Hermes Agent is a personal agent; Kilo Code is a ide extension: different tools for different jobs. Here is what each is for, how they differ, and when to run each (or both). Vote for your favorite.
Either way, you pay for the model calls. A median coding-agent day on our gateway is 95 requests and 8.6 million tokens. The table prices every step at one model’s rate.
Both run on Standard Compute, where each step goes to the cheapest model that can do it: routine steps go to efficient open models, hard ones to frontier models such as Claude Fable 5.1 or GPT-6 Astra.
| Model | Typical day | Busy day |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 5.5 | $7.34 | $59.10 |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | $3.67 | $29.55 |
| GPT-6 Luna | $0.23 | $2.43 |
Fixed monthly plans from $19. Eligible new accounts can try $0.25 of compute first, no card. Trial terms
Pick a winner in each category. You can change your vote anytime. 40 votes cast so far.
HermesKilo CodeChoose Hermes Agent if you are power users who want a long-running personal agent that learns and compounds. Choose Kilo Code if you are vS Code users who want an open-source AI coding assistant.
In our editorial scoring, Hermes Agent leads in 3 of six categories (output quality, autonomy and reliability), while Kilo Code leads in 1 (ease of use). On price, Hermes Agent runs free (mit) / models via standard compute and is open source; Kilo Code runs free (free models or byo key) / kilo pass from $19/mo and is open source.
Across 40 community votes on this matchup, Hermes Agent currently leads in 3 of six categories. Cast your own vote above to move the needle.
What it costs to run Hermes or Kilo Code
Best API for Hermes →
6 options compared, with prices and limits
Best API for Kilo Code →
4 options compared, with prices and limits
Standard Compute sends each step to the cheapest model that can do it, on providers we vet for price, uptime and speed. Plans start at $19 a month, and eligible new accounts can try $0.25 of compute with no card. Choose your agent below to connect.
See the trial and activation steps →
More on Hermes: How Much Does Hermes Agent Cost to Run? · How do I use Gemini in Hermes Agent?
More on Kilo Code: How do I run Kilo Code on a fixed monthly budget?
Hermes Agent is Nous Research's open-source autonomous agent, released in February 2026 under the MIT license. Its defining feature is a built-in learning loop: after completing complex tasks it writes its own reusable skills, improves them with use, and builds persistent cross-session memory of you and your projects. It runs self-hosted (from a $5 VPS to a GPU cluster), works with 200+ models, and is reachable from the CLI or 20+ messaging platforms including Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp.
Kilo Code is an open-source (MIT) coding agent that runs as a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin and Kilo CLI (a fork of OpenCode). It supports multi-file editing, refactoring and context-aware code generation. The tools are free: you can start on its free models without a card, bring your own key for any OpenAI-compatible API, or buy models through Kilo's gateway at provider rates, with the optional Kilo Pass from $19 a month adding bonus credits.
Hermes and Kilo Code both run on Standard Compute
