Kilo Code vs Cursor
Kilo Code is the open-source alternative to Cursor — same agent power, no forked editor, 500+ models.
Quick Comparison
Works in the IDE you already use
Kilo ships as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin, and a CLI. Keep your settings, extensions, and keybindings — no forked editor, no new window to manage.
500+ models, zero markup
Route every mode — autocomplete, chat, and agents — through whichever model fits the task. Use BYOK with any provider at exact provider rates, or stay fully local with Ollama and LM Studio.
Fully open source (Apache-2.0)
Inspect every prompt, audit context windows, self-host if you want to. Nothing about how Kilo drives the model is hidden — the prompts, the context policy, and the tool layer are all readable in GitHub.
Why developers choose Kilo Code over Cursor
The open-source agentic platform inside your existing IDE vs the standalone AI-first code editor. 500+ models, zero markup, no editor switch required.
Works in the IDE you already use
Kilo ships as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin, and a CLI. Keep your settings, extensions, and keybindings — no forked editor, no new window to manage.
500+ models, zero markup
Route every mode — autocomplete, chat, and agents — through whichever model fits the task. Use BYOK with any provider at exact provider rates, or stay fully local with Ollama and LM Studio.
Fully open source (Apache-2.0)
Inspect every prompt, audit context windows, self-host if you want to. Nothing about how Kilo drives the model is hidden — the prompts, the context policy, and the tool layer are all readable in GitHub.
True BYOK on every feature
Kilo uses your own API keys for autocomplete, chat, and agents. Cursor only lets you BYOK in chat — Tab and Agent/Edit are locked to their proprietary models.
Trusted by developers at the world's most innovative companies
Complete Feature Comparison
An honest look at where Kilo wins, where Cursor wins, and where they're comparable
Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion
AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities
Model Access & Flexibility
IDE & Platform Support
Pricing
Open Source, Privacy & Security
Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Inline tab completions | Proprietary Tab model (RL-trained) | |
Multi-line completions | Multi-line + cross-file | |
Next-action prediction | Predicts where + what to edit next | |
Cross-file jump suggestions | Tab jumps between files | |
Fill-in-the-Middle (FIM) | Custom model | |
Autocomplete model choice | Locked Proprietary model only | Expanding |
Free completions | Limited (Hobby) Unlimited on Pro $20/mo | Unlimited (BYOK) |
AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Agent mode (autonomous coding) | Agent mode (Composer) | |
Cloud-based agents | Background Agents | |
Multi-agent orchestration | Parallel agents via worktrees | |
Dedicated debug mode | Via chat only | |
Custom agent modes | Rules + custom instructions | |
Memory / context persistence | Semantic codebase indexing | |
Voice prompting | ||
MCP server support | Full MCP + plugins |
Model Access & Flexibility
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Total models available | ~8 frontier + Composer 1.5 | 500+ |
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) | Chat only Tab/Agent use proprietary models | All features |
Local model support | Partial Via OpenAI-compatible base URL | |
Free & budget models | ||
Zero markup on model costs | API rates on Pro ($20 included) |
IDE & Platform Support
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
VS Code (as extension) | Cursor IS the IDE (fork) | |
JetBrains IDEs | ||
CLI tool | Cursor CLI | |
Mobile agent access | cursor.com/agents |
Pricing
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Free tier | Limited Limited Tab + limited Agent | Full (BYOK) |
Individual paid | $20/mo $20 of API usage included | Pay-as-you-go |
Team plan | $40/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
Code review | $40/user/mo BugBot (free limited or paid) | Included free |
Open Source, Privacy & Security
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Open source | Fully closed source | |
Visible prompts & context | Proprietary / opaque | |
SOC 2 certified | SOC 2 Type II | |
Data used for training | Never (Privacy Mode) | Never |
Specialized agent modes Cursor doesn't have
Orchestrator, Architect, Debug, Code, and Ask — each mode purpose-built for a different part of your workflow. Plus 500+ models and inline autocomplete.
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 in under 5 minutes
No complicated setup. No vendor lock-in. No risk.
Install Kilo Code
Keep using VS Code (not a fork) or switch to JetBrains. Install Kilo in one click.
Choose Your Models
Pick from 500+ models or use your existing API keys. Start with our recommendations.
Start Building
Everything works instantly. Try the agent modes to see what you've been missing.
Common Questions About Switching from Cursor
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Kilo Code vs Roo Code
Roo Code archives May 15, 2026 — compare it with Kilo Code and migrate in minutes.
Ready to upgrade your AI coding experience?
Keep Cursor running side-by-side if you want to switch at your own pace.