Why developers are leaving Windsurf for Kilo Code
500+ models at exact provider rates. No credit system. Full BYOK on all plans. Open source.
Quick Comparison
One tool. Five specialized agents. Windsurf can't do this.
Kilo Code allows you to orchestrate agents that work together to build complete features from architecture to deployment.
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
Transparent Pricing
Pay per token at exact provider rates. 500+ models, zero markup, no credits.
Windsurf uses a credit system (1 credit = $0.04) with ~20% BYOK markup
Open Source
View the code. Verify model calls. Audit everything. Apache-2.0.
Windsurf is closed-source with model routing concerns raised
Full BYOK Everywhere
Your API keys on all plans, all features, all providers at $0.
Windsurf's BYOK is Free/Pro only. Not available on Teams/Enterprise
Parallel CLI Agents. Windsurf doesn't do this.
Run multiple AI agents simultaneously to tackle different problems at once.
Start multiple tasks in parallel, each with its own specialized agent. Work on frontend and backend simultaneously. Fix multiple bugs at once.
Why developers choose Kilo Code over Windsurf
Transparent pricing, open source, full BYOK, your IDE.
Multi-Agent Orchestration
Orchestrator mode breaks down complex projects into subtasks. Windsurf's Cascade is smooth but single-threaded.
Parallel Agents in CLI
Run multiple AI agents simultaneously. Windsurf has side-by-side Cascade panes but no CLI.
500+ Models
60+ providers at exact rates. No credit system. No 20% BYOK markup.
Full BYOK Everywhere
All plans, all features, all providers at $0. Windsurf limits BYOK to individual plans.
Open Source
Verify every model call. No routing discrepancies. Apache-2.0.
50% Cheaper Teams
$15/user/mo vs Windsurf's $30/user/mo. Full BYOK and code review included.
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
Tab Autocomplete & Code Completion
AI Chat & Agentic Capabilities
Model Access & Flexibility
Pricing
Open Source & Transparency
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 | ||
Slack integration |
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 | ||
Claude models direct access | Partial BYOK only — Anthropic refused | |
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 | |
Data used for training | Never (with ZDR) | Never |
Switch in under 5 minutes
No complicated setup. No vendor lock-in. No risk.
Install Kilo Code
Install from VS Code/JetBrains marketplace or via our CLI in one click.
Choose Your Models
Pick from 500+ models or use your existing API keys. No credit system.
Start Building
Everything works instantly. Try the agent modes whenever you're ready.
Common Questions About Switching
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Kilo Code for JetBrains IDEs
AI coding assistant for IntelliJ, PhpStorm, WebStorm, and Rider
Ready to upgrade your AI coding experience?
Join 1.5M+ developers. No credit system. No markup.