Kilo Code

An open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains and the command line, with more than 500 models at the provider's price and no markup.

27.8k stars, 3.3k forks TypeScript On GitHub since March 2025

Visit website View on GitHub How to run it

What is Kilo Code?

Kilo Code works where you already code: as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin or a CLI. You choose from more than 500 models, switch between them in the middle of a task, and pay the model provider's rate through Kilo without a markup; you can start without your own API keys. The project describes itself as an agentic engineering platform for building, shipping and iterating on software. Its interface is localized into dozens of languages.

Good fit if

  • You want the same agent in your editor and in the terminal.
  • You want to try many models without creating accounts with each provider.

Look elsewhere if

  • You want to use only your own API keys and no intermediary: Cline.
  • You prefer a terminal-only agent: OpenCode.

Before you adopt it

Kilo Code is MIT-licensed, with no paid parts in the repository. Kilo earns money on model usage bought through its account, so check how billing works before you connect a team.

Drafted with AI from the project's README and repository data, then checked against that data on 30 October 2026. Report a correction

Kilo Code health: is it still maintained?

76 of 100, actively developed

  • Activity
    5,819 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 31 October 2026.
    30 / 30
  • Contributors
    10 people wrote the latest 100 commits; the most active wrote 31% of them.
    14 / 20
  • Releases
    6 releases in the last 12 months; the latest, v7.8.18, on 26 October 2026.
    17 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Too few recent issues from outside the team to measure, so this part gets a neutral score.
    10 / 20
  • Security practices
    No OpenSSF Scorecard for this repository yet, so this part gets a neutral score.
    5 / 10

Read from GitHub on 1 November 2026. How the score works

Kilo Code license: is it open source?

Kilo Code uses MIT, an open-source license approved by the OSI.

  1. March 2025First published on GitHub.
  2. TodayMIT.

How to run Kilo Code yourself

Docker
Dockerfile or compose file in the repository
Compose file
None in the repository
Setup effort
Not rated: no compose file to judge from
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Desktop and mobile
Builds for Linux, macOS, Windows, including ARM in GitHub releases
Interface languages
56 languages

Install instructions: kilo.ai or the README on GitHub.

Alternatives to Kilo Code

  • RepomixRepomix is a powerful tool that packs your entire repository into a single, AI-friendly file. Perfect for… 72 health · MIT · 29.1k stars
  • Qwen CodeAn open-source AI coding agent that lives in your terminal. 80 health · Apache-2.0 · 28.9k stars
  • Gemini CLIAn open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal. 76 health · Apache-2.0 · 109k stars
  • ArchonThe first open-source harness builder for AI coding. Make AI coding deterministic and repeatable. 68 health · MIT · 23.8k stars
  • Continueopen-source coding agent 18 health · Apache-2.0 · 36.4k stars

All 27 projects in AI coding agents

Questions about Kilo Code

Is Kilo Code open source?

Yes. Kilo Code is published under MIT, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is Kilo Code still maintained?

Its health score is 76 of 100 (actively developed). It had 5,819 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 31 October 2026, and its latest release came out on 26 October 2026.

How do I run Kilo Code?

You can run it with Docker, as an app for Linux, macOS, Windows, including ARM. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What are the alternatives to Kilo Code?

Close alternatives in the AI coding agents category include Repomix, Qwen Code, Gemini CLI.