How To Use Free AI Models in VS Code with Kilo Code and OpenRouter API (2026) – Want to use powerful AI coding models completely free inside VS Code — without paying for GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or any other subscription?
You’re in the right place! In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to integrate the OpenRouter API with Kilo Code inside VS Code to access 300+ AI models — including many powerful free models — for unlimited AI-assisted coding. No credit card required to get started, no expensive subscriptions, no limits on the free tier.
Whether you are a beginner developer, a freelancer, or a professional coder, this setup gives you access to the best AI coding models available today — right inside your favorite code editor.
Ready to supercharge your VS Code with free AI? Let’s dive in!
What is Kilo Code?
Kilo Code is an open-source AI coding agent that works as a VS Code extension and a CLI tool. Think of it as a supercharged AI assistant built directly into your editor — it can read your files, understand your codebase, write and edit code, run terminal commands, and even browse documentation, all on its own.
It is one of the fastest-growing open-source AI tools in 2026, with over 25,000 GitHub stars and rapidly growing. Unlike GitHub Copilot or Cursor, Kilo Code does not lock you into one AI model. You can plug in any model from any provider — including OpenRouter, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or even local models running on your own machine.
And the best part? Kilo Code itself is completely free and open source.
What is OpenRouter?
OpenRouter is a unified AI API platform that gives you access to 300+ AI models from 70+ providers through a single API key. Instead of managing separate API keys for Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, DeepSeek, and others, you get one key that routes to all of them.
OpenRouter also has a free tier with 27+ models that cost absolutely nothing — models like Gemma 4 by Google, NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra, Poolside Laguna, and more. All accessible with zero payment required.
When you combine Kilo Code + OpenRouter, you get a full AI coding agent in VS Code that can use any model in the world — including the free ones — for your development work.
Key Features of Kilo Code + OpenRouter Setup
- 100% Free to Start – No credit card required, free models available immediately
- 300+ AI Models – Access Claude, GPT-5, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, Gemma and more
- Open Source – Kilo Code is fully open source with 25K+ GitHub stars
- Works in VS Code – Simple extension install, no complex setup
- One API Key for Everything – OpenRouter routes all models through a single key
- Agentic Coding – Kilo can read files, write code, run commands, and browse docs automatically
- Free Model Rotation – Use multiple free models to maximize your daily request quota
- No Markup on Paid Models – Pay exactly what the provider charges, no extra commission
Requirements To Set Up Kilo Code with OpenRouter in VS Code
Before we start, make sure you have everything ready:
1. VS Code Installed: Download and install the latest version of Visual Studio Code from the official website. Any recent version works perfectly.
2. OpenRouter Account: You need a free account on openrouter.ai to get your API key. You can sign up with Google or GitHub — no credit card required for free models.
3. Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is needed to download the extension and connect to OpenRouter’s API servers.
⚠Note: Free models on OpenRouter have rate limits of 20 requests per minute and 50–1,000 requests per day. To unlock the 1,000/day tier permanently, add $10 in credits once — this limit stays even if your balance later drops to zero.
How To Integrate OpenRouter API with Kilo Code in VS Code
Alright, let’s get into the step-by-step setup! Follow along carefully and you’ll have free AI coding running inside VS Code in under 10 minutes.
Step 1: Get Your Free OpenRouter API Key
1. Go to openrouter.ai and click Sign In.
2. Sign up using your Google or GitHub account — completely free, no credit card needed.
3. After signing in, go to API Keys from the top menu or visit openrouter.ai/keys.
4. Click Create Key, give it a name (for example: kilocode-vscode), and click Create.
5. Copy your API key immediately — you will need it in the next step. Store it safely and never share it publicly or commit it to GitHub.
âš Note: If you only want free models, you don’t need to add any credits at all. Just copy the key and proceed!
Step 2: Install Kilo Code Extension in VS Code
Installing Kilo Code is super simple — no commands needed at all! Just follow these steps:
1. Open Visual Studio Code on your computer.
2. Click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar (it looks like 4 squares) or press Ctrl+Shift+X to open the Extensions tab.
3. In the search bar at the top, type “Kilo Code” and press Enter.
4. Find the Kilo Code extension from the results and click the Install button next to it.
5. Once installed, reload VS Code if prompted. Done! You will now see a new Kilo Code icon appear in the left sidebar of VS Code.
âš Note: That’s all it takes — just search and install from the Extensions tab, exactly like installing any other VS Code extension. No terminal commands or manual setup required!
