What for: an open-source coding agent for VS Code that merges the best of Cline and Roo — planning, autonomous edits, modes and MCP.

What it is and who it's for

Kilo Code is an open-source coding agent for VS Code that pulls the best of Cline and Roo into a single extension: planning, autonomous edits, modes and MCP, plus easy access to models. It's for developers who want one all-in-one agent instead of picking between forks. What sets it apart is that it combines features from both ancestors and is actively developed.

Key features

Modes (Plan/Architect/Code) and Roo-style customization.
Autonomous multi-file edits and command execution, like Cline.
MCP and extension support.
Access to many models, including local ones.
Diff view and context control.
Open source, free (you pay for tokens).

Get started in 5 minutes

Install the Kilo Code extension from the VS Code Marketplace.
Connect a model/provider (or a local one via Ollama).
Pick a mode, describe the task, approve edits and commands.

When to use it, and when not to

✅ Use it if: you want one agent with the combined capabilities of Cline and Roo, no agonizing over which to pick.
✅ Use it if: you need modes + MCP + any model inside VS Code for free.
❌ Skip it → go with "Cline" if you want the most stable, straightforward base.
❌ Skip it → go with "Claude Code" if you prefer an autonomous terminal-based pipeline.

The honest price

Free and open source; you only pay for tokens from the models you choose (local models are free). Exact figures are with the provider and change over time.

Gotchas

A young merged project — it sometimes inherits quirks from both ancestors.
Rich functionality means a slightly higher learning curve than a bare-bones agent.
On large tasks, keep an eye on token costs yourself.
Be careful with autonomous command execution.

🤖 Prompt accelerator

"I'm setting up Kilo Code in VS Code on a project. Help me pick the right mode for the task , choose a model that fits my budget, configure the MCP servers I need and assemble context from the right files. Give me a first task statement with acceptance criteria so the agent finishes the job without breaking adjacent code."