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500+ hosted AI models

Looking for a Grok Build CLI alternative?

Compare Kilo CLI with the terminal workflow in xAI Grok Build. Access and billing terms should be checked against the current xAI offering. Kilo CLI gives you 500+ hosted models, an MIT-licensed CLI you can audit, and available free models to get started.

This update refreshes Kilo's Desktop, licensing, and cost details. Grok Build's current plan eligibility and provider restrictions could not be reverified, and are marked accordingly rather than treated as unavailable features.

Install Kilo CLI
View Documentation

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.

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.

See Kilo CLI in Action

Best for:

xAI Grok Build CLI

  • You have access to Grok Build and want a Grok-native CLI
  • You primarily work with Grok models and don't need alternatives
  • You want xAI's take on plan review, diffs, and terminal-first workflows

Kilo CLI

  • You want freedom to choose from 500+ hosted models including Claude Opus 4.8, GPT-5.5, Gemini, and Grok
  • You need IDE integration (VS Code and JetBrains)
  • You want local model support via Ollama or LM Studio
  • You need a free tier without a subscription requirement
  • Transparency matters: Kilo's CLI and IDE clients are MIT-licensed
  • Your team needs centralized billing, analytics, and shared workflows

Feature-by-feature comparison

A detailed look at models, pricing, IDE support, and platform depth.

Models Supported
xAI Grok Build CLI
Grok-focused CLI, including grok-build / grok-code-fast model access
KiloKilo CLI
500+ hosted models, including Claude Opus 4.8 and GPT-5.5, plus compatible local models
Pricing
xAI Grok Build CLI
Check current xAI access and billing terms for the CLI
KiloKilo CLI
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.
Open Source
xAI Grok Build CLI
CLI license not reverified for this update
KiloKilo CLI
MIT-licensed CLI, VS Code, and JetBrains clients; separate backend licenses
Workflow Agents
xAI Grok Build CLI
Plan mode + standard interactive CLI workflow
KiloKilo CLI
Code, Plan, Ask, Debug, plus sub-agents and custom workflows
Local Models
xAI Grok Build CLI
Local-provider support not verified for this CLI
KiloKilo CLI
✅ Ollama and LM Studio supported
IDE Extension
xAI Grok Build CLI
This comparison covers the terminal CLI, not every Grok interface
KiloKilo CLI
✅ VS Code and JetBrains
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)
xAI Grok Build CLI
xAI API-key workflow; third-party provider support not verified
KiloKilo CLI
Supported providers and compatible endpoints; capabilities vary by model
Parallel Subagents
xAI Grok Build CLI
✅ Yes (parallel subagents with worktree support)
KiloKilo CLI
✅ Native sub-agent delegation with parallel agents
MCP Server Support
xAI Grok Build CLI
✅ Yes
KiloKilo CLI
✅ Yes
Headless / Scripting Mode
xAI Grok Build CLI
✅ Yes (-p flag for scripts and automations)
KiloKilo CLI
✅ Yes (pipeline and CI/CD workflows)
Session Persistence
xAI Grok Build CLI
Not emphasized publicly; feedback and local CLI workflows documented
KiloKilo CLI
Session handoff across supported interfaces; tools and credentials can differ
Free Tier
xAI Grok Build CLI
Current CLI free-tier eligibility not verified
KiloKilo CLI
Free individual platform access; inference and cloud compute are separate
Context Window
xAI Grok Build CLI
Model-dependent; verify the selected model and current CLI limits
KiloKilo CLI
Model- and provider-dependent

Why Developers Choose Kilo CLI Over xAI Grok Build

Choose Across Model Providers

Grok Build CLI focuses on xAI's Grok model family. Kilo CLI supports 500+ hosted models, including Grok, so you can choose a model for each task. Switch between Claude Opus 4.8, GPT-5.5, Gemini, and more without leaving the CLI.

No Subscription Required

Verify Grok Build's current access requirements before comparing costs. Kilo CLI has free individual platform access. Use supported provider keys or Kilo Gateway at provider inference rates. Card credit purchases carry a 5% processing fee; Kilo Pass is optional and cloud compute is separate.

IDE Integration Included

Kilo CLI includes VS Code and JetBrains extensions for seamless editor integration. Grok Build is presented by xAI as a coding agent that runs from your terminal, so editor-native workflows are not its primary surface.

Run Local Models

Kilo CLI supports compatible local inference through Ollama and LM Studio. Running the CLI locally is not the same as running its model locally: hosted models receive prompt context, and connected tools and cloud features have separate data flows.

Open Source Transparency

Kilo's CLI, VS Code extension, and JetBrains plugin are MIT-licensed. Gateway and Cloud backend code use a separate source-available license. xAI's Grok Build model is proprietary, with no public source code for the model or hosted service.

Get Started in Seconds

Install Kilo CLI with a single command

Terminal
$ npm install -g @kilocode/cli

Or use pnpm, yarn, or bun. See documentation for more options.

The CLI is one part of the platform. With Kilo, You Also Get:

Cloud Agents

Access Kilo from the web without a local machine. Run resource-intensive tasks in the cloud and sync results back to your local environment.

View Documentation

IDE Extensions

Use Kilo in VS Code, JetBrains, or the CLI. Session handoffs depend on the interface, credentials, and tools you configure.

View Documentation

Agent Manager

Stop and start agents in one click. Switch contexts easily between different tasks without losing progress.

View Documentation

Sessions

Resume supported sessions across IDE, CLI, and Cloud workflows. Tools, credentials, and capabilities can differ by interface.

View Documentation

Voice Prompting

Speak your prompts naturally. No typing needed—just talk and code.

View Documentation

Code Reviews

Automatic PR reviews with supported review models, inline comments, and configurable review styles. Hosted compute is separate from inference.

View Documentation

Try Kilo CLI Today

500+ hosted models. Specialized agents and sub-agents. Provider-rate inference. MIT-licensed CLI.

Install Kilo CLI
View Documentation