Was Cline just acqui-hired?
Kilo is doubling down on our Open Source commitment
Our VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, and CLI are already Apache 2.0—that license is irrevocable. Whatever happens to Kilo, the company, that code stays open. Forever.
Thank you, Cline contributors
If you used Cline or contributed in any way—thank you. You helped prove IDE-native coding agents and shaped the category.
Support for contributors
Highlights only—full details and eligibility are in the blog post.
$100 credits for Cline contributors
If you have a merged PR to Cline in the past 2 years, reach out and we'll credit your Kilo account.
$150 per PR merged to Kilo (February)
Significant PRs merged during February earn credits. No cap—merge more, earn more.
Kilo Champion program
Swag, credits, and special community roles for standout contributors.
Amsterdam contributor speedrun
We're planning an in-person build week and flying out up to 5 contributors.
Migration guide
Migrating from Cline to Kilo (walkthrough)
Kilo is doubling down on staying open
If openness matters to you, the details are public.
Apache 2.0 is irrevocable
The VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, and CLI are Apache 2.0 and stay open.
No lock-in
Use hosted models or bring your own keys. Choose providers and control your workflow.
Built with the community
We want contributions to be credited, promoted, and celebrated.
Cline vs. Kilo
General coding vs. multi-surface AI orchestration.
Quick Comparison
Multi-Interface Orchestration
IDE + CLI + Cloud Agents with unified session layer. Start on mobile, continue in IDE, finish via CLI.
Cline is VS Code + CLI only with local checkpoints
Five Specialized Agent Modes
Code, Ask, Debug, Architect, and Orchestrator. Meta-agent delegates to specialized modes.
Cline has Plan/Act separation only
Full Development Lifecycle
Deploy, App Builder, and Code Reviews. One-click deployments from anywhere.
Cline has no integrated shipping features
Five reasons developers choose Kilo Code over Cline
Same open source spirit. Multi-surface orchestration. Full development lifecycle.
Multi-Surface Sessions
IDE, CLI, and Cloud Agents with unified state. Start on mobile, continue in IDE, finish via CLI without losing context.
Five Agent Modes
Code, Ask, Debug, Architect, and Orchestrator. The meta-agent coordinates specialized modes for complex tasks.
500+ AI Models
Switch models mid-conversation without losing context. Pay at provider rates with zero markup.
Full Dev Lifecycle
Deploy, App Builder, and Code Reviews. One-click deployments from IDE, CLI, or web.
Team ROI Dashboard
Track adoption, velocity (commits/session), and time saved. Prove AI value to leadership.
Trusted by developers at the world's most innovative companies
Why Engineering Leaders Choose Kilo Code
Advanced analytics, ROI tracking, and custom modes at a lower price point
Centralized AI Management
One dashboard for credits, usage, and adoption metrics across your entire organization.
AI ROI Visibility
Measure velocity (commits/session), time saved, and prove value to leadership with real data.
Model Governance
Control which models are available to your team to prevent cost overruns and prevent data going to models that retain prompts or train on your data.
Security & Compliance
SSO, audit logs, data residency controls for regulated industries. SOC 2 compliant.
Complete Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See exactly how Kilo Code compares to Cline across every category
Core Capabilities
AI Model Access
Context & Memory
Shipping Integration
Teams & Enterprise
Pricing & Support
Privacy & Security
Core Capabilities
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Execution surfaces | VS Code + CLI + JetBrains (Teams) | IDE + CLI + Slack + Cloud Agents + App Builder |
Session persistence | Local checkpoints | Cross-platform sync |
Parallel agents | Multi-instance CLI only | |
Agent modes | Plan/Act separation | 5 specialized + Orchestrator |
Orchestrator mode (multi-agent) | ||
Custom user-defined modes | ||
Browser control |
AI Model Access
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Number of hosted models | 311 via gateway + BYOK | 500+ via Kilo Gateway + BYOK |
Cost transparency | You manage costs directly | Per-token at provider rate, no markup |
Token tracking | Per task in UI | Per session dashboard |
Bring your own keys (BYOK) | ||
Local models (Ollama, LM Studio) |
Context & Memory
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Memory bank | Checkpoints per session | Shared session + checkpoints |
Context shortcuts (@file, @folder) | ||
Workflows/Skills system | Markdown playbooks | Skills system |
MCP (Model Context Protocol) | ||
Project-level rules | .clinerules | .kilocode/rules |
Shipping Integration
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
One-click deploy | From IDE/CLI/web | |
App Builder | Web-based prototyping | |
Code Reviews | Automated PR analysis | |
Live preview | Via browser control | In App Builder |
Teams & Enterprise
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Centralized billing | Teams ($20/user/mo) | Shared balance |
Team management dashboard | Teams | |
Role-based access control | Teams | |
Limit inference providers | Teams | Admin limits on models |
AI ROI Dashboard | Adoption metrics, velocity tracking | |
Usage analytics | Per-user, per-project breakdowns | |
Shared custom modes | ||
SSO (Enterprise) | Enterprise | Enterprise |
SLA commitments | Enterprise | Enterprise |
Audit logs | Enterprise | Enterprise |
Pricing & Support
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Free extension/plugin | ||
Team pricing | $20/user/month | $15/user/month |
Priority support | Teams | Teams & Enterprise |
Enterprise pricing | Custom | Custom |
Privacy & Security
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Open source | ||
Local model support | ||
Secure client-side architecture | ||
Audit/Authentication logs | Enterprise | Enterprise |
Beyond Plan/Act: Five specialized agent modes
Cline has Plan and Act modes. Kilo Code has a full team of specialized agents - Code, Ask, Debug, Architect, and Orchestrator.
Agentic Engineering
Glide through your workflow with a mode for every step
Ask mode
A knowledgeable technical assistant focused on answering questions without changing your codebase
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Kilo Code for JetBrains IDEs
AI coding assistant for IntelliJ, PhpStorm, WebStorm, and Rider
Ready to upgrade from Cline?
Join 1M+ developers using Kilo Code for multi-surface AI orchestration