Migration

Switch to Kilo Teams or Kilo Enterprise from other AI coding tools and experience transparent pricing, no vendor lock-in, and superior team management capabilities.

Why Teams Switch to Kilo

Transparency vs. Opacity

Other AI coding vendors hide their true costs behind opaque subscription models, leaving you wondering what you're actually paying for.

Kilo Teams and Kilo Enterprise show you exactly what each AI request costs - no markup, no hidden fees, complete transparency.

No Rate Limiting

Other tools slow you down with rate limits and model switching when you need AI most.

Kilo Teams and Kilo Enterprise never limit your usage - pay for what you use, use what you need.

True Team Management

Other solutions offer basic user management with limited visibility.

Kilo Teams provides comprehensive team analytics, role-based permissions, and detailed usage insights, while Kilo Enterprise adds advanced governance, audit logging, and enterprise-level security controls.

Migrating from Cursor

What You're Leaving Behind

Opaque pricing - Never knowing true AI costs
Rate limiting during peak usage periods
Limited team visibility into usage patterns
Vendor lock-in with proprietary systems
Hidden model switching that degrades quality

What You Gain with Kilo Teams or Kilo Enterprise

Transparent AI costs - See exactly what providers charge
No rate limiting - Use AI when you need it most
Comprehensive analytics - Understand team usage patterns
Open source extension - No vendor lock-in
Consistent quality - No hidden model downgrades
Enterprise controls (Enterprise only) - SSO, audit logs, and advanced configuration options

Migration Process

Step 1: Team Assessment

Audit current Cursor usage across your team
Identify active users and their usage patterns
Calculate current costs (if visible) vs. Kilo pricing
Plan migration timeline to minimize disruption

Step 2: Kilo Setup

Create organization at app.kilo.ai
Subscribe to Teams ($15/user/month) or Enterprise (Contact Sales)
Configure team settings and usage policies
Purchase initial AI credits based on usage estimates

Step 3: Team Migration

Invite team members to Kilo
Install Kilo Code extension alongside Cursor initially
Migrate projects gradually starting with non-critical work
Train team on Kilo Code features and workflows

Step 4: Full Transition

Monitor usage patterns in Kilo dashboard
Optimize settings based on team feedback
Cancel Cursor subscriptions once fully migrated
Uninstall Cursor from team machines

Cursor Feature Mapping

Cursor Feature	Kilo Equivalent
AI Chat	Chat interface with multiple modes
Code Generation	Code mode with advanced tools
Code Editing	Fast edits and surgical modifications
Codebase Understanding	Codebase indexing and search
Team Management	Comprehensive team dashboard (Enterprise adds SSO, audit logs)
Usage Analytics	Detailed usage and cost analytics

Migrating from GitHub Copilot

Limitations You're Escaping

Limited model choice - Stuck with GitHub's model selection
Basic team features - Minimal team management capabilities
No cost visibility - Hidden usage costs in subscription
Microsoft ecosystem lock-in - Tied to Microsoft services
Limited customization - Few options for team-specific needs

Kilo Advantages

Multiple AI providers - Choose from 18+ model providers
Advanced team management - Roles, permissions, and analytics
Transparent pricing - See exact costs for every request
Provider flexibility - Switch providers or use your own API keys
Extensive customization - Custom modes and team policies
Enterprise-level governance (Enterprise only) - Model filtering, audit logging, and compliance support

Migration Strategy

Phase 1: Parallel Usage (Week 1-2)

Keep GitHub Copilot active during transition
Install Kilo Code extension for team members
Start with simple tasks in Kilo Code
Compare results and team satisfaction

Phase 2: Gradual Transition (Week 3-4)

Use Kilo Code for new projects
Migrate existing projects one at a time
Train team on advanced features
Optimize usage patterns based on analytics

Phase 3: Full Migration (Week 5+)

Disable GitHub Copilot for most team members
Cancel GitHub Copilot subscriptions
Optimize Kilo Plan settings
Document new workflows and best practices

GitHub Copilot Feature Comparison

GitHub Copilot	Kilo	Advantage
Code suggestions	AI-powered code generation	✅ More model choices
Chat interface	Multi-mode chat system	✅ Specialized modes
Team admin	Comprehensive team management	✅ Enterprise adds audit logs
Usage insights	Detailed usage and cost tracking	✅ Transparent pricing
Model selection	18+ AI providers and models	✅ No vendor lock-in

Migrating from Other AI Coding Tools

Common Migration Patterns

From Tabnine

Benefit: More advanced AI models and team features
Process: Export settings, migrate team, configure advanced features
Timeline: 1-2 weeks for full transition

From CodeWhisperer

Benefit: Escape AWS ecosystem lock-in, better team management
Process: Parallel usage, gradual migration, team training
Timeline: 2-3 weeks for enterprise teams

From Replit AI

Benefit: Use in VS Code instead of web-based IDE
Process: Export projects, set up local development, team onboarding
Timeline: 3-4 weeks including development environment setup

Universal Migration Checklist

Pre-Migration Planning

Audit current AI coding tool usage
Identify team members and their roles
Calculate current costs vs. Kilo pricing
Plan migration timeline and milestones
Prepare team communication and training

Migration Execution

Set up Kilo Organization
Configure team settings and policies
Invite team members and assign roles
Install Kilo Code extension across team
Start with pilot projects or non-critical work

Post-Migration Optimization

Monitor usage patterns and costs
Optimize team settings based on analytics
Train team on advanced features
Cancel previous AI coding tool subscriptions
Document new workflows and best practices

Technical Migration: Rules and Configurations

Kilo Code uses a compatible rules system that supports Cursor and Windsurf patterns. Migrating your custom rules and configurations is straightforward and typically takes 5-10 minutes per project.

