Roo Code vs Kilo Code
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026. Kilo Code is its designated successor — it reads Roo's .roomodes — so this is really a migration guide.
Updated August 28, 2026 · Independent comparison — Roo Code, Kilo Code are separate products.
Roo Code
Discontinued VS Code coding agent (a Cline fork)
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026: its VS Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026, the repository was archived, and the team pivoted to Roomote and Slack tooling. It had been an open-source (Apache-2.0) AI coding agent for VS Code — a fork of Cline — known for its multiple modes (Architect, Code, Debug, Ask, and the Orchestrator/Boomerang mode), auto-approve controls, MCP support, checkpoints, and custom modes stored in .roomodes. It was model-agnostic and bring-your-own-key. Former users are now pointed to Kilo Code or Cline.
Kilo Code
Open-source agentic platform, Roo Code's successor
Kilo Code is an open-source (MIT) agentic coding platform that runs in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, a CLI, cloud agents, and Slack. It is the designated successor to Roo Code and reads Roo's .roomodes directly, so it mirrors the mode-based workflow Roo pioneered. It offers 500+ models through the Kilo Gateway at pass-through rates (or BYOK and local models), a free tier with sign-up credits, Auto model routing, MCP, and specialized modes — Code, Architect, Debug, Orchestrator, and custom. Kilo Code was acquired by Anaconda around July 2026 and remains open source.
Bottom line
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026. Kilo Code is its designated successor — it reads Roo's .roomodes — so this is really a migration guide. Choose Roo Code if you can't start here — Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026 and is archived; choose Kilo Code if you're migrating from Roo Code — Kilo Code reads your .roomodes and mirrors its mode-based workflow.
Status & Availability
| Feature | Roo Code | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Discontinued (shut down May 15, 2026) | Active (maintained) |
| Repository | Archived | Active, open source (MIT) |
| Updates / support | None (team pivoted to Roomote) | Ongoing (Anaconda-backed) |
| Successor relationship | Discontinued — migrate off | Designated Roo Code successor |
| Reads Roo .roomodes | ✗ | ✓ |
Licensing & Platforms
| Feature | Roo Code | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Client license | Was open source (Apache-2.0) | Open source (MIT) |
| Runs in | VS Code only (was) | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI, cloud, Slack |
| Ownership | Discontinued | Acquired by Anaconda (~July 2026) |
| Local OS support | macOS, Linux, Windows (was) | macOS, Linux, Windows |
Models & Providers
| Feature | Roo Code | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Model choice | Was model-agnostic (BYOK) | 500+ models |
| Managed gateway | ✗ | Kilo Gateway (pass-through rates) |
| Bring your own key | Was supported | ✓ |
| Local models (Ollama / LM Studio) | Was supported | ✓ |
Agent Experience
| Feature | Roo Code | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Modes / workflow | Architect, Code, Debug, Ask, Orchestrator (was) | Code, Architect, Debug, Orchestrator, custom |
| Multi-agent orchestration | Orchestrator / Boomerang (was) | Orchestrator (delegates subtasks) |
| MCP support | Was supported | ✓ |
| Custom modes | Custom modes (.roomodes) | Custom modes (+ reads .roomodes) |
| Checkpoints / undo | Was supported | Not stated |
Openness & Migration
| Feature | Roo Code | Kilo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Standout feature | Modes + Orchestrator (discontinued) | 500+ models zero-markup + Roo successor |
| Config portability | .roomodes (Roo's own) | Reads .roomodes directly |
| Best move now | Migrate off Roo Code | Recommended successor |
| Free to start | ✗ | Free tier + sign-up credits |
The Verdict
Choose Roo Code if...
- ✓You can't start here — Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026 and is archived.
- ✓If you relied on Roo's modes and .roomodes, Kilo Code reads them and is the designated successor.
- ✓If you want the upstream Roo forked from, Cline is the other recommended path.
- ✓For any new project, choose an actively maintained agent instead of Roo Code.
Choose Kilo Code if...
- ✓You're migrating from Roo Code — Kilo Code reads your .roomodes and mirrors its mode-based workflow.
- ✓You want 500+ models through a zero-markup gateway, plus BYOK and local models.
- ✓You want one engine across VS Code, JetBrains, a CLI, cloud agents, and Slack.
- ✓You want an actively maintained, Anaconda-backed open-source project.
- ✓You want a free tier with sign-up credits to try it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Roo Code and Kilo Code?
Roo Code was discontinued in May 2026: its VS Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026, the repository was archived, and the team pivoted to Roomote and Slack tooling. Kilo Code is an open-source (MIT) agentic coding platform that runs in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, a CLI, cloud agents, and Slack.
Should I choose Roo Code or Kilo Code?
Choose Roo Code if you can't start here — Roo Code was shut down on May 15, 2026 and is archived. Choose Kilo Code if you're migrating from Roo Code — Kilo Code reads your .roomodes and mirrors its mode-based workflow.
1DevToolMigrating off Roo Code?
Kilo Code is the designated successor, but you don't have to commit to one home. 1DevTool is a multi-agent workspace that runs Cline, OpenCode, Claude Code, Codex CLI, and other CLI agents side by side in persistent terminals — bring your own keys or subscriptions, no lock-in. It adds a built-in HTTP client, 13-engine database client, and embedded browser, all wired into Send-to-AI. One-time $29, no subscription.