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Reviewed

Kilo vs Amp

Choose Kilo for native VS Code and JetBrains workflows, open-source clients, and Desktop beta for code and data. Choose Amp for opinionated agent orchestration, managed orbs, and shared threads. Both support agents and your own provider credentials.

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At a glance

These are different ways to work with agents, not a choice between an agent and a non-agent. Product and plan details below are scoped to the linked official sources.

Where you work
Kilo Code
Desktop (beta), VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, and Cloud
Native VS Code and JetBrains extensions, plus standalone and hosted workflows.
Amp
Web, CLI, and macOS/iOS apps
Amp is not CLI-only; its docs include managed orbs and your own runners.
Desktop app
Kilo Code
Kilo Desktop (beta): code and data workflows
Notebooks, conda, and built-in local inference require a Kilo account. Not a full IDE.
Amp
Amp for macOS (beta), plus iPhone and iPad apps
An interface to Amp threads and orbs, with cross-client access.
Models and agents
Kilo Code
Model choice, custom agents, and native sub-agent delegation
Amp
Opinionated orchestration, specialist subagents, and custom agent modes
Provider credentials
Kilo Code
Hosted models, BYOK, and supported local model providers
Amp
BYOK and supported subscriptions, including ChatGPT and Claude
Current pricing advertises no Amp token fees; provider terms still apply.
Individual pricing
Kilo Code
Free individual clients; model usage and optional services are separate
Amp
Hobby free; Individual from $20/month
Orb compute, provider usage, and paid tiers are distinct cost components.
Sources and review notes

Kilo Desktop for code and data

Beta

Use the Kilo agent in a desktop workspace, or keep your existing VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, and Cloud workflows. Desktop runs the Kilo CLI engine and supports 500+ hosted models through Kilo Gateway, your provider keys, and local inference.

  • Interactive Python notebooks

    Edit and run notebook cells alongside the agent, with outputs visible next to the conversation.

    Notebook documentation

  • Managed conda environments

    Manage Python environments and packages in the app, with access to Anaconda's 19,000 vetted packages.

    Environment documentation

  • Local inference when it fits

    Import a compatible GGUF model into the built-in local model server. Hardware and tool-calling support determine which tasks work well.

    Local inference documentation

Available for macOS Apple Silicon, Windows, and Linux. The built-in local model server, notebooks, and conda environments require a Kilo account. Local inference is not a guarantee of an entirely offline or air-gapped application. See requirements.

Get Kilo Desktop (Beta)
Explore Desktop documentation

Compare the whole cost, not just the seat

Platform
Free for individuals. Teams is $15/user/month; Enterprise is custom. SSO, SCIM, and audit logs are Enterprise features, not included in Teams.
Inference
Use available free models, local inference, or BYOK. Kilo Gateway charges provider rates with no inference markup. Kilo Pass is an optional credit subscription.
Cloud compute
Cloud Agents and hosted Code Reviews have separately priced compute in addition to model inference. Check current pricing and any applicable beta offer. BYOK does not remove compute charges.

Credit purchase processing fee: 5%. Applies to card purchases that add credits, including top-ups and Kilo Pass. Excludes seat subscriptions and non-card payments. See full pricing.

Open-source scope: VS Code, JetBrains, and CLI clients are MIT-licensed; Gateway and Cloud backend code are source-available under a separate license. These licenses do not establish the license of every Desktop component. See component licenses.

Kilo details reviewed . Competitor review dates are listed separately.

Amp pricing: separate access, compute, and models

The current Amp pricing page lists the following as of October 19, 2026. Free access does not make hosted compute or your model provider free.

Hobby: free

All product features, with pay-as-you-go orbs or your own runners. Supported subscriptions and API keys supply model usage under their own provider terms.

Individual: $20/month

The displayed Megawatt tier includes 45,000 orb minutes. This is a compute allowance, not unlimited model tokens. Orb size affects how quickly it is consumed; included usage resets monthly and does not roll over.

Teams: no extra workspace charge

Shared billing, threads, multiplayer, plugins, skills, and model routing. Member tiers and usage still cost money. SAML/OIDC SSO requires at least one current member on an active Megawatt or Gigawatt tier; Enterprise workspaces do not need a paid member tier.

Enterprise: custom

Pooled credits without paid user seats, plus SCIM directory sync, audit logs, spend controls, and additional security and support terms. Confirm requirements in your agreement.

Amp pricing advertises no Amp token fees or limits for supported subscriptions and BYOK. Provider limits and charges still apply; models or agent roles outside those connections can consume Amp credits. Neither product is universally cheaper: compare model usage, existing subscriptions, compute, and the controls your team needs.

Source caveat: some routing and workspace documentation still refers to token fees. The no-fee claim here comes from current pricing; SSO eligibility comes from the workspace documentation. Confirm contract-specific Enterprise terms with Amp.

Compare the workflows you actually use

Kilo emphasizes native IDE access and control over providers. Amp brings managed per-thread environments, specialist orchestration, and multiplayer collaboration. Neither requires giving up agent delegation or BYOK.

