Kilo Code vs 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.
Quick Comparison
No Editor Switch
Works inside your existing VS Code or JetBrains IDE. Keep your settings, extensions, and keybindings.
Cursor requires switching to their forked VS Code editor
True BYOK Everywhere
Use your own API keys for everything — autocomplete, agents, chat. Access 500+ models from 60+ providers at exact provider rates.
Cursor's BYOK only works for chat. Tab and Agent use proprietary models.
Fully Open Source
Apache-2.0. Inspect every prompt, see context window sizes, verify no silent compression.
Cursor is closed-source — you can't see what's sent to models or how context is managed
Seven reasons developers choose Kilo Code over Cursor
Same agentic power, your existing IDE, 500+ models, open source, cheaper.
No Editor Switch Required
Kilo is a VS Code extension + JetBrains plugin + CLI. Keep your settings, extensions, and keybindings. Cursor requires switching to their forked editor.
500+ Models, Zero Markup
Access any model from 60+ providers at exact provider rates. Cursor limits you to ~8 frontier models — no free/budget models, no MiniMax, no DeepSeek.
True BYOK on All Features
Bring your own API keys for everything — autocomplete, agents, chat. Cursor's BYOK only works for chat; Tab and Agent use proprietary models.
Fully Open Source (Apache-2.0)
Inspect every prompt, see context window sizes, verify no silent compression. Cursor is fully closed source — you can't see what's sent to models.
No Subscription Required
BYOK at $0 platform fee, or pay-as-you-go credits. Cursor's free Hobby tier has limited agent requests and Tab completions; meaningful usage requires Pro at $20/mo.
JetBrains Native Support
Full Kilo experience in IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm natively. Cursor is VS Code-only — if your team uses JetBrains, Cursor isn't an option.
Privacy & Transparency
Your code is never used for training. Run local models for complete privacy. See every prompt sent to every model. Cursor is opaque about its context management.
Trusted by developers at the world's most innovative companies
I used Cursor for almost two years — until I got hit with a surprise charge I couldn't explain and support couldn't justify. Now, I use Kilo as if it were a hired team member. What matters most to me is transparency and predictability.
Complete Feature Comparison — March 2026
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
Code Review & DevOps
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 |
In-session context awareness | Current task + recent changes | |
Free completions | Limited (Hobby) Unlimited on Pro $20/mo | Unlimited (BYOK) |
AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
AI chat in IDE | Chat (Cmd+L) | |
Agent mode (autonomous coding) | Agent mode (Composer) | |
Cloud-based agents | Background Agents | |
Mobile agent access | cursor.com/agents | |
Multi-agent orchestration | Parallel agents via worktrees | |
Plan mode | Plan mode in Composer | |
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 | |
Slack integration | Cursor for Slack |
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 | ||
Auto model routing | Selects best model per task | |
Proprietary custom model | Composer 1.5 + Tab model | |
Zero markup on model costs | API rates on Pro ($20 included) | |
Model cost transparency | Usage in editor + dashboard |
Code Review & DevOps
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Automated code review | BugBot | |
Autofix for found bugs | BugBot Autofix (new) | |
PR review integration | BugBot on GitHub | |
One-click deployment | ||
Visual App Builder | ||
Managed codebase indexing | Secure codebase indexing | |
Linear integration | Native Linear integration |
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 | |
Cross-device session sync | ||
Browser automation | Built-in browser tool |
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 |
Power user | $60-200/mo Pro+ $60 | Ultra $200 | $19-199/mo |
Team plan | $40/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
Code review add-on | $40/user/mo BugBot (free limited or paid) | Included free |
Rate limits | Usage-based On included API credits | None |
Open Source, Privacy & Security
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Open source | Fully closed source | |
Visible prompts & context | Proprietary / opaque | |
Privacy mode | No data stored or trained | |
SOC 2 certified | SOC 2 Type II | |
Data used for training | Never (Privacy Mode) | Never |
Self-hostable | Cloud-only | Partial |
Specialized agent modes Cursor doesn't have
Orchestrator, Architect, Debug, Code, and Ask — each mode purpose-built for a different part of your workflow.
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. Use your current editor. 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
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Kilo Code for JetBrains IDEs
AI coding assistant for IntelliJ, PhpStorm, WebStorm, and Rider
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