Kilo CLI vs Gemini CLI
More Models, zero-markup pricing. Gemini CLI offers a generous free tier—but locks you into Google's models. Kilo CLI gives you 500+ models to choose from.
See Kilo CLI in Action
Best for:
Gemini CLI
- You exclusively use Gemini models and don't need alternatives
- The free tier (1,000 requests/day) covers all your needs
- You're already deep in the Google Cloud ecosystem
- Budget is your only constraint and you don't need model flexibility
Kilo CLI
- You want freedom to use 500+ models including Gemini
- You need IDE integration (VS Code and JetBrains)
- You need local model support for privacy or offline work
- You want dedicated workflow modes for different development phases
- You need SOC 2 compliance for enterprise requirements
Feature-by-feature comparison
A detailed comparison of model selection, pricing, workflow modes, and platform features.
Kilo CLIKilo CLIKilo CLIKilo CLIKilo CLIKilo CLIKilo CLIKilo CLIWhy Developers Choose Kilo CLI Over Gemini CLI
Use Any Model, Not Just Google Models
Gemini CLI restricts you to Google's models. Kilo CLI supports 500+ models—including Gemini—so you can use the 1M token context window when you need it, and switch to Claude Opus 4.7 or GPT-5.4 when they're the better fit.
Dedicated Workflow Modes
Kilo CLI offers 5 purpose-built modes—Ask, Architect, Code, Debug, and Orchestrator—plus custom workflows designed for different development phases.
IDE Integration
Kilo CLI includes VS Code and JetBrains extensions for seamless editor integration. Gemini CLI is terminal-only with no IDE support.
Run Local Models
Need to work offline or keep code private? Kilo CLI supports local models through Ollama and LM Studio. Gemini CLI requires cloud connectivity.
Enterprise Security
Kilo Code is SOC 2 compliant, providing enterprise-grade security assurance that Gemini CLI's free tier doesn't address.
Get Started in Seconds
Install Kilo CLI with a single command
$ npm install -g @kilocode/cliOr use pnpm, yarn, or bun. See documentation for more options.
The CLI is one part of the platform. With Kilo, You Also Get:
Cloud Agents
Access Kilo from the web without a local machine. Run resource-exhaustive tasks in the cloud and sync results back to your local environment.
IDE Extensions
Seamlessly switch between CLI and IDE. VS Code, JetBrains—same agent, same sessions, same context.
Deploy
One-click deployments from within Kilo. Push to production with the same context and workflow you used to build.
App Builder
Visual editor to prototype apps. See changes live and iterate quickly. Export to Kilo when you're ready to move beyond visual editing.
Agent Manager
Stop and start agents in one click. Switch contexts easily between different tasks without losing progress.
Sessions
Persistent across all interfaces, resume and share from anywhere. Your context and progress carry seamlessly between App Builder, IDE, CLI, and Cloud.
Code Reviews
Automatic PR reviews with the same models and credits. Inline GitHub comments, configurable review styles.
Try Kilo CLI Today
500+ models. 5 modes + custom workflows. Zero markup pricing. Open source.