What is the short answer: Roo Code, Cline, or Kilo Code?

Choose Kilo Code if you want the maintained Roo/Cline-style path with specialized modes, subagents, Agent Manager, JetBrains, and CLI. Choose Cline if you want a simpler VS Code-first single-agent flow. Roo Code is mostly relevant for existing Roo users because official development ends when the repo archives on May 15, 2026.

Is Kilo Code the easiest migration path from Roo Code?

Yes. The existing Roo comparison page documents that Kilo reads legacy .roomodes and Roo rules on startup, and that the main migration work is renaming .roo paths to .kilocode paths and pasting API keys into Kilo.

Are Cline and Kilo Code both open source?

Yes. Both are Apache-2.0 open source. Kilo also uses an MIT-licensed OpenCode core for the CLI/server layer, while Cline focuses on a simpler agent workflow.

Which one should I use for JetBrains or CLI workflows?

Use Kilo Code if you want JetBrains support on all plans plus CLI and Cloud Agents. Cline lists JetBrains support on Enterprise, and Roo Code is extension-only in the existing comparison data.

Three-way comparison

Roo Code vs Cline vs Kilo Code

A focused side-by-side comparison using the existing Roo Code and Cline comparison data: maintenance status, agent model, IDE coverage, migration path, model access, and teams.

Install Kilo Code

Get Started with Kilo

At a glance

Kilo is the maintained upgrade path for Roo users and the broader multi-surface option compared with Cline's simpler VS Code-first flow.

Current status

Kilo Code

Active; rebuilt April 2026

Roo Code

Archived May 15, 2026

Cline

Active

Best fit

Kilo Code

Maintained Roo/Cline-style workflows across IDE + CLI

Roo Code

Existing Roo setups that have not migrated yet

Cline

Simple VS Code-first single-agent workflows

IDE coverage

Kilo Code

VS Code, JetBrains, CLI

Roo Code

VS Code extension

Cline

VS Code + JetBrains on Enterprise

Agent model

Kilo Code

Code, Plan, Debug, Ask + subagents

Roo Code

Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, Orchestrator

Cline

Single plan/act flow

Parallel agents

Kilo Code

Agent Manager across git worktrees

Roo Code

Single session

Cline

Not available

Open source

Kilo Code

Apache-2.0 extension, MIT CLI core

Roo Code

Apache-2.0

Cline

Apache-2.0

Feature	Kilo Code	Roo Code	Cline
Current status	Active; rebuilt April 2026	Archived May 15, 2026	Active
Best fit	Maintained Roo/Cline-style workflows across IDE + CLI	Existing Roo setups that have not migrated yet	Simple VS Code-first single-agent workflows
IDE coverage	VS Code, JetBrains, CLI	VS Code extension	VS Code + JetBrains on Enterprise
Agent model	Code, Plan, Debug, Ask + subagents	Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, Orchestrator	Single plan/act flow
Parallel agents	Agent Manager across git worktrees	Single session	Not available
Open source	Apache-2.0 extension, MIT CLI core	Apache-2.0	Apache-2.0

Which one should you choose?

The decision mostly comes down to maintenance, platform coverage, and how much agent orchestration you need.

Best maintained upgrade path

Kilo Code

Developers who want Roo/Cline-style open-source autonomy, active maintenance, multiple modes, and the same workflow across VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI.

Active development after the April 2026 OpenCode rebuild

Reads legacy Roo config and modes on startup

Agent Manager, built-in subagents, and cross-surface sessions

API keys from Roo SecretStorage still need to be pasted manually

Read Kilo Code comparison

Best only if you are already on Roo

Roo Code

Existing Roo users who need a short transition window and already have .roo rules, .roomodes, and provider settings in place.

Familiar Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, and Orchestrator modes

Open-source Apache-2.0 extension history

Large VS Code Marketplace install base before archiving

Official development ends when the repo archives on May 15, 2026

Read Roo Code comparison

Best simple VS Code-first option

Cline

VS Code users who want an open-source BYOK agent and prefer a single plan/act flow over multiple specialized modes.

