Plan-act-observe-fix agentic loop
- + Terminal and browser automation
- + MCP protocol support
- + 500K+ installs
Cons
- - Newer platform
- - Smaller community than Cursor or Copilot
- - Requires self-configuration
What Users Actually Complain About
As a newer tool it has less community content and fewer third-party integrations than GitHub Copilot. Optional managed inference (Kilo Pass) starts at $19/month, though the core tool is free.
Skip it if:
You're not using VS Code or need proven enterprise support.
Based on community feedback from Reddit, HN, and G2 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kilo Code?
Open-source agentic coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains with model freedom, terminal automation, MCP protocol support, and CI/CD CLI workflows.
How much does Kilo Code cost?
Kilo Code uses a open source pricing model with plans starting at Free (open source).
What are the main advantages of Kilo Code?
The key advantages of Kilo Code include: Open source with model freedom; Plan-act-observe-fix agentic loop; Terminal and browser automation; MCP protocol support; 500K+ installs.
What are the drawbacks of Kilo Code?
Some limitations to consider: Newer platform; Smaller community than Cursor or Copilot; Requires self-configuration.
What category does Kilo Code belong to?
Kilo Code is a Code Assistant tool developed by Kilo Code.
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