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BetterOpenSource

Roo Code vs Kilo Code

A side-by-side comparison of two open-source tools to help you choose the right one.

Feature
SummaryAgentic AI coding inside VS Code.An open VS Code agent with planning modes.
GitHub stars16.5K7.8K
LicenseApache 2.0Apache 2.0
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScript
PricingFree & Open SourceFree & Open Source
Self-hostable
ReplacesClaude Code, GitHub CopilotClaude Code, GitHub Copilot
Rating4.6 / 54.5 / 5

Roo Code features

  • Multi-file, project-wide editing
  • Custom modes for code, architecture, and debugging
  • Use any model provider
  • Agentic task automation
  • Open source with an active community

Kilo Code features

  • Orchestrator, architect, code, and debug modes
  • Use any AI model you like
  • Automatic error recovery
  • Context-aware, project-wide assistance
  • Open source VS Code extension

Roo Codepros & cons

Pros

  • Flexible modes for different tasks
  • Model-agnostic and open
  • Strong VS Code integration

Cons

  • Lots of options to configure
  • Agentic runs benefit from review

Kilo Codepros & cons

Pros

  • Flexible mode-based workflow
  • Model-agnostic and open
  • Lightweight to adopt

Cons

  • Smaller community than the largest agents
  • Mode switching has a small learning curve

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