Step 3: Connect OpenRouter API Key to Kilo Code
Now let’s link your OpenRouter API key to Kilo Code. This is the easiest part — just follow these steps:
1. Click the Kilo Code icon in the VS Code left sidebar to open the Kilo panel.
2. Click the gear icon (âš™) at the top of the Kilo panel to open Settings.
3. Go to the Providers tab.
4. You will see some providers listed by default. Scroll down and click “Show More Providers” — this expands the full provider list.
5. Find OpenRouter in the expanded list and click on it.
6. Paste your OpenRouter API key in the API Key field.
7. Click Save — and that’s it! OpenRouter is now connected to Kilo Code.
⚠Note: This is the easiest and fastest way to connect OpenRouter. No need to edit any config files manually — Kilo Code saves everything automatically in the background.
That’s it! Kilo Code will now store your key securely in VS Code’s encrypted secret storage — never in plain text. Your key is also saved automatically to the kilo.json config file.
Step 4: Select a Free AI Model in Kilo Code
Now it’s time to pick your AI model:
1. In the Kilo Code panel, click the Model Picker at the top.
2. Type the model name or slug you want to use. For free models, look for models ending in :free.
3. Select your model and you are ready to start coding with AI!
âš Note: The free model catalog on OpenRouter changes frequently. Always check openrouter.ai/models and filter by “Free” to see the current available free models.
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Step 5: Start Using AI in Your Code Editor
You’re all set! Now you can use Kilo Code to:
- Ask it to write entire functions or components for you
- Use Plan mode to let the AI plan changes before making them
- Use Act mode to let it directly edit files and run terminal commands
- Ask it to explain code, debug errors, or refactor your existing code
- Give it a task and let it work autonomously like a real coding agent
Just type your request in the Kilo Code chat panel and hit Enter — the AI does the rest!
Best Free AI Models on OpenRouter for Coding (2026)
Here are the best free models you should try right now inside Kilo Code. Remember: free model availability changes often, so always verify on openrouter.ai/models before using.
1. Google Gemma 4 31B (google/gemma-4-31b-it:free)
Google’s Gemma 4 is one of the best all-around free models right now. It has a massive 262K context window, supports both text and image input, and handles coding tasks, explanation, and debugging really well. It also works in 140+ languages, making it very versatile.
Best for: General coding, code review, multi-language projects, vision tasks.
2. NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra (nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b:free)
NVIDIA’s Nemotron Ultra is a 120B parameter model available completely free on OpenRouter. It handles 1M context window agent tasks at zero cost. Great for working on large codebases where you need to feed a lot of context to the AI.
Best for: Large codebase analysis, long-context agent tasks, complex reasoning.
3. Poolside Laguna S/XS (poolside/laguna-s-2.1:free or poolside/laguna-xs-2.1:free)
Poolside’s Laguna models are specifically designed for coding agents and inline suggestions. They have a 256K context window and up to 32K output tokens. These models are excellent for agentic coding workflows inside Kilo Code.
Best for: Agentic coding, inline suggestions, tool calling, function generation.
4. OpenRouter Auto Router (openrouter/free)
This is a special option where OpenRouter automatically picks the best available free model for your request. Great for experimenting, but not recommended for consistent production work since different models may handle your request on different runs.
Best for: Quick experiments, testing, fallback routing.
5. GLM 4.5 Air (z-ai/glm-4.5-air:free)
A compact but capable general agent model from Zhipu AI. Good for everyday coding assistance, chat, and lightweight agent workflows when other models are rate-limited.
Best for: General coding chat, fallback model, everyday assistant tasks.
Pro Tips: How To Maximize Free Model Usage in Kilo Code
1. Rotate Between Multiple Free Models – Each free model has its own daily request pool (50–1,000 requests/day). If one model hits its limit, switch to another. Using 4–5 free models in rotation gives you up to 250 free requests per day without spending anything.
2. Spend $10 Once To Unlock 1,000 Requests/Day – Adding just $10 in credits to OpenRouter permanently unlocks the 1,000 requests/day tier for free models — even after your balance reaches zero. It’s a one-time spend that dramatically multiplies your free usage.
3. Always Check the Live Free Model List – Free models rotate in and out constantly. Visit openrouter.ai/models, filter by “Free,” and check the current list before relying on any specific model.
4. Use Paid Models for Critical Work – Free models are great for experiments and everyday coding, but for important production work, use paid models like Claude Sonnet 4.6 or GPT-5. OpenRouter charges exactly what the provider charges — no markup.
