# Kilo Code CLI vs MiniMax Code

> Kilo Code CLI scores 73 (BB) to MiniMax Code's 67.5 (B) for agent harnesses. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-minimax-code
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-minimax-code.md (~3,800 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-minimax-code.min.md (~580 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-minimax-code.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-10-19

Kilo Code CLI scores 73 (BB) on agent readiness against MiniMax Code's 67.5 (B), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. MiniMax Code leads on payments & pricing. Both do agent harnesses.

- Kilo Code CLI: grade BB, 73/100, rank #99 of 1175. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kilo-code-cli.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kilo-code-cli.json
- MiniMax Code: grade B, 67.5/100, rank #277 of 1175. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/minimax-code.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/minimax-code.json
- Best agent harnesses and coding agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/agent-harnesses/index.md
- All 752 harnesses comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-harnesses/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Kilo Code CLI (BB)

Good for: Developers who want an open-source terminal agent with per-tool permission rules, an optional sandbox and a choice of provider, and the same engine in VS Code and JetBrains.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 85 against 63
- Schema & documentation, 90 against 81
- Security & auth, 64 against 57
- Maintenance & community, 87 against 77
- Transparency & trust, 76 against 61

Also in its favour:
- Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better

Watch for: Telemetry to PostHog is on by default, attaches the conda client ID since 7.8.10, and the privacy policy doesn't mention it

### MiniMax Code (B)

Good for: Scripted coding runs on MiniMax's models or any compatible model, driven by JSON output and exit codes.

Ahead on:
- Payments & pricing, 60 against 50

Also in its favour:
- Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 3.5 against 2.3 out of 5

Watch for: Pre-1.0 and labelled a source preview, with npm at 0.6.12 and the public source at 0.6.5


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Kilo Code CLI | MiniMax Code | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 85 | 63 | Kilo Code CLI +22 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 90 | 81 | Kilo Code CLI +9 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 72 | 75 | MiniMax Code +3 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 64 | 57 | Kilo Code CLI +7 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 50 | 60 | MiniMax Code +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 87 | 77 | Kilo Code CLI +10 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 76 | 61 | Kilo Code CLI +15 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -2 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **73 · BB** | **67.5 · B** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Kilo Code CLI | MiniMax Code |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |
| Vendor | Kilo Code Inc. | MiniMax |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports |  |  |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Free |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | MIT | MIT for first-party code, with the bundled sandbox runtime under Apache-2.0. The desktop app's source isn't published |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-15 | 2026-10-15 |
| Terms last updated | 2026-09-30 | 2026-01-19 |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-05-29 | 2026-01-19 |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access | yes | yes |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | yes |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | yes |
| Popularity | 28k stars, 33k npm/wk | 2k stars, 6.8k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | 2.3/5 (4) | 3.5/5 (4) |

## Verdicts

**Kilo Code CLI.** Shell commands ask before running by default, and an optional operating-system sandbox blocks writes outside the workspace and outbound network. Telemetry to PostHog is on by default and the sandbox is off, so an unattended `kilo run --auto` approves everything not denied unless both are configured first.

**MiniMax Code.** An MIT-licensed terminal coding agent with a headless mode that returns versioned JSON, documented exit codes and an ACP server, and telemetry off by default. It's pre-1.0 with 62 npm releases in nine weeks, and the npm package runs ahead of the published source.

## Before you call either

### Kilo Code CLI

1. Set `sandbox.enabled` to true in the global `kilo.jsonc` before `kilo run --auto`. `--auto` approves every permission request not explicitly denied
2. Set `experimental.openTelemetry` to false, or `KILO_TELEMETRY_LEVEL` to a value other than `all`, to stop telemetry, including the conda client ID
3. Add needed hosts to `sandbox.allowed_hosts` in global config. MCP tool calls are unavailable while network restriction is on
4. Without `--auto` a non-interactive run rejects every permission prompt and exits 1
5. Confine subagent writes with a session-level edit rule. From 7.8.13 a custom agent's own `edit` denies no longer bind the subagents it starts

### MiniMax Code

1. Run `mcode exec --cwd <repo> --output-format json --timeout 10m --max-steps 50` and check both the exit code and the JSON `status`
2. Keep `--permission full` and `off` for a container or throwaway workspace. The default `smart` fails when it would need a person
3. Set `MCODE_PROVIDER_API_KEY` and add a provider for BYOK. M Plan models need a browser sign-in with `mcode login --region global`
4. Set `MINIMAX_DATA_DIR` per CI runner. Keys and sessions live in `~/.minimax` by default
5. Pin a version. npm published 62 releases in nine weeks and the public source trails it

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Kilo Code CLI or MiniMax Code?

Kilo Code CLI scores 73 (BB) on agent readiness against MiniMax Code's 67.5 (B), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. MiniMax Code leads on payments & pricing.

### Are Kilo Code CLI and MiniMax Code open source?

Yes. Kilo Code CLI is open source (MIT). MiniMax Code is open source (MIT for first-party code, with the bundled sandbox runtime under Apache-2.0. The desktop app's source isn't published).


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-minimax-code.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-minimax-code.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "kilo-code-cli", "b": "minimax-code"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare kilo-code-cli minimax-code`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kilo-code-cli.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/minimax-code.json

## Other comparisons with Kilo Code CLI or MiniMax Code

- [Agent Zero vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Agent Zero vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Aider vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Aider vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Amp vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Amp vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Antigravity CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Antigravity CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Auggie CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Auggie CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Claude Code vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Claude Code vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Cline vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Cline vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Crush vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Crush vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Cursor CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Cursor CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Devin vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Devin vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Droid CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Droid CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Pi vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Pi vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Gemini CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Gemini CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [goose vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [goose vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Harness² vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness2-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Harness² vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness2-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [HarnessRouter vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harnessrouter-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [HarnessRouter vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harnessrouter-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Jules vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jules-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Jules vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jules-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Junie CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/junie-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Junie CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/junie-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Kiro CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs mini-swe-agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Mistral Vibe CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Muse Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-muse-code.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-opencode.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-openhands.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-prime-agent.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Qoder CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-qoder-cli.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Mirror CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-reflection-mirror.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Rovo Dev CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-warp.md)
- [Kimi Code CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Kiro CLI vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [mini-swe-agent vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mini-swe-agent-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Mistral Vibe CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Muse Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-muse-code.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-openai-codex.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-opencode.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-openhands.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-prime-agent.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Qoder CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-qoder-cli.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-qwen-code.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Mirror CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-reflection-mirror.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Rovo Dev CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-rovo-dev-cli.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-warp.md)
- [CLI Manager vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [CLI Manager vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Harness vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness-autonomous-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)
- [Harness vs MiniMax Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness-autonomous-vs-minimax-code.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-paperclip.md)
- [Kilo Code CLI vs Parallax](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-parallax-agents.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-paperclip.md)
- [MiniMax Code vs Parallax](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/minimax-code-vs-parallax-agents.md)

---

Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp