Kilo AI: One Open Agent for Every Developer Workflow
Kilo AI (kilo.ai) is an open-source AI coding agent that runs everywhere you write code: VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, CLI, Cloud, Slack, and Mobile. With 500+ models at zero markup, bring-your-own-keys support, and local model options, it’s a model-agnostic alternative to Cursor and other proprietary AI coding tools.
Core Capabilities
Kilo ships with specialized agents so you can switch contexts without switching tools:
| Agent | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Code Agent | Write, refactor, and ship production-ready code with full codebase understanding |
| Plan Agent | Plan complex features with structured guidance before writing a single line |
| Debug Agent | Identify and fix bugs fast — reads errors, traces issues, suggests fixes |
| Auto Model | Routes to Efficient / Frontier / Free model based on budget and task |
Where You Can Use It
| Surface | How to Get It |
|---|---|
| VS Code | Install extension from Open VSX (also works with Cursor, Windsurf) |
| JetBrains | Get plugin for IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm |
| CLI | curl -fsSL https://kilo.ai/cli/install \| bash |
| Cloud | Start agents from any browser — Try Cloud free |
| Slack | Mention @Kilo in any channel |
| Mobile | Follow and review agents from your phone |
$ curl -fsSL https://kilo.ai/cli/install | bashPricing Philosophy
Kilo’s pricing model is built around transparency:
- Zero markup on model inference — models at cost
- Bring your own keys (BYOK) — use your existing API keys
- Local models supported — run models on your own hardware for privacy
- Free tier available — no credit card required
- Enterprise — free for up to a year for Cursor migrants (promotional)
Kilo AI vs Cursor
| Feature | Kilo AI | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT (open source) | Proprietary |
| Models | 500+, zero markup | Limited selection |
| BYOK | Yes | Limited |
| Local models | Yes | No |
| IDE support | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, Cloud | VS Code only |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Pricing | Models at cost | Subscription + credits |
Why Kilo? (Design Principles)
Kilo positions itself around three principles, visible throughout the homepage:
- Agent command center — One portal for every agent across IDEs, CLI, and cloud
- Aligned pricing — Models at cost, no markup, no lock-in
- Open source — No black boxes. Audit the prompt, context window, and decisions
Adoption & Trust
- 5M+ Kilo Coders
- 10T+ tokens processed every month
- #1 Open Source Product of the Month
- Trusted by: Meta, Amazon, Airbnb, PayPal, Square, Red Hat
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an open-source, model-agnostic AI coding agent that doesn’t lock you into a single IDE or model provider, Kilo AI is worth serious consideration. The MIT license means you can fork, modify, and self-host — and the zero-markup pricing keeps costs predictable.
Yes. Kilo AI is MIT-licensed. You can fork, modify, and self-host the entire platform.
VS Code (via Open VSX), JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), CLI, Cloud, Slack, and Mobile.
Yes. Kilo supports bring-your-own-keys (BYOK) and also offers local model options for maximum privacy.
Kilo is open source (MIT), supports 500+ models at zero markup, works across multiple IDEs, and offers local model options. Cursor is proprietary with a more limited model selection.