Can I use Kilo Code alongside Windsurf?

Yes! Since Kilo is a VS Code extension and Windsurf is a standalone editor, you can run both to compare features before fully switching.

How does Kilo's pricing compare to Windsurf's credit system?

Kilo charges per token at exact provider rates with zero markup. Windsurf uses a credit system (1 credit = $0.04) with different multipliers per model and per plan tier, plus ~20% markup on BYOK. Kilo's pricing is more transparent.

Why can't I use BYOK on Windsurf Teams?

Windsurf's BYOK is limited to individual (Free/Pro) plans only. Teams and Enterprise plans don't support BYOK. Kilo supports BYOK on all plans with all providers at $0 platform fee.

Is Windsurf's Supercomplete better than Kilo's autocomplete?

Windsurf's Supercomplete, Tab-to-jump, and Tab-to-import are genuinely innovative — but they're exclusive to the Windsurf Editor and don't work in JetBrains. Kilo uses Codestral for inline FIM autocomplete with more models coming.

What about my team's existing setup?

Kilo Teams is $15/user/mo (50% cheaper than Windsurf at $30/user/mo) with full BYOK and code review included. Teams can migrate gradually.

What about model routing concerns?

Independent testing raised concerns that Windsurf may route premium model requests to cheaper alternatives. Since Windsurf is closed-source, there's no way to verify. Kilo is open source — inspect every prompt, verify every model call.

Is there a learning curve?

Minimal. If you've used any AI coding tool, you'll feel right at home. Advanced features like Orchestrator mode are opt-in enhancements.

Kilo Code vs Windsurf

Kilo Code gives you Windsurf-style agentic coding without forking your editor — open source, BYOK everywhere.

See Full Comparison

Try Kilo Code Free

Quick Comparison

Pricing

Kilo Code

$0/month

BYOK free or pay-as-you-go at cost

Windsurf

$15/mo (credits)

Free: 25 credits/mo (~6–25 prompts)

AI Models

Kilo Code

500+

60+ providers, zero markup

Windsurf

~8 built-in

+ BYOK (individual only, 20% markup)

BYOK on Teams

Kilo Code

All plans, all features

Windsurf

Not available on Teams/Enterprise

Open Source

Kilo Code

Apache-2.0, full transparency

Windsurf

Closed source

Teams price

Kilo Code

$15/user/mo with full BYOK

Windsurf

$30/user/mo, no BYOK

	Kilo Code	Windsurf
Pricing	$0/month BYOK free or pay-as-you-go at cost	$15/mo (credits) Free: 25 credits/mo (~6–25 prompts)
AI Models	500+ 60+ providers, zero markup	~8 built-in + BYOK (individual only, 20% markup)
BYOK on Teams	All plans, all features	Not available on Teams/Enterprise
Open Source	Apache-2.0, full transparency	Closed source
Teams price	$15/user/mo with full BYOK	$30/user/mo, no BYOK

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.

Transparent pay-per-token pricing

Kilo charges exact provider rates with zero markup — no credit system, no multipliers. Windsurf uses a credit system (1 credit = $0.04) with ~20% markup on BYOK.

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 Windsurf

500+ models at exact provider rates. No credit system. Full BYOK on all plans. Open source.

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.

Transparent pay-per-token pricing

Kilo charges exact provider rates with zero markup — no credit system, no multipliers. Windsurf uses a credit system (1 credit = $0.04) with ~20% markup on BYOK.

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.

Full BYOK on all plans

Your API keys work on every Kilo plan — individual and teams. Windsurf restricts BYOK to individual plans; Teams and Enterprise plans cannot use BYOK.