Apache-2.0 open source

BYOK, OpenRouter, and local model support

Straightforward single-agent design

JetBrains and team management are Enterprise-only; no Agent Manager

Read Cline comparison

Detailed comparison

A feature-by-feature look at lifecycle, agent workflows, platform coverage, model access, and team capabilities.

Lifecycle & Maintenance

Active development

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Ended May 15, 2026

Cline

Migration path from Roo

Kilo Code

Reads .roomodes and Roo rules on startup

Roo Code

No migration needed

Cline

Manual workflow change

Shared engine across surfaces

Kilo Code

OpenCode server: extension, CLI, Cloud Agents

Roo Code

Extension only

Cline

Extension + CLI

Feature	Kilo Code	Roo Code	Cline
Active development		Ended May 15, 2026
Migration path from Roo	Reads .roomodes and Roo rules on startup	No migration needed	Manual workflow change
Shared engine across surfaces	OpenCode server: extension, CLI, Cloud Agents	Extension only	Extension + CLI

Agents & Workflow

Primary modes

Kilo Code

Code, Plan, Debug, Ask

Roo Code

Code, Architect, Ask, Debug

Cline

Single plan/act flow

Built-in subagents

Kilo Code

Explore, General

Roo Code

Cline

Orchestration model

Kilo Code

Delegation built into agents

Roo Code

Orchestrator / Boomerang mode

Cline

Not available

Agent Manager UI

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Cline

Voice prompting

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Not listed

Cline

MCP support

Kilo Code

Built-in marketplace

Roo Code

Cline

Feature	Kilo Code	Roo Code	Cline
Primary modes	Code, Plan, Debug, Ask	Code, Architect, Ask, Debug	Single plan/act flow
Built-in subagents	Explore, General
Orchestration model	Delegation built into agents	Orchestrator / Boomerang mode	Not available
Agent Manager UI
Voice prompting		Not listed
MCP support	Built-in marketplace

Platform Coverage

VS Code extension

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Cline

JetBrains IDEs

Kilo Code

All plans

Roo Code

Cline

Enterprise only

CLI tool

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Cline

Cloud Agents

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Cline

Cross-device sessions

Kilo Code

Start in CLI, resume in editor

Roo Code

Roomote Control Pro, ended

Cline

Not listed

Feature	Kilo Code	Roo Code	Cline
VS Code extension
JetBrains IDEs	All plans		Enterprise only
CLI tool
Cloud Agents
Cross-device sessions	Start in CLI, resume in editor	Roomote Control Pro, ended	Not listed

Models, Pricing & Teams

Model access

Kilo Code

500+ models

Roo Code

Roo Code Router

Cline

500+ via OpenRouter / BYOK

BYOK

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Cline

Local models

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Cline

Auto routing tiers

Kilo Code

Frontier, Balanced, Free, Small

Roo Code

Single auto mode

Cline

Not listed

Team management

Kilo Code

Teams plan, $15/user/mo

Roo Code

Roo Code Cloud team plan, ended

Cline

Enterprise only

SSO / SAML

Kilo Code

Roo Code

Not listed

Cline

Enterprise only

Feature	Kilo Code	Roo Code	Cline
Model access	500+ models	Roo Code Router	500+ via OpenRouter / BYOK
BYOK
Local models
Auto routing tiers	Frontier, Balanced, Free, Small	Single auto mode	Not listed
Team management	Teams plan, $15/user/mo	Roo Code Cloud team plan, ended	Enterprise only
SSO / SAML		Not listed	Enterprise only

Verdict

Kilo Code is the safest default if you are choosing today: it keeps the open-source Roo/Cline lineage, adds active maintenance, preserves a Roo migration path, and expands the workflow to JetBrains, CLI, Cloud Agents, subagents, and Agent Manager. Cline remains a strong simple option for VS Code users. Roo Code is best treated as a migration source because the repo archives on May 15, 2026.

Install Kilo Code

Roo to Kilo migration guide

Roo Code vs Cline vs Kilo Code FAQ

Short answers for developers choosing between these open-source agentic coding tools.