---
url: https://docs.freetheai.org/guides/kilo-code.md
description: >-
  Use free models in the Kilo Code VS Code extension and CLI with FreeTheAI as
  an OpenAI Compatible custom provider.
---

# Kilo Code

Kilo Code adds FreeTheAI as a custom provider with the OpenAI Compatible API and fetches the model list automatically.

Category: [Coding tools](/guides/#coding-tools). Before you start, you need a FreeTheAI account, an API key, and today's [check-in](/getting-started/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.json` with 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](https://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](https://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](https://freetheai.org/status).

## More help

* [Every API error and its fix](/errors)
* [Limits and the daily reset](/concepts/limits)
* [Kilo Code website](https://kilo.ai) and [source code](https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode)

::: info How this guide was checked
Checked against Kilo Code's docs (OpenAI compatible providers) on 2026-09-29.
:::