Kilo Code is an open-source AI coding agent that runs as an extension inside VS Code and JetBrains IDEs and as a standalone command-line tool called Kilo CLI. It combines an architect/code/review-style workflow with broad model choice, positioning itself as a unified, OSS alternative to closed coding agents.
The project was created by forking two leading open-source coding extensions, Cline and Roo Code, and merging their strongest features under a single roof. The company behind it was co-founded by Sid Sijbrandij, who previously co-founded GitLab and served as its CEO, alongside Scott Breitenother, founder of data consultancy Brooklyn Data. That pedigree has helped it attract both developers and investors quickly.
In December 2025 Kilo Code closed an $8M seed round led by Cota Capital, with participation from Breakers, General Catalyst, Quiet Capital and Tokyo Black. Around the same time the project crossed 750,000 downloads and reached the #1 spot on OpenRouter, an aggregator that routes calls across more than 500 large language models, signalling unusually strong developer pull in a crowded AI coding market.
The product itself emphasises structured modes (architect for planning, code for implementation, review for verification), zero-markup access to 500+ models, JetBrains support, a persistent Memory Bank, parallel agents, one-click deployment, AI-driven code review, cloud agents and managed indexing. Pricing is transparent because the agent is open source and only passes through underlying model costs.
NeuronFeed lists Kilo Code as one of the most credible open-source contenders in the AI coding agent category, particularly for engineers who want model choice without vendor lock-in.