— Coding Tool

Kilo Code

Last updated 2026-07-13 · Reviewed by ToolForge Editorial

An open-source AI coding agent for VS Code that builds features, fixes bugs, and refactors on command.

★ 4.5/5 · 500K+ developers · Since 2024 · Fully free & open

Free Open source

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An autonomous coding agent that lives in your editor

Kilo Code is an open-source AI agent that installs as a VS Code extension and plans, writes, and debugs across your whole codebase. Point it at a task and it edits multiple files, runs terminal commands, and iterates — no need to switch to a proprietary AI IDE.

Who it's for: Developers who want agentic coding inside the VS Code they already use, without paying for a separate editor.

Key features

🤖 Agentic edits

Give it a task; it plans, edits multiple files, and runs terminal commands.

🔧 VS Code native

Installs as an extension — keep your themes, keybindings, and extensions.

🐛 Debug & refactor

Finds bugs, explains errors, and proposes fixes with full context.

🔓 Open source

Apache-2.0 licensed; bring your own model (Claude, GPT, or local).

The honest take

✓ What works

Free and open source
Works inside VS Code you already use
Supports many models (Claude, GPT, local)
Active community development

✗ What doesn't

Less polished than Cursor's Composer
Agent can go off-track on big tasks
Setup varies by model provider
Smaller ecosystem than proprietary IDEs

Verdict

The best free, open entry into agentic coding if you don't want to leave VS Code. For a fully integrated AI IDE, Cursor or Windsurf still feel tighter — but Kilo Code is closing fast.

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