Using OpenAI With Kilo Code

Kilo Code supports accessing models directly through the official OpenAI API.

Website: https://openai.com/

Getting an API Key

1. Sign Up/Sign In: Go to the OpenAI Platform. Create an account or sign in.
2. Navigate to API Keys: Go to the API keys page.
3. Create a Key: Click "Create new secret key". Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "Kilo Code").
4. Copy the Key: Important: Copy the API key immediately. You will not be able to see it again. Store it securely.

Configuration in Kilo Code

{% tabs %} {% tab label="VSCode (Legacy)" %}

1. Open Kilo Code Settings: Click the gear icon ({% codicon name="gear" /%}) in the Kilo Code panel.
2. Select Provider: Choose "OpenAI" from the "API Provider" dropdown.
3. Enter API Key: Paste your OpenAI API key into the "OpenAI API Key" field.
4. Select Model: Choose your desired model from the "Model" dropdown.

{% /tab %} {% tab label="VSCode" %}

Open Settings (gear icon) and go to the Providers tab to add OpenAI and enter your API key.

The extension stores this in your kilo.json config file. You can also edit the config file directly — see the CLI tab for the file format.

{% /tab %} {% tab label="CLI" %}

Set the API key as an environment variable or configure it in your kilo.json config file:

Environment variable:

export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Config file (~/.config/kilo/kilo.json or ./kilo.json):

{
  "provider": {
    "openai": {
      "env": ["OPENAI_API_KEY"],
    },
  },
}

Then set your default model:

{
  "model": "openai/gpt-4.1",
}

{% /tab %} {% /tabs %}

Tips and Notes

• Pricing: Refer to the OpenAI Pricing page for details on model costs.
• Azure OpenAI Service: If you'd like to use the Azure OpenAI service, please see our section on OpenAI-compatible providers.