Quick Overview:

Project rules: .cursor/rules/*.mdc → .kilocode/rules/*.md (remove YAML frontmatter, keep Markdown content)
Legacy rules: .cursorrules → .kilocode/rules/legacy-rules.md
AGENTS.md: Works identically in Kilo Code (no conversion needed)
Global rules: Recreate in ~/.kilocode/rules/*.md directory

Kilo Code also supports mode-specific rules (.kilocode/rules-{mode}/), which Cursor and Windsurf don't have. This allows different rules for different workflows (e.g., Code mode vs Debug mode).

👉 For detailed step-by-step instructions, format conversion examples, troubleshooting, and advanced migration scenarios, see our Technical Migration Guide.

Cost Comparison Analysis

Hidden Costs in Other Tools

Subscription Models Hide True Costs

Monthly fees regardless of actual usage
No visibility into per-request costs
Rate limiting forces inefficient workflows
Model switching without notification

Kilo Transparent Pricing

Pay exactly what AI providers charge
See cost of every request in real-time
No rate limiting or usage restrictions
Choose optimal models for each task

ROI Calculation Framework

Current Tool Analysis

Monthly subscription costs × team size
Hidden productivity losses from rate limiting
Opportunity costs from limited model access
Management overhead from poor team visibility

Kilo Benefits

Transparent AI costs (typically 30-50% lower)
Productivity gains from no rate limiting
Better outcomes from optimal model selection
Reduced management time with comprehensive analytics

Team Training and Adoption

Training Program Structure

Week 1: Basics

Kilo Code extension installation and setup
Basic chat interface and mode usage
Understanding transparent pricing model
Team dashboard overview

Week 2: Advanced Features

Custom modes and specialized workflows
Advanced tools and automation
Team collaboration features
Usage optimization strategies

Week 3: Team Optimization

Analytics review and insights
Cost optimization techniques
Workflow integration and best practices
Advanced team management features

Adoption Best Practices

Start Small

Begin with volunteer early adopters
Use for non-critical projects initially
Gather feedback and iterate
Expand gradually across team

Provide Support

Dedicated migration support channel
Regular check-ins with team members
Documentation and training resources
Quick resolution of issues and questions

Measure Success

Track usage adoption rates
Monitor cost savings and efficiency gains
Collect team satisfaction feedback
Document success stories and best practices

Common Migration Challenges

Technical Challenges

Extension Conflicts

Issue: Multiple AI coding extensions interfering
Solution: Disable old extensions during transition
Prevention: Staged migration with clear timelines

Workflow Disruption

Issue: Team productivity dip during transition
Solution: Parallel usage period with gradual migration
Prevention: Comprehensive training and support

Settings Migration

Issue: Lost customizations from previous tools
Solution: Document and recreate important settings
Prevention: Settings audit before migration

Rules and Configuration Migration

Issue: Custom rules and configurations not migrating automatically
Solution: Follow the technical migration guide to manually migrate rules
Prevention: Audit rules before migration, use version control for rules

Organizational Challenges

Change Resistance

Issue: Team members reluctant to switch tools
Solution: Demonstrate clear benefits and provide training
Prevention: Involve team in migration planning

Budget Approval

Issue: Finance team concerns about new tool costs
Solution: Provide detailed cost comparison and ROI analysis
Prevention: Transparent pricing documentation

Timeline Pressure

Issue: Pressure to migrate quickly without proper planning
Solution: Phased migration approach with clear milestones
Prevention: Realistic timeline planning with buffer time

Migration Support

Professional Migration Services

Migration planning and timeline development
Team training and onboarding support
Custom integration development
Ongoing optimization consulting

Self-Service Resources

Migration guides for specific tools
Technical migration guide for rules and configurations (Cursor/Windsurf)
Video tutorials for common migration scenarios
Community support through Discord and forums
Documentation and best practices

Getting Migration Help

Email: [email protected]
Discord: Join our migration support channel
Consultation: Schedule free migration planning call
Documentation:
- Business migration guide (this page)
- Technical migration guide (rules and configurations)

Success Stories

Mid-Size Software Company (25 developers)

Previous: Cursor Pro subscriptions
Challenge: High costs with limited visibility
Result: 40% cost reduction with better team insights
Timeline: 3-week migration with zero productivity loss

Enterprise Development Team (100+ developers)

Previous: GitHub Copilot Enterprise
Challenge: Limited model choice and team management
Result: Improved code quality and team collaboration
Timeline: 6-week phased migration across multiple teams

Startup Engineering Team (8 developers)

Previous: Multiple individual AI tool subscriptions
Challenge: Expense report chaos and no team coordination
Result: Centralized billing and improved team efficiency
Timeline: 1-week migration with immediate benefits

Next Steps

Get started with your team
Explore team management features
Understand billing and pricing
Migrate your rules and configurations (technical guide)

Ready to make the switch? Contact our migration team at [email protected] to plan your transition to transparent AI coding.