Is Amp Code Extension Ending? Your Next Best Alternative

AMP just made a pretty big announcement. They said they are killing their VS Code extension, like completely killing it. This is going to affect quite a few developers who depended on that workflow.

If you don't know about AMP, it's basically an AI coding agent by Sourcegraph. It started as Cody, then became AMP, and it had both a CLI tool and a VS Code extension. They recently even spun out of Sourcegraph as their own company called AMP Inc.

Is Amp Code Extension Ending?

On episode 10 of their podcast Raising an Agent, Quinn Slack and Thorsten Ball said, and I quote, "We will be killing our editor extension, the AMP VS Code extension. We're going to be killing it because we think it's no longer the future. We think the sidebar is dead." They are going all in on the CLI and their standalone experience instead of being a VS Code extension.

This is interesting because just recently they were adding features to the extension. They had the code review agent, deep mode, the free tier with ads, and all of that. Now they are saying the sidebar itself is outdated, which is a bold move for sure.

I think this is part of a bigger trend where companies are trying to move away from being just a plugin inside someone else's editor. But a lot of developers, including me, still use VS Code as their primary editor. Having an AI coding agent right there in the sidebar is super convenient.

Why this matters for VS Code users

You don't have to switch to a terminal or open another app when it lives in the sidebar. It's just right there while you are coding. If you were using AMP in VS Code, you are going to need an alternative.

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Your Next Best Alternative

I think the best option right now is Kilo Code. It's genuinely one of the best AI coding extensions out there and it's open source under the Apache 2.0 license. It is a VS Code extension and it is not going anywhere.

They are committed to the VS Code experience, unlike AMP which is now abandoning it. You don't have to worry about your tool disappearing from your editor one day. That stability matters a lot.

Model support and flexibility

Kilo Code supports over 500 models. Unlike AMP where they chose the model for you and you couldn't change it, Kilo Code lets you pick from basically everything. That includes Claude Sonnet and Opus, GPT mini, Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 3, Groq, DeepSeek, Qwen, and local models through Llama.

You can also bring your own API keys, which AMP never really offered properly. If you are comparing model behavior and features, see Claude features for more context. That flexibility is hugely useful day to day.

Free tier and privacy

Kilo Code gives you $20 in free credits when you sign up and there are no ads. AMP's free tier showed you ads and used your data for training. Kilo Code is open source, does not train on your data, and does not use telemetry.

That matters if you work on sensitive codebases. You keep control of your data and your models. Privacy is first-class here.

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Features that hold up

You get multiple modes like orchestrator, architect, code, and debug. You get a memory bank that remembers your project context across sessions. You get MCP server support with a marketplace.

There is experimental autocomplete with KiloComplete. It also has multi-file reading support. The core experience feels solid and practical.

Pricing and promos

There is no markup on pricing. You pay exactly what the model providers charge. No commission and no hidden fees.

Unlike OpenRouter, which adds a markup, Kilo Code gives you the raw API pricing. They also run promotions where you can top up $10 and get $30 in credits. That is a really good deal.

Prefer the terminal?

Kilo Code has a CLI tool as well. If you actually agree with AMP that the terminal is the future, Kilo has you covered there too. The CLI, called Kilo CLI, supports over 500 models and works the same way.

You can use it however you want. The key is that Kilo Code is not abandoning VS Code. They are doubling down on it and for most developers who live in VS Code, that matters.

Editor context is still powerful

I read the Kilo Code blog post about this and they make good points about why the VS Code extension model still makes sense. The reality is that most developers still live in their editors. VS Code has millions of users and having your AI agent right there in the context of your code, seeing your files, your terminal, your workspace, is incredibly powerful.

It is not a limitation. It is an advantage. I think AMP is making a mistake here, to be honest.

The sidebar is not dead. It is one of the most natural ways to interact with an AI coding assistant. Going to a separate CLI or standalone app adds friction, and friction is the enemy of productivity.

Some people prefer the CLI workflow and that is totally fine. The good thing about Kilo Code is that it gives you both options. That flexibility is what I recommend.

Install Kilo Code in VS Code

Open VS Code.

Open the Extensions view.

Search for "Kilo Code".

Click Install.

Sign up to unlock the $20 in free credits.

You can find Kilo Code on the VS Code Marketplace by name and start using it immediately. Pick your model and bring your own API keys if you want. You are good to go.

Final thoughts

AMP is ending the AMP VS Code extension and going all in on a CLI and a standalone app. For developers who value an AI assistant inside the editor, Kilo Code is the next best alternative. It is open source, supports 500+ models, respects privacy, avoids pricing markups, and stays committed to VS Code.