Cline or Kilo Code: how they differ and which to choose

Cline and Kilo Code look alike: a VS Code extension, a chat on the side, an agent that edits files and runs commands. That is why the query cline vs kilo code comes up so often for people who have already chosen "an agent in the editor" and now need to decide which one. The differences are few, but they sit in details you do not notice at once: which modes exist, what is connected by default, and how the tool behaves with your own key.

The descriptions come from docs.cline.bot and kilo.ai/docs as of October 18, 2026. We compare capabilities and settings, not quality of work: that depends on the task and the model, and you should test it on your own projects.

Where the two tools came from

Cline appeared first. According to the Roo Code documentation, Roo Code grew out of it, but that extension was shut down on May 15, 2026 (the community continues its fork, ZooCode). Kilo Code has its own history: according to its documentation, the Kilo CLI is a fork of OpenCode. If lineage matters to you, look at the projects' history in their repositories.

Today Kilo Code, per its docs, has its own architecture. The current VS Code extension is built on the Kilo CLI, and besides it there is a JetBrains plugin, a console client, a cloud agent and mobile apps. Cline's docs list an IDE extension, a CLI, a terminal UI (TUI), a desktop app, cloud agents, ACP for Zed, JetBrains, Neovim and Emacs, and Kanban for parallel agents.

Modes

Cline is built on two modes. In Plan the agent reads code and discusses the approach but does not change files or run commands; in Act it carries out the task, keeping the conversation context. You can pick a separate model for each mode: the docs directly suggest a strong model for planning and a fast one for implementation.

Kilo Code is built around agent modes. The docs mention the built-in Code, Plan, Debug and Ask agents. A separate Orchestrator is marked as deprecated there: agents with full tool access (Code, Plan, Debug) delegate subtasks to subagents themselves. You create your own modes either as markdown agent files (how the current extension works) or in the legacy custom_modes.yaml. Separately described are agent permissions, custom subagents, skills, workflows and codebase indexing.

So if you need the minimum, "think first, then act", that is Plan and Act in Cline. If you need specialized roles (debugger, reviewer, custom subagents) with permissions for each, that is the central part of the product in Kilo. You can assemble much of it in Cline from rules, skills and subagents too, but the philosophy is different.

Default providers and bringing your own key

This is the most practical difference. Both tools let you connect your own key, but each also has its own "native" entry point.

In Cline's docs that is the Cline provider (pay-as-you-go with credits) and a separate ClinePass subscription. See their site for the terms of both: prices and limits change, so we do not quote them. Alongside are Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, Gemini and dozens more, local models, and the generic OpenAI Compatible.

Kilo Code defaults to its own Kilo Code (Gateway) provider, and a BYOK mode lets you use your own vendor keys while keeping platform features like cloud agents and code review. The AI Providers section also has OpenAI Compatible and dozens of ready-made providers.

For a gateway you need the generic option in both. The address for such clients is https://api.zukko.pro/v1 (see the VS Code extensions documentation↗).

Cline. Provider: OpenAI Compatible. Base URL: https://api.zukko.pro/v1. API Key: fetch_.... Model: for example claude-sonnet-5. According to the Cline docs the same block has model parameters: max output tokens, context window size, image support, prices; it helps to fill them from GET /v1/models, otherwise Cline will count spend with defaults. If you have a Verify button, press it.

Kilo Code. Provider: OpenAI Compatible, Base URL https://api.zukko.pro/v1, key fetch_.... The Kilo docs say that with a valid URL the tool fetches the model list itself if the provider has an OpenAI-compatible models endpoint. Zukko has one: GET https://api.zukko.pro/v1/models. If the list does not load, type the id manually. The key field is optional when authentication goes through headers, but for Zukko you need the key.

Step-by-step guides exist separately: Cline↗ and Kilo Code↗. Both tools use the OpenAI format, where for Claude the gateway does not see the cache and all input is billed at the input price. With GPT, cache reads are visible in both formats.

Comparison in one table

What multitasking costs

The difference in approach shows on the bill. Take an example with planning and implementation. Zukko prices on October 18, 2026, $ per 1M tokens, cache ignored.

The task: a plan of 100,000 input and 10,000 output tokens, then implementation with 1.2M input and 120K output.

• Everything on claude-opus-5-5 (0.8 / 4): 1.3 × 0.8 + 0.13 × 4 = 1.04 + 0.52 = $1.56.
• Plan on claude-opus-5-5, implementation on gpt-6.1-sol (0.27 / 1.32): plan 0.1 × 0.8 + 0.01 × 4 = 0.12; implementation 1.2 × 0.27 + 0.12 × 1.32 = 0.324 + 0.1584 ≈ 0.48; total about $0.60.

In Cline this is the "different models for Plan and Act" setting. In Kilo Code the same is achieved by assigning models to agents, and an agent can hand work out to subagents. Each subtask runs in its own context: four subtasks of 300,000 input and 30,000 output tokens on claude-sonnet-5 (0.4 / 2) cost 4 × (0.3 × 0.4 + 0.03 × 2) = 4 × 0.18 = $0.72, and on deepseek-v4.1-flash (0.013 / 0.038) 4 × (0.3 × 0.013 + 0.03 × 0.038) = 4 × 0.00504 ≈ $0.02. The agent that hands out subtasks also spends tokens on its own steps, so account for that. Whether a cheap model fits your subtask, test on a small piece. Check current prices in GET https://api.zukko.pro/v1/models.

What to pick

If your task is simpler: one agent, a clear "plan, then act" loop and fewer settings, start with Cline. If you want many specialized agents, subtask delegation and several surfaces (VS Code, JetBrains, CLI), try Kilo Code. Do not consider Roo Code as a third option: according to its official documentation, the extension was shut down on May 15, 2026. To test, create a key↗, set a daily limit on it and give both tools the same small task.

FAQ

Cline vs continue or Kilo Code: what if I need autocomplete?

Cline is built around the agent, while Kilo Code, according to its documentation, also has built-in Autocomplete. If autocomplete is your priority, also compare Continue and other extensions: see the review AI extensions for VS Code↗.

Cline alternatives: what else is there?

Kilo Code, Continue and other extensions from the overview above. According to its official documentation, Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026; the community develops its fork, ZooCode.

Can I keep both extensions in one VS Code?

Technically yes, and the key and balance are shared if you connect the same Zukko key. But to avoid confusion, pick one agent per task.

Do I need Kilo Gateway if I already have a Zukko key?

No. Choose OpenAI Compatible and enter the Zukko address and key. Kilo's Gateway is a separate service with its own terms.