Kilo Code Model Selection Guide
Last updated: September 3, 2025.
The AI model landscape evolves rapidly, so this guide focuses on what's delivering excellent results with Kilo Code right now. We update this regularly as new models emerge and performance shifts.
Kilo Code Top Performers
| Model | Context Window | SWE-Bench Verified | Human Eval | LiveCodeBench | Input Price* | Output Price* | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5 | 400K tokens | 74.9% | 96.3% | 68.2% | $1.25 | $10 | Latest capabilities, multi-modal coding |
| Claude Sonnet 4 | 1M tokens | 72.7% | 94.8% | 65.9% | $3-6 | $15-22.50 | Enterprise code generation, complex systems |
| Grok Code Fast 1 | 256K tokens | 70.8% | 92.1% | 63.4% | $0.75 | $3.50 | Rapid development, cost-performance balance |
| Qwen3 Coder | 256K tokens | 68.4% | 91.7% | 61.8% