Kilo Code

MIT-licensed coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal, with 500+ cloud models at provider rates or local models via Ollama.

Open-source alternative toClaude Code Cursor

Install guide (official) ↗ GitHub ↗ Creator kit →

Kilo Code at a glance

Checked 21 Oct 2026

Kilo Code (v7.8.15, October 2026) is an open-source coding agent available as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin and a CLI (kilo), which is a fork of OpenCode. It has Code, Plan, Ask and Debug agents plus custom agents, inline autocomplete, terminal and browser control, MCP servers and a marketplace for skills and plugins. Run it with your own provider, Kilo's gateway (500+ models at provider pricing) or local models via Ollama, which the docs say need a powerful machine. kilo run --auto runs it headless in CI. A hosted Cloud Agent and PR code reviews are optional.

Cite this pageRepoQuarry. “Kilo Code.” Checked 21 Oct 2026. https://repoquarry.dev/projects/kilo-code

How much of Claude Code does it replace?

Use it instead of paying for Claude Code?

Personal use: Confirmed: Yes
For a business: Confirmed: Yes

5 of 6 jobs. Covers the terminal agent, IDE plugins, MCP and CI runs; no documented commit or pull request workflow beyond hosted PR code reviews.

Edit code across a repo from the terminal with an AI agent Partial replacement

Run commands and tests Partial replacement

Use the agent inside VS Code or JetBrains Partial replacement

Connect tools and data through MCP Partial replacement

Write commits and pull requests Not covered

Run the agent headless in scripts or CI (GitHub Actions) Partial replacement

For write commits and pull requests, see other Claude Code alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

How much of Cursor does it replace?

Use it instead of paying for Cursor?

Personal use: Confirmed: Yes
For a business: Confirmed: Yes

6 of 7 jobs. An extension for VS Code and JetBrains rather than its own editor; the Cloud Agent runs on Kilo's hosted service.

Code in an AI-first editor Not covered

Multi-line tab completion and next-edit prediction Partial replacement

Let an agent plan and edit across many files Partial replacement

Run terminal commands and tests from the agent Partial replacement

Ask questions about your whole codebase Partial replacement

Connect tools and data through MCP Partial replacement

Run agents in the cloud in the background Partial replacement

For code in an AI-first editor, see other Cursor alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

Facts, with sources

Every answer links to where we found it. We read the documentation; we did not install it.

Report a correction

QuestionAnswerSourceChecked

Runs on my machine? Yes, the extension and CLI run on your machine; an optional hosted Cloud Agent also exists Then run `kilo` in any project directory to start. github.com · kilocode#readme ↗ today

Code licence MIT MIT License github.com · LICENSE ↗ today

Model weights licence No separate model weights github.com · kilocode#readme ↗ today

Commercial use MIT allows commercial use with attribution You're free to use, modify, and distribute this code, including commercially, as long as you keep the attribution and license notices. github.com · kilocode#license ↗ today

Paid services needed? Not required with local models via Ollama (no API key needed); Kilo Gateway credits, cloud model keys, Cloud Agent and Code Reviews are optional Kilo Code supports running models locally using Ollama. kilo.ai · ollama ↗ today

Hardware No stated needs with cloud models; local models via Ollama need a GPU with 24GB+ VRAM or a Mac with 32GB+ unified RAM You will need a GPU with a large amount of VRAM (24GB or more) kilo.ai · ollama ↗ today

Operating systems CLI binaries for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux (x64 and ARM); extensions run wherever VS Code or JetBrains IDEs run Homebrew (macOS / Linux) github.com · kilocode#installation ↗ today

Setup effort Easy; install the VS Code or JetBrains extension from the marketplace, or the CLI with one npm or curl command Install the Kilo Code plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace, or search "Kilo Code" in `Settings → Plugins` inside any JetBrains IDE. github.com · kilocode#installation ↗ today

No licence changes since we started watching. Licence watch: follow Kilo Code and we email you if its licence terms change.

Growth and activity in detail

Is it popular, and is anyone still working on it? From GitHub.

Numbers appear after the first nightly fetch from GitHub.

GitHub numbers appear after the first nightly fetch.

What it costs to run

Software$0

Required paid servicesnone

Optional paid servicesKilo Gateway credits, Cloud model API keys, Kilo Cloud Agent, Kilo Code Reviews

Your hardwareNo stated needs with cloud models; local models via Ollama need a GPU with 24GB+ VRAM or a Mac with 32GB+ unified RAM

Claude Code: Included with Claude Pro ($20/month, or $17/month billed annually), Max (from $100/month), Team and Enterprise; not on the free plan (source, checked 21 Oct 2026). Running it yourself costs your hardware, electricity and setup time.

Using an AI agent?

The same record, as JSON or through MCP.

get_project("kilo-code")
GET /api/v1/projects/kilo-code.json

API and MCP docs →

Kilo Code

Kilo Code at a glance

How much of Claude Code does it replace?

How much of Cursor does it replace?

Facts, with sources

Growth and activity in detail

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