Free Open-Source Alternative to Cursor and Claude for VS Code Autocomplete and AI Coding
Free Open-Source Alternative to Cursor and Claude for VS Code Autocomplete and AI Coding
Introduction
Developers looking for a cost‑effective, high‑performance AI assistant for Visual Studio Code now have a compelling option that rivals commercial products like Cursor and Claude. By combining the Kilo Code extension with the GLM coding plan, you can enjoy fast, accurate code completions and agent‑driven programming without the hefty subscription fees or restrictive rate limits of proprietary services.
Why Switch from Cursor and Claude?
Both Cursor and Claude offer AI‑powered code assistance, but they come with notable drawbacks:
- High subscription costs (often $20 + per month).
- Limited usage quotas that can quickly interrupt a workflow.
- Markup fees when routing through services such as OpenRouter.
- Closed‑source models that limit transparency and customization.
The Kilo + GLM stack addresses these issues by providing an open‑weight model, a single unified extension, and a pricing structure that scales far more affordably.
The Core Extension: Kilo Code
What Is Kilo Code?
Kilo Code is a fork of the earlier Klein and Rue extensions, designed to streamline AI assistance in VS Code. While early versions lacked many features, recent updates have made it a robust alternative:
- Integrated autocomplete powered by the CodeStroll model.
- No 10 % markup on API usage, unlike OpenRouter.
- Rapid adoption of new models; for example, GLM‑4.6 was supported within days of release.
- A cleaner user experience that consolidates both autocomplete and agent functionality into a single extension.
Current Limitations
The only notable missing feature is the ability to select a different model for autocomplete. At present, Kilo Code defaults to CodeStroll, which already delivers strong results for most coding tasks.
The GLM Coding Plan
Overview
The GLM coding plan gives you access to GLM‑4.6, a versatile, open‑weight language model that performs exceptionally well across a variety of programming scenarios. It can be paired with Kilo Code or other setups, but the combination offers the smoothest workflow.
Pricing Structure
Plan | Monthly Price | Quarterly Price | Yearly Price |
---|---|---|---|
Basic | $3 (first month 50 % off) | $8 (first term 50 % off) | $30 (first term 50 % off) |
Standard | $6 (first month 50 % off) | $16 (first term 50 % off) | $60 (first term 50 % off) |
Premium | $12 (first month 50 % off) | $32 (first term 50 % off) | $120 (first term 50 % off) |
All tiers receive a 50 % discount on the first billing period, regardless of whether you start with a monthly plan and later upgrade.
Benefits Over Claude Code
- Lower cost – GLM plans start at $3 / month versus Claude Code’s $20 / month.
- Generous limits – GLM’s usage caps are far less restrictive, avoiding the throttling that Anthropic recently imposed.
- Open‑weight model – Full transparency and the ability to fine‑tune or host locally if desired.
Setting Up Kilo Code with the GLM Coding Plan
- Install the extension
- Open VS Code → Extensions → search for Kilo Code → click Install.
- Configure the provider
- In the Kilo Code sidebar, choose Use your own API key.
- Select the Z‑AI provider and the International Coding Plan.
- Paste the API key generated from the GLM coding plan portal.
- Choose GLM‑4.6 as the model.
- Enable autocomplete
- Go to Settings → Extensions → Kilo Code → Autocomplete.
- Turn on Pause to Autocomplete (or similar) to activate the CodeStroll‑based completions.
- Customize behavior
- Adjust delay, manual trigger, quick‑task shortcuts, and visual loaders to match your workflow.
Once configured, you can start typing and watch the AI suggest completions in real time. The extension also supports architect mode for high‑level feature planning, letting you outline designs before diving into code.
Terminal‑Based Workflow with Claude Code (Optional)
For developers who prefer a command‑line interface, Claude Code can still be used alongside the GLM plan:
- Edit the Claude settings file to insert your GLM API key.
- Run Claude commands directly in the terminal; the model is fine‑tuned for cloud‑code scenarios, providing a smooth experience.
While this setup is optional, it showcases the flexibility of the GLM ecosystem across both GUI and CLI environments.
Comparative Summary
Feature | Kilo + GLM | Cursor | Claude Code |
---|---|---|---|
Cost | $3‑$12 / month (first term 50 % off) | $20 / month | $20 / month |
Model | Open‑weight GLM‑4.6 | Proprietary (often GPT‑4) | Anthropic Claude (closed) |
Markup Fees | None | Yes (up to 10 %) | Yes |
Extension Count | Single (Kilo Code) | Two (autocomplete + agent) | One (Claude CLI) |
Rate Limits | Generous, scalable | Restrictive | Increasingly strict |
Customization | High (API key, model selection, settings) | Moderate | Limited |
The combination of Kilo Code and the GLM coding plan delivers a unified, low‑cost, and highly configurable AI coding environment that outperforms many commercial alternatives.
Conclusion
Switching to an open‑source, open‑weight solution like Kilo + GLM empowers developers to break free from expensive, closed‑source AI services. The setup is straightforward, the performance rivals premium tools, and the pricing model scales with your needs without hidden fees. Whether you work entirely within VS Code or prefer a terminal‑centric workflow, the GLM ecosystem provides the flexibility and reliability required for modern software development.