Kilo Code vs Cline
Plans, free access, limits and intended use side by side, taken from each vendor’s own pages. No score and no winner: the facts show where the two differ.
Change tools
Open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal and the cloud, with free models, your own keys or pay-as-you-go credits
Open source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal and the browser, paid per model use
- Free access
- Kilo Code: Free access
- Cline: Free access
- Paid from
- Kilo Code: USD 0.33 to $1.20 per hour
- Cline: USD 9.99 per month
- Plans listed
- Kilo Code: 9
- Cline: 4
- Public API
- Kilo Code: Not confirmed
- Cline: Yes
Where Kilo Code and Cline differ
- Pricing checkPrices confirmed for Kilo Code; some prices or terms not confirmed for Cline.
- PlansKilo Code lists 9 plans and Cline lists 4.
Head to head
Each value from the tool’s profile and the vendor’s own pages
| Kilo Code | Fact | Cline |
|---|---|---|
| Access and price | ||
| Free access availableFree and open source · USD 0 | Free accessSame | Free access availableOpen Source · USD 0 |
| USD 0.33 to $1.20 per hourCloud compute · billed per second | Lowest listed paid plan | USD 9.99 per monthClinePass |
| Free open-source agent; models paid separately (free, own keys or credits); Kilo Pass from $19/month; Teams $15/user/month | Pricing model | Free open source software; models paid per use (own API key or Cline credits) or ClinePass at $9.99/month; Enterprise custom |
| 9 | Plans listedDiffers | 4 |
| Not confirmed | Public API | Yes |
| Not confirmed | Card to start | Not required |
| Not confirmed | Open source | Yes |
| What it is for | ||
| Developers who want one open-source coding agent across editor, terminal and cloud, and are comfortable managing model spend separately from the tool | Built for | Developers who want an approval-based coding agent and choose and pay for their own models |
| Coding | CategorySame | Coding |
| Platforms |
|
| Works with |
|
| How current | ||
| Profile sources checked | ||
| Prices confirmed · Nov 5, 2026 | Pricing checkDiffers | Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 24, 2026 |
Official source check for both tools. No hands-on testing and no score: “Differs” marks a documented difference, not a better tool.
Plans and prices
Kilo Code
Prices confirmed · Nov 5, 2026- Free and open sourceUSD 0
- Auto Free, BYOK or localUSD 0 a month
- Kilo GatewayUSD 0 a month plus usage
- Kilo Pass StarterUSD 19 per month
- Kilo Pass ProUSD 49 per month
Show 4 more plans
- Kilo Pass ExpertUSD 199 per month
- TeamsUSD 15 per user per month
- EnterpriseCustom
- Cloud computeUSD 0.33 to $1.20 per hourbilled per second
Cline
Some prices or terms not confirmed · Oct 24, 2026- Open SourceUSD 0
- Cline credits (usage-billing)Pay as you go; inference at cost
- ClinePassUSD 9.99 per month
- EnterpriseCustom quote
Strengths and limits
Kilo Code
Strengths
- Free open-source clients: The VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin and CLI are MIT-licensed and free to install, with no mandatory subscription for individuals.
- Many ways to pay for models: Free models, local models, your own provider keys or Gateway credits at provider rates, so you can avoid Kilo inference spend entirely.
- Several surfaces, one agent: The same agent is offered in VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal, the cloud and Slack, and cloud sessions can be resumed locally per the FAQ.
Limits to plan around
- Total cost is not one number: Platform, model inference, a 5% processing fee on top-ups and cloud compute are billed as separate parts, so a monthly bill has to be assembled.
- Cloud compute is extra even with your own keys: The pricing FAQ says bringing your own keys covers model inference, not the container that runs a cloud agent.
- Paid credits expire: Paid credits, including automatic top-ups, expire one calendar year after purchase; the 5% processing fee is non-refundable.
Cline
Strengths
- No software fee: The extension, CLI and desktop app are free for individual developers, with no subscription or seat fee on the open source path.
- Open source client: The GitHub repository is published under the Apache 2.0 licence, so the code can be read, forked and built.
- Wide model choice: Your own key for dozens of providers, local models, or one Cline balance across 100+ models; switching provider does not lock you in.
Limits to plan around
- Open-ended model bill: Pay-as-you-go cost follows token use, so a long task on a frontier model can cost more than a flat-priced editor plan.
- ClinePass limits unquantified: ClinePass is measured against 5-hour, weekly and monthly limits, but the docs give no amounts, and it covers only curated open models.
- No refunds on credits: The terms say fees are non-refundable, including unused credits and unused subscription time, unless the law requires otherwise.
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Questions about comparing tools
How does the comparison work?
Add two tools to the comparison tray from any tool card, then open this page. The table pulls each tool's verified plan details, platforms, strengths and limits from its profile, so both columns carry the same kind of evidence, with a separate source-check date for each tool.
Do you declare a winner?
No. The table sets two tools against each other on documented facts, not on a score. Which one wins depends on your task, your budget and your usage volume — three things we cannot see from here.
Why are some cells empty or marked unverified?
Because we could not confirm that detail on the vendor's own pages. Rather than filling the gap with a figure from elsewhere, we mark it and say why on the tool's profile.
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Not at once. Two columns keep the differences readable and force a real decision. Remove either selected tool to replace it, or clear both to start a new pair.
Every figure in the table above comes from the linked profile, where the source and the verification date are listed. Browse all tools or read the editorial policy.