# Alternatives to Kilo Kilo (formerly branded Kilo Code) is an open-source AI coding agent combining features from Cline and Roo Code into one platform, running as a VS Code/JetBrains plugin, a CLI, and a cloud agent. It supports 500+ models with bring-your-own-key at zero markup and can run fully on local models to keep code private. It gained prominence in 2026 as the recommended migration target after Roo Code shut down its VS Code extension in May 2026 to pivot toward a separate cloud-agent product (Roomote). Kilo ranks #3 of 11 in AI coding assistants, with an Alt Score of 82. It is licensed under MIT, freemium from $15/user/mo and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and Web. 9 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kilo-code/ Category: AI coding assistants ## Where Kilo stands out - **Autocomplete** — 4 of 9 apps with a verified answer have this ## Overview - **Who it's for**: Developers and engineering teams who want an AI coding agent inside their existing editor, terminal, or cloud pipeline rather than a closed, single-model product. It targets both individuals who want free or bring-your-own-key model access and teams needing shared credentials, audit logs, and admin controls. - **What you get**: An open-source coding agent available as a VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, and CLI, with inline autocomplete, codebase-wide semantic search, multi-file editing and refactors, and Cloud Agents that run tasks against a GitHub/GitLab repo from a browser or the Kilo mobile app. Access to 500+ models is billed at the provider's own rate through the Kilo Gateway, or teams can bring their own API keys or local models. - **How it works**: The extension, plugin, and CLI connect to model providers either through Kilo's own Gateway (billed via account credits with zero markup) or directly via user-supplied API keys or local runtimes like Ollama and LM Studio. Codebase Indexing parses the project with Tree-sitter, embeds code blocks, and stores them in a vector database (LanceDB or Qdrant) so the agent can retrieve relevant context; Cloud Agents run the same agent inside an isolated container connected to the user's repository for longer-running or remote tasks. ## Profile - **License**: MIT (verified 2026-07-30) - **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-30) - **Starts at**: $15/user/mo (verified 2026-07-30) - **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web - **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-30) ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [Tabby](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/tabbyml.md) | 96 | Apache-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 2 | [Cline](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/cline.md) | 91 | Apache-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 3 | [Amazon Q Developer](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/amazon-q-developer.md) | 82 | ? | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | | 4 | [GitHub Copilot](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/github-copilot.md) | 82 | Proprietary | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | | 5 | [Aider](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aider.md) | 78 | Apache-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 6 | [Codex](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/codex.md) | 73 | Proprietary | macOS, Linux, Windows, Web | | 7 | [Amp](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/amp-code.md) | 64 | Proprietary | macOS, Linux, Windows, Web | | 8 | [Claude Code](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/claude-code.md) | 64 | Proprietary | macOS, Linux, Windows | | 9 | [Devin Desktop](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/windsurf.md) | 62 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 10 | [Qodo](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/qodo.md) | 46 | Proprietary | Web | Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/ ## Feature comparison Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified). | AI coding assistants checklist | Kilo | Tabby | Cline | Amazon Q Developer | GitHub Copilot | Aider | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | OSS + paid hosting | Freemium | Freemium | Free | | Starts at | $15/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $9.99/mo | $19/month per user | $10/month | Free | | License | MIT | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 | ? | Proprietary | Apache-2.0 | | Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux | | Editor integrations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | | Autocomplete | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | | Chat with codebase context | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Agentic edits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Local model support | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | | Self-hostable | Partial | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | | Free tier limits | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | | Privacy: code retention policy | Partial | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Terminal / CLI use | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Multi-file refactors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ## Sources Sources for Kilo. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **Pricing model**: Freemium — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Community tier is $0; Teams tier adds per-seat pricing; usage-based credits also apply for hosted model inference beyond free models. - Quote: “No. You can download Kilo Code and start coding with AI immediately using free models, local models (Ollama, LM Studio), or your own API keys. A subscription is only needed if you want team features o” - **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: README's GitHub Releases table also lists macOS (Apple Silicon/Intel) and Linux (x64/ARM) binaries. Android app is live on Google Play per kilo.ai/docs/code-with-ai/platforms/mobile ('Install Kilo Cod - Quote: “Windows (most PCs) | kilo-windows-x64.zip” - **Status**: active — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: GitHub API shows 26.6k stars, 693 open issues, and a repo push timestamped the same day as this research (2026-07-30), consistent with active daily development. - Quote: “Kilo is the all-in-one agentic engineering platform. Build, ship, and iterate faster with the most popular open source coding agent.” - **License**: MIT — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Full header reads 'Copyright (c) 2026 Kilo Code / Copyright (c) 2025 opencode' — Kilo Code is an MIT-licensed fork of the OpenCode CLI. - Quote: “MIT License” - **Starts at**: $15/user/mo — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Cheapest paid plan is 'Teams' — 'Everything in Free, plus team management' — billed per user per month, with a 14-day free trial. Free ($0) tier exists below it. - Quote: “$15 /user/month” - **Editor integrations**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “The open source coding agent for building with AI in VS Code, JetBrains, or the CLI.” - **Autocomplete**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “Kilo Code's autocomplete feature provides intelligent code suggestions and completions while you're typing, helping you write code faster and more efficiently.” - **Chat with codebase context**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “Codebase Indexing enables semantic code search across your entire project using AI embeddings.” - **Agentic edits**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: This describes the default 'code' agent's tool access; other built-in agents (ask, plan) intentionally restrict edit access by design. - Quote: “Full access to all tools: read, edit, glob, grep, bash, task, webfetch, plus tools from MCP servers” - **Local model support**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Codebase Indexing docs further confirm a fully local, zero-cost setup pairing Ollama (embeddings) with LanceDB (local vector store). - Quote: “start coding with AI immediately using free models, local models (Ollama, LM Studio), or your own API keys” - **Self-hostable**: Partial — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Kilo Code itself is MIT-licensed and runs entirely on your own machine (source at github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode); the CLI also exposes a self-run 'kilo serve' headless server. But no vendor page docume - Quote: “kilo serve starts a headless kilo server” - **Privacy: code retention policy**: Partial — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Guarantee is limited to paid plans. Free-tier 'Auto Free' routing can hit third-party providers that log data, per kilo.ai/docs/getting-started/using-kilo-for-free: 'Auto Free may route your requests - Quote: “No data retention for AI prompts and outputs on paid plans” - **Terminal / CLI use**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Also installable via curl script, pnpm, bun, Homebrew, or AUR per README; full command reference documented at kilo.ai/docs/code-with-ai/platforms/cli-reference. - Quote: “npm install -g @kilocode/cli” - **Multi-file refactors**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “Offload tech debt cleanup, batch updates, and large-scale refactors to run autonomously in the cloud.” --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/