Workflow and control

Native IDE integration
Kilo Code
VS Code and JetBrains extensions
Amp
Current docs center on web, CLI, and Apple apps; CLI runs in an editor terminal
Desktop app
Kilo Code
Desktop beta, not a full IDE. Notebooks, conda, and built-in local inference require a Kilo account.
Amp
macOS app in beta, with companion iPhone and iPad apps for threads and orbs
Agent orchestration
Kilo Code
Custom agents and native sub-agent delegation
Amp
Multi-model modes, specialist subagents, and plugin-defined custom agents
Model routing and local inference
Kilo Code
Hosted providers, BYOK, and documented Ollama/LM Studio support
Amp
BYOK, subscriptions, gateways, and custom API endpoints
Custom endpoints are documented; this is not a blanket claim about local-model compatibility.

Collaboration and purchasing

Shared work
Kilo Code
Team billing, usage visibility, and shared agent workflows on paid plans
Amp
Shared threads, multiplayer orbs, plugins, skills, and pooled billing
Team plan and SSO
Kilo Code
Paid Teams collaboration; Enterprise for SSO and governance
Amp
Teams has no extra workspace charge; SAML/OIDC SSO is conditional
SAML/OIDC SSO requires at least one current member on an active Megawatt or Gigawatt tier; Enterprise workspaces do not need a paid member tier.
Enterprise controls
Kilo Code
Enterprise includes SSO/SCIM, audit logs, and security controls
Amp
Custom Enterprise pricing includes SCIM, audit logs, and access controls
Cost visibility
Kilo Code
Provider-rate model usage, with credit purchase fees and optional services itemized separately
Amp
Thread and workspace usage reporting; orb compute and model costs are separate

Kilo and Amp questions

Answers reviewed October 19, 2026. Check the linked sources for later changes.

No. As of October 19, 2026, Amp documents web, CLI, and beta macOS/iOS apps, plus managed orbs and your own runners. Kilo offers native VS Code and JetBrains extensions alongside CLI, cloud workflows, and Desktop beta.

Yes. Amp pricing lists BYOK and supported ChatGPT and Claude subscriptions with no Amp token fees or limits. Provider subscription limits and API charges still apply, and roles not covered by your connection can use Amp credits. Some documentation still mentions token fees; this comparison attributes the no-fee statement to the current pricing page rather than treating it as a guarantee for every enterprise agreement.

Amp lists Hobby as free with pay-as-you-go orbs or your own runners. Individual is $20/month for the displayed Megawatt tier, with 45,000 orb minutes. Teams adds no extra workspace charge, while member tiers and usage still cost money; Enterprise is custom. Orb sizes affect how quickly the allowance is used. Kilo separates individual client access, model usage, credit purchase fees, and optional paid services. Neither is always cheaper: compare your actual tasks, provider subscriptions, compute, and required team controls.

Amp's current pricing lists SAML/OIDC SSO under Teams at no extra workspace charge. The workspace documentation qualifies that availability: SAML/OIDC SSO requires at least one current member on an active Megawatt or Gigawatt tier; Enterprise workspaces do not need a paid member tier. SCIM directory sync and audit logs are listed under custom Enterprise pricing.

Amp is worth evaluating if you prefer opinionated model orchestration, managed per-thread orbs that keep working when your laptop is closed, and shared threads or multiplayer collaboration. It has specialist subagents and custom agents. Kilo is a strong fit for native VS Code or JetBrains work, open-source clients, explicit provider choice, and Desktop beta code-and-data workflows.

Yes. Kilo Desktop is in beta for macOS Apple Silicon, Windows, and Linux. It uses the Kilo CLI agent engine and combines agent chat with files, git, terminals, interactive Python notebooks, and conda environments. Its built-in local model server, notebooks, and conda environments require a Kilo account. Desktop is an alternative workspace, not a requirement to replace your existing IDE.

Individual platform access is free. Teams costs $15/user/month; Enterprise is custom. Paid inference and cloud compute are separate. Kilo Gateway charges provider rates with no inference markup; a 5% processing fee applies to card purchases of credits, including optional Kilo Pass. Seat subscriptions and non-card payments are excluded from that processing fee. BYOK covers inference through your provider, not Kilo cloud compute.

The VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, and CLI are MIT-licensed. Gateway and Cloud backend code are source-available under their repository license, with security and abuse-protection exclusions. These component licenses should not be generalized to the entire hosted platform or Desktop application.

Yes. Kilo supports provider credentials and compatible local inference, including Ollama and LM Studio. Desktop also has a managed local model server for imported GGUF files. Local inference keeps prompts out of hosted model providers, but does not by itself make the whole application offline or air-gapped. Hosted features and connected tools have their own data flows.

Cloud Agents support repository-based work, webhook triggers, and scheduled triggers; triggers are in beta. The current documentation limits each message to 15 minutes, so break long jobs into steps. Cloud compute is billed separately from inference, including with BYOK. Local tools and MCP support should not be assumed to work identically in a hosted environment; check the current Cloud Agent documentation for limits.

Sources and scope

Official Amp pages checked on . Pricing, beta availability, and entitlements can change. Kilo evidence and cost details are linked in the Kilo overview above. We make no claim about Amp's source-code license or a blanket lack of local-model support.

Try Kilo on a real project

Keep your editor, choose your provider, and compare task quality and total cost on your own workload. Evaluate team security and billing requirements separately.

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