Kilo Code — How-to Guide (set up, use & best practices)

Step by step

Follow along

1

Install the Kilo Code extension in VS Code

Open VS Code, go to the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X), search for 'Kilo Code', and click Install. Alternatively, open the URL 'vscode:extension/kilocode.kilo-code' in your browser to install directly.
2

Sign in or start for free

After installation, click the Kilo Code icon in the VS Code Activity Bar and sign in at app.kilo.ai. A free tier is available with the 'Kilo Auto' plan — no credit card required to start.
3

Choose an agent mode for your task

Kilo Code ships with four built-in modes: Code (write and refactor code), Architect (plan features before coding), Debug (trace and fix errors), and Ask (answer questions about your codebase). Select the relevant mode from the dropdown at the top of the Kilo Code panel.
4

Ask Kilo to make a code change

Switch to Code mode, type your request in the chat box (e.g., 'add input validation to the signup form in src/auth.ts'), and press Enter. Kilo reads the relevant files, proposes a diff, and applies it with your approval.
5

Configure your AI model or bring your own API key

Open Kilo settings (gear icon in the Kilo panel) to choose from 500+ models or enter your own API key. Kilo passes keys directly to providers at zero markup — you pay provider rates only.
6

Use the CLI or JetBrains plugin as alternatives

Install the CLI with 'npm install -g kilo-code' (visit kilo.ai/cli for the latest instructions) or install the JetBrains plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace to use Kilo Code in IntelliJ, PyCharm, or WebStorm.

Do it like a pro

✦ Use Architect mode to plan a feature before switching to Code mode to implement it — this reduces back-and-forth and large incorrect diffs.

✦ Start with 'Kilo Auto' (the free tier) to get familiar with the tool; upgrade to a paid plan only when you need higher token limits or premium models.

✦ Review every proposed diff before approving — Kilo shows a clear before/after diff in the editor, so it is easy to spot unintended changes.

✦ Bring your own API keys for models you already pay for (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) to avoid double-paying.

✦ Use Debug mode for error messages rather than pasting stack traces into a chat manually — Kilo can read your terminal output and trace the issue across files.

✦ Kilo Code is open source (Apache-2.0, github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode) — you can audit or fork it if you have privacy or customization requirements.