OpenCode Zen vs Kilo Gateway
OpenCode Zen is a curated model balance for coding agents. Kilo Gateway is a broader model layer: 500+ models, BYOK, hosted routing, team controls, and Kilo Pass for predictable spend.
Short version
- Choose OpenCode Zen if you want a small, tested set of coding-agent models and simple pay-as-you-go usage.
- Choose Kilo Gateway if you want broad model choice, provider routing, BYOK, team controls, and one layer across Kilo Code workflows.
- OpenCode Go and Kilo Pass are both AI inference subscription options that give you more bang for your buck in their unique ways. Go is a low-cost open-model subscription; Kilo Pass adds predictable credits to your balance and free bonus usage on top.
| Difference | OpenCode Zen | Kilo Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Curated models tested for coding agents | One gateway for 500+ models, providers, and BYOK |
| Model selection | Smaller recommended set | Broad catalog plus direct provider keys and local options |
| Where can you use it? | Inside OpenCode products and outside OpenCode with other agents | Inside Kilo products and outside Kilo with other agents |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go pricing, no markup on token usage; OpenCode does add a $1.23 payment processing fee per top-up | Zero markup on token usage; optional Kilo Pass credits |
| Spend controls | Monthly spend limits and auto top-up | Gateway routing, team billing, budgets, and usage visibility |
| Compliance controls | All Zen models are hosted in the US | Teams and Enterprise can control which models are enabled to meet compliance needs |
| Best fit | OpenCode users who want recommended coding models quickly | Teams that want flexibility, governance, and model choice across workflows |
Main idea
Curated models tested for coding agents
One gateway for 500+ models, providers, and BYOK
Model selection
Smaller recommended set
Broad catalog plus direct provider keys and local options
Where can you use it?
Inside OpenCode products and outside OpenCode with other agents
Inside Kilo products and outside Kilo with other agents
Pricing
Pay-as-you-go pricing, no markup on token usage; OpenCode does add a $1.23 payment processing fee per top-up
Zero markup on token usage; optional Kilo Pass credits
Spend controls
Monthly spend limits and auto top-up
Gateway routing, team billing, budgets, and usage visibility
Compliance controls
All Zen models are hosted in the US
Teams and Enterprise can control which models are enabled to meet compliance needs
Best fit
OpenCode users who want recommended coding models quickly
Teams that want flexibility, governance, and model choice across workflows
Where Zen is strong
Curated by default
Zen reduces model/provider guesswork by recommending model-provider combinations OpenCode has tested for coding agents.
Simple pay-as-you-go
Add a $20 balance, pay per request, set monthly limits, and use it with OpenCode or another agent.
OpenCode Go option
Go is the low-cost sibling: $5 first month, then $10/month for generous access to capable open-source coding models.
Where Kilo Gateway is strong
More model freedom
Kilo Gateway gives you access to 500+ hosted models, BYOK providers, and local model options from one product surface.
Built for teams
Gateway is tied into Kilo’s billing, usage analytics, model governance, and enterprise controls instead of being only a model balance.
Granular compliance controls
Kilo Teams and Enterprise admins can choose which models are enabled, so organizations can keep agentic coding aligned with regional, vendor, and data policies.
Kilo Pass for predictable spend
Kilo Pass converts your subscription into credits with bonus usage, useful when you want predictable AI budgets on top of Gateway routing.
Want predictable spend?
Use Gateway when you want flexible routing and model choice. Add Kilo Pass when you want a subscription-style budget with bonus credits instead of pure pay-as-you-go.