Coding / Developer

Kilo Code

Kilo Code is an MIT-licensed open-source AI coding agent that can be installed in VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal, supporting connections to more than 500 models with no extra fees.

Product type: Model Gateway / Routing ToolPricing: UnknownAPIMaster integration: Supported

Website created

2025-03-05

OpenRouter token usage rank

Source: OpenRouter

Monthly unique visitors

1,519

Source: SimilarWeb

Website Download / Install GitHub

Overview

Kilo Code is positioned as a self-hostable, locally run AI coding tool that integrates into existing IDE workflows through extensions. It provides multiple dedicated modes such as Architect, Debug, Code, Ask, and Orchestrator, allowing the corresponding agent to handle tasks at different stages. Its core strengths are support for switching between any models freely, including local Ollama, keeping code from being uploaded or used for training, while remaining fully open source and modifiable. It is well suited for programmers and teams already developing in environments such as VS Code who want to avoid lock-in to a single vendor. Compared with closed-source editors such as Cursor, it places more emphasis on model flexibility and local control.

One-line summary

Kilo Code is an MIT-licensed open-source AI coding agent that can be installed in VS Code, JetBrains, and the terminal, supporting connections to more than 500 models with no extra fees.

What people use it for

Users enter prompts in VS Code, and agents in different modes sequentially plan, write, debug code, and generate documentation; it is also used to switch between different models to test how they perform on the same task.

Best for

Developers, engineering teams, and technical leads

How it works

It typically starts by reading context in the IDE, terminal, or project environment, then the Agent plans steps, executes commands or modifies files, and the user reviews the results.

Quick facts

Product type

Model Gateway / Routing Tool

Pricing

Unknown

The current enhanced bulk dataset does not maintain real-time pricing for this product. Please refer to the official website or official documentation.

APIMaster integration

Supported

Kilo Settings → Providers → Custom provider, or edit kilo.json directly

Data confidence

Medium

Last verified: 2026-08-30

Supported models / APIs

OpenAI-compatible APIAnthropicThird-Party ProviderBYOK

Core features and differentiators

Supports 500+ AI models

You can directly switch between models such as Claude, GPT, Grok, Gemini, Kimi, and local Ollama, with no platform markup

Five dedicated agent modes

Architect mode handles planning and design, Code mode writes code, Debug mode investigates and fixes issues, Ask mode handles questions, and Orchestrator mode coordinates multi-agent collaboration

IDE and terminal integration

Can be installed and used directly in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and command-line terminals

Local runtime and self-hosting

Supports local Ollama models, keeps code on the local machine throughout, and supports self-hosted deployment

MIT open-source license

Fully open source, with the tool itself free to use; only the models you use are billed normally

What is Kilo Code best for?

Project architecture planning

Enter requirements in Architect mode and let the agent produce system design and module breakdowns

Best for：Full-stack developers

Code implementation

Generate specific code files from feature descriptions in Code mode

Best for：Frontend/backend developers

Bug investigation and fixing

Paste error logs in Debug mode and let the agent identify the issue and modify the code

Best for：Maintenance engineers

Multi-agent collaborative development

Use Orchestrator mode to have multiple agents complete planning, coding, debugging, and documentation in sequence

Best for：Independent developers

Third-party key setup for Kilo Code (APIMaster integration)

Supported

Setup steps

1Open Kilo Settings, go to Providers, and add or connect a Custom provider.
2Set the Provider API to OpenAI Compatible, then enter the Base URL and your own API Key.
3Let Kilo automatically fetch models, or manually add the model IDs you need.
4Switch to that provider's model in the chat or task panel and run a minimal test.

Config values

Base URL

https://apimaster.ai/v1

API key environment variable

API Key（Providers 设置 / kilo.json）

Model

gpt-5.4 or claude-sonnet-4-6 or Your APIMaster model ID

Create my key

Official source Official source APIMaster API docs

Community discussion

Discussion summary

Users commonly understand Kilo Code as an open-source AI coding agent tool that supports using hundreds of models in IDEs such as VS Code and JetBrains, including local Ollama, without charging a markup on model pricing. Discussion focuses on how to switch flexibly between different models to optimize workflows, comparisons with proprietary tools, and real-world use cases for its multiple modes such as Architect and Debug. Users also frequently share installation and configuration tips, the impact of context window size on the reasoning process, and their experience with its open-source nature and privacy protections.

Most discussed topics

1
How do you choose and switch between different AI models in Kilo Code?
Users discuss how to switch between multiple models in the same workflow based on task needs, avoiding dependence on a single ecosystem while maintaining efficiency.
2
How does Kilo Code compare with tools like Cursor and Windsurf?
Users share hands-on experience comparing performance in code generation, planning, debugging, deployment, and open-source advantages.
3
How are Kilo Code's different modes such as Architect and Debug used?
Users explore where each mode fits in research and design, issue investigation, and code writing, as well as how to combine them.
4
How do you install and configure Kilo Code to support local models?
Users exchange installation steps in the IDE, local Ollama integration, and configuration of security features such as sandboxing.
5
How does Kilo Code's context window size affect usage?
Users discuss how different context lengths such as 64k and 128k perform during the reasoning process, and how to adjust them to avoid interruptions.

FAQ

What type of product is Kilo Code?

We currently classify it under the "Programming / Developer" category, and the page description is based on public information from the official website and sources such as OpenRouter.

What is Kilo Code good for?

The enhanced Kilo Code page will prioritize the core tasks and use cases we have collected, helping you quickly judge whether it matches your current needs.

Can Kilo Code connect directly to APIMaster now?

Current information confirms that the product supports third-party keys or custom compatible endpoints, so you can continue validating it directly according to the configuration instructions on the page.

Last verified: 2026-08-30 · Report a correction