Short answer: pick Cline if you want the original plan/act agent in VS Code with step-by-step approvals, maximum transparency and no product markup — you pay only for inference. Pick Kilo Code if you need JetBrains support, built-in autocomplete or light team admin (Teams $15/user/month) in the same open-source agent family. Both are free, open source, bring-your-own-key and support MCP.
Side by side
| Feature | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Cline Bot Inc. | Kilo Code |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Type | IDE extension, CLI / terminal | IDE extension, CLI / terminal |
| Interfaces | VS Code extension · CLI · JetBrains (Enterprise) · SDK | VS Code extension · JetBrains extension · CLI · Kilo Desktop |
| Open source | ✓ Apache-2.0 | ✓ Open source |
| Free tier | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Plans | Open source: Free Enterprise: Custom | Free & open source: $0 Teams: $15/user/mo Enterprise: Custom Kilo Pass: From $19/mo (optional) |
| Models | Any provider via your own API keys, plus local models | Any AI model: BYOK, local models, or the pay-as-you-go Kilo Gateway |
| Bring your own key | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Agent mode | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Autocomplete | — No | ✓ Yes |
| Cloud / background agents | — No | Check site |
| PR code review | — No | Check site |
| MCP support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Self-host option | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Best for | VS Code users who want an autonomous agent with full control over models and spend. | Teams wanting an open-source agent across VS Code and JetBrains with light admin features. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-13 | 2026-10-13 |
What they have in common
- Free and open source — both extensions cost nothing; you pay for the model usage.
- Any model — your own API keys (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and more) or local models.
- Agent mode with approvals — both plan, edit files and run terminal commands, and both support MCP tools.
- VS Code first — both run as VS Code extensions and both have a CLI.
The real difference
Cline popularised the plan/act workflow inside VS Code: it proposes a plan, then executes step by step with diffs and commands you approve. Its client-side architecture sends code straight from your machine to the model provider you choose. It deliberately skips autocomplete, and JetBrains is part of its Enterprise plan.
Kilo Code descends from the Cline / Roo Code family and adds more product around the agent: autocomplete, modes for architecting, coding and debugging, JetBrains and CLI clients in the free tier, a Teams plan, and the Kilo Gateway for pay-as-you-go inference. The trade-off is more options (Gateway, Kilo Pass, BYOK) to understand.
Where Cline wins
- Transparency — plan/act with step-by-step approvals; client-side, so code goes directly to your provider.
- No product fee — free for individuals; inference only, at cost via the Cline provider or with your own keys.
- Simplicity — one free tier and a custom Enterprise plan; nothing else to choose.
Where Kilo Code wins
- JetBrains in the free tier — VS Code, JetBrains and CLI extensions are all open source.
- Autocomplete — code completion alongside the agent.
- Teams for $15/user/month — team management, shared BYOK, centralised billing and usage analytics without an enterprise contract.
Pricing compared
| Plan | Cline | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Free (open source) — pay only for inference | Free (open source) — usage billed separately |
| Inference | Your own keys, or the Cline provider at cost | Your own keys, local models, Kilo Gateway (pay-as-you-go) or optional Kilo Pass from $19/mo |
| Teams | — (Enterprise only) | Teams $15/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom: SSO, SLA, team dashboard, JetBrains extension | Custom: SSO, audit logs, SLA |
Plan data from our tools.json, verified 2026-10-13 on cline.bot/pricing and kilocode.ai/pricing. Model costs depend on the provider and model you pick — see each official site for current inference rates.