5. Configure Fallback Models in kilo.json – You can set fallback models in your kilo.json config so Kilo Code automatically switches to a backup if your primary model hits a rate limit:
{
"provider": {
"openrouter": {
"models": {
"google/gemma-4-31b-it:free": {
"options": {}
},
"nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b:free": {
"options": {}
}
}
}
}
}
FAQs: Kilo Code + OpenRouter Free AI in VS Code
1. Is Kilo Code completely free?
Answer: Yes! Kilo Code is 100% free and open source. You only pay for the AI models you use through your provider (in this case, OpenRouter). If you stick to free models on OpenRouter, your total cost is $0.
2. Do I need a credit card to sign up on OpenRouter?
Answer: No! You can sign up on OpenRouter with just a Google or GitHub account — no credit card required. Free models are accessible immediately after account creation.
3. How many free requests do I get per day on OpenRouter?
Answer: By default, you get 50 requests per day on a free account. If you add $10 in credits at any point, this permanently upgrades to 1,000 requests per day — even if your balance later drops to zero. The per-minute limit is 20 requests/minute for all accounts.
4. What is the difference between Kilo Code and GitHub Copilot?
Answer: GitHub Copilot costs $10–$19/month and locks you into Microsoft’s model selection. Kilo Code is free and open source, and lets you use any model from any provider — including 300+ models via OpenRouter. Kilo Code also has more powerful agentic features like Plan/Act modes, file reading, and terminal access.
5. Can I use Claude or GPT-5 with Kilo Code via OpenRouter?
Answer: Yes! OpenRouter gives you access to Claude Sonnet, Claude Opus, GPT-5, Gemini, DeepSeek, and 300+ other models through a single API key. These paid models are charged at the exact provider rate — no extra markup from OpenRouter.
6. What is the best free model on OpenRouter for coding in 2026?
Answer: As of August 2026, the best free options for coding are Google Gemma 4 31B for general coding tasks, NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra for large context work, and Poolside Laguna S/XS for agentic coding workflows. Always verify current availability at openrouter.ai/models as free models rotate frequently.
7. Does Kilo Code work with JetBrains IDEs like Android Studio?
Answer: Yes! Kilo Code officially supports VS Code, JetBrains IDEs (including Android Studio, IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), and also has a CLI tool. The same OpenRouter key and configuration works across all of them.
8. What happens if a free model gets removed from OpenRouter?
Answer: Free models on OpenRouter rotate in and out without much warning. If your model is removed, you’ll get a 404 error. Always have a backup model ready and check the live free model list at openrouter.ai/models regularly.
9. Can I use Kilo Code with local AI models?
Answer: Yes! Kilo Code supports any OpenAI-compatible API, which includes local model runners like Ollama, LM Studio, and Jan. You can run a model locally and connect it to Kilo Code using the “OpenAI Compatible” provider option with your local endpoint URL.
10. Is this setup safe? Will my code be sent to the cloud?
Answer: When using cloud models via OpenRouter, your prompts (including code snippets) are sent to the AI provider’s servers for processing. This is the same as any cloud AI tool. For sensitive or proprietary code, either use a local model with Kilo Code or carefully review OpenRouter’s and the model provider’s privacy policies.
Download Section:
| No | Name | Download / Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visual Studio Code | Download |
| 2 | Kilo Code VS Code Extension | Install |
| 3 | OpenRouter (Free API Key) | Get Key |
| 4 | OpenRouter Free Models List | Browse Models |
| 5 | Kilo Code GitHub Repository | GitHub |
Conclusion
Setting up Kilo Code with OpenRouter in VS Code is honestly one of the smartest moves you can make as a developer in 2026. In just a few minutes, you go from a standard code editor to a fully AI-powered coding agent that has access to 300+ models — many of them completely free.
With Google Gemma 4, NVIDIA Nemotron Ultra, Poolside Laguna, and other powerful free models on OpenRouter, you don’t need to spend a single dollar to experience serious AI coding assistance. And when you need more power for important work, switching to paid models like Claude or GPT-5 is just one click away — at no markup.
If you follow the steps in this guide carefully, you’ll have a fully functional AI coding setup running inside VS Code in under 10 minutes. For any questions or issues, drop a comment below or visit the Kilo Code GitHub page for the latest updates.
Now go build something amazing — your AI coding assistant is ready and waiting! 🚀
