Cline vs. Kilo
General Coding vs. Multi-Surface AI Orchestration
Kilo enables unified sessions across IDE, CLI, and Cloud Agents. 500+ AI models with zero markup. Deploy, build, and review code - all from one platform.
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
Switch from Cline in minutes
Familiar workflow. More platforms. Team ready.
Install Kilo Code
Install from VS Code marketplace or JetBrains plugin repository. One click to get started.
Configure Your Preferences
Choose from 500+ hosted models or use your existing API keys. Set up your preferred modes.
Start Coding
Similar workflow to Cline. Use Architect mode for planning, Code mode for implementation.
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Kilo Code for JetBrains IDEs
AI coding assistant for IntelliJ, PhpStorm, WebStorm, and Rider
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Join 1.5M+ developers using Kilo Code for multi-surface AI orchestration