Kilo Code
Kilo Code adds FreeTheAI as a custom provider with the OpenAI Compatible API and fetches the model list automatically.
Category: Coding tools. Before you start, you need a FreeTheAI account, an API key, and today's check-in.
Settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Provider ID | freetheai |
| Display name | FreeTheAI |
| Provider API | OpenAI Compatible |
| Base URL | https://api.freetheai.org/v1 |
| API key | Your FreeTheAI key (ftai_..., 53 characters) |
Steps
Open the providers
In VS Code, open Kilo Code's Settings (gear) and go to the Providers tab.
Add a custom provider
Scroll to the bottom, press Custom provider, and fill in the values above.
Pick models and submit
Select models from the fetched list (or add IDs by hand) and press Submit. They appear in the model picker.
Tips
- For the Kilo CLI, add the same provider to
~/.config/kilo/kilo.jsonwith npm @ai-sdk/openai-compatible, as in the OpenCode guide.
Common questions
Kilo Code shows "unknown API route" (404). What is wrong?
The Base URL must be exactly api.freetheai.org/v1, without /chat/completions, and the provider API must be OpenAI Compatible.
The API key box looks shorter after I paste my key. Is that a problem?
No. Kilo Code hides the key once it is saved. If requests fail with 401, paste the full ftai_ key (53 characters) again.
Do I need a Kilo account?
No. A custom provider works without signing in to Kilo.
Why do I get a 403 error?
Free models need one check-in a day. Check in at freetheai.org/checkin, then try again.
Kilo Code is stuck on "considering next steps". What should I do?
The model is busy. Switch to another model, and check freetheai.org/status.
More help
How this guide was checked
Checked against Kilo Code's docs (OpenAI compatible providers) on 2026-09-29.