Trusted by developers at the world's most innovative companies

Complete Feature Comparison

An honest look at where Kilo wins, where Windsurf wins, and where they're comparable

Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion

Inline tab completions

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Proprietary model

Supercomplete (predict edits)

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Editor-exclusive

Tab-to-jump (next edit location)

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Editor-exclusive

Autocomplete model choice

Kilo Code

Expanding

Windsurf

Proprietary model only

Full Tab in JetBrains

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Autocomplete only

AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities

Agent mode (autonomous)

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Cascade agent

Cloud agents

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Dedicated debug mode

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Via Cascade

Memory / context persistence

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Memories feature

Voice prompting

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Model Access & Flexibility

Total models available

Kilo Code

500+

Windsurf

~8 built-in

BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)

Kilo Code

All features

Windsurf

Free/Pro only

Not on Teams/Enterprise

BYOK markup

Kilo Code

0%

Windsurf

~20% markup

Local model support

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Model cost transparency

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Partial

Credit system

Pricing

Free tier

Kilo Code

Free (BYOK or free models)

Windsurf

25 credits/mo

~6–25 prompts

Individual paid

Kilo Code

Pay-as-you-go

Windsurf

$15/mo (500 credits)

Team plan

Kilo Code

$15/user/mo

Windsurf

$30/user/mo

No BYOK on Teams

Rate limits

Kilo Code

None

Windsurf

Credit-based

Open Source & Transparency

Open source codebase

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Closed source

Model verification

Kilo Code

Windsurf

Routing concerns raised

Data used for training

Kilo Code

Never

Windsurf

Never (with ZDR)

Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion

Feature	Windsurf	Kilo Code
Inline tab completions	Proprietary model
Supercomplete (predict edits)	Editor-exclusive
Tab-to-jump (next edit location)	Editor-exclusive
Autocomplete model choice	Proprietary model only	Expanding
Full Tab in JetBrains	Autocomplete only

AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities

Feature	Windsurf	Kilo Code
Agent mode (autonomous)	Cascade agent
Cloud agents
Dedicated debug mode	Via Cascade
Memory / context persistence	Memories feature
Voice prompting

Model Access & Flexibility

Feature	Windsurf	Kilo Code
Total models available	~8 built-in	500+
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)	Free/Pro only Not on Teams/Enterprise	All features
BYOK markup	~20% markup	0%
Local model support
Model cost transparency	Partial Credit system

Pricing

Feature	Windsurf	Kilo Code
Free tier	25 credits/mo ~6–25 prompts	Free (BYOK or free models)
Individual paid	$15/mo (500 credits)	Pay-as-you-go
Team plan	$30/user/mo No BYOK on Teams	$15/user/mo
Rate limits	Credit-based	None

Open Source & Transparency

Feature	Windsurf	Kilo Code
Open source codebase	Closed source
Model verification	Routing concerns raised
Data used for training	Never (with ZDR)	Never

Specialized agent modes Windsurf 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.

1

Install Kilo Code

Install from VS Code/JetBrains marketplace or via our CLI in one click.

1 min

2

Choose Your Models

Pick from 500+ models or use your existing API keys. No credit system.

1 min

3

Start Building

Everything works instantly. Try the agent modes whenever you're ready.

Immediate

Install Kilo Code

Common Questions About Switching from Windsurf

Everything you need to know about moving to Kilo Code.

Compare Kilo Code with more alternatives

See how Kilo stacks up against every major AI coding assistant.

See all Kilo Code alternatives

Ready to upgrade your AI coding experience?

Keep Windsurf running side-by-side if you want to switch at your own pace.

Get Started with Kilo

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✓ No credit card required✓ Free forever for individuals✓ 500+ models, zero markup

Kilo Code vs Windsurf

Quick Comparison

Works in the IDE you already use

Transparent pay-per-token pricing

Fully open source (Apache-2.0)

Why developers choose Kilo Code over Windsurf

Works in the IDE you already use

Transparent pay-per-token pricing

Fully open source (Apache-2.0)

Full BYOK on all plans

Trusted by developers at the world's most innovative companies

Complete Feature Comparison

Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion

AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities

Model Access & Flexibility

Pricing

Open Source & Transparency

Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion

AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities

Model Access & Flexibility

Pricing

Open Source & Transparency

Specialized agent modes Windsurf doesn't have

Glide through your workflow with a mode for every step

Ask mode

Switch in under 5 minutes

Install Kilo Code

Choose Your Models

Start Building

Common Questions About Switching from Windsurf

Compare Kilo Code with more alternatives

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Ready to upgrade your AI coding experience?