Why developers are switching from Cursor to Kilo Code
Open source. Open platform. Open pricing. No vendor lock-in. Choose your editor.
Quick Comparison
Open Pricing
Free forever. Pay-as-you-go for AI at cost. Zero markup.
Cursor charges $20-40/month whether you use it or not
Open Source
View the code. Extend it. Audit it. See exactly how it works.
Cursor is proprietary closed-source software
Open Platform
VS Code, JetBrains, CLI. Use Kilo everywhere you code.
Cursor only works in their VS Code fork
Six reasons developers choose Kilo Code over Cursor
Open source. Open pricing. Open platform. Complete freedom.
Open Source
View the code. Extend it. Audit it. See exactly how Kilo works. Cursor is closed source.
Open Pricing
Free extension. Pay-as-you-go AI at cost with zero markup. No $20-40/month subscription required.
Open Platform
Use your favorite editor - VS Code, JetBrains, or CLI. Not locked to a forked editor that lags behind.
Advanced Agent System
Multi-agent orchestration with Architect, Code, Debug, and Ask modes working together on complex projects.
Model Freedom
Choose from 400+ AI models, bring your own keys, or run local models. Not limited to ~10 models.
Privacy & Control
Kilo doesn't retain your data. Run local models for complete privacy. Full transparency.
Trusted by developers at the world's most innovative companies
Complete Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See exactly what you gain by switching to Kilo Code
Core Capabilities
AI Models
Editor & Platform
Teams and Enterprise Features
Pricing
Advanced Features
Privacy & Security
Core Capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Basic code completion | ||
Multi-line suggestions | ||
Chat interface | ||
Model selection | Limited | Open |
Orchestrator mode | ||
Architect mode | ||
Debug mode | ||
Automatic context search | ||
Composer (multi-file editing) |
AI Models
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Number of models | <10 | 400+ |
Model selection | Limited | Open |
Bring your own keys | Partial | Open |
Local models (Ollama, LM Studio) |
Editor & Platform
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
VS Code support | Fork only | Native |
JetBrains IDEs support | ||
CLI support | ||
Stay on latest VS Code | ||
Extension compatibility | Mostly | Full |
Teams and Enterprise Features
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Centralized billing | ||
Usage analytics | Basic | Expansive |
Role-based permissions | Limited | |
Data collection controls | Limited | |
Shared custom modes | ||
Model limiting |
Pricing
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
Extension/IDE plugin | Included | Free & Open |
Monthly subscription (individual) | $20 | $0 |
Monthly subscription (business/teams) | $40 | $15 |
AI usage fee | Bundled (limited) | Open (at cost) |
Markup on AI costs | Unknown | 0% |
Free tier | Limited | Unlimited |
Advanced Features
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
MCP support | ||
Codebase indexing | ||
Memory bank | ||
Parallel agents in CLI | ||
Custom modes | ||
Automatic error recovery | ||
Deployment | ||
Auto cleanups |
Privacy & Security
| Feature | Cursor | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
SSO/SAML | Business | Enterprise |
Code used for training | Optional | Never |
Data sharing with providers | Yes | Open choice |
Local model support | ||
Open source |
One tool. Five specialized agents. Cursor can't match this.
Kilo Code provides a full team of AI agents working together to build your software.
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 400+ 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.
Compare Kilo Code with Other Tools
See how Kilo Code stacks up against other AI coding assistants
Ready to upgrade your AI coding experience?
Join 1M+ developers who've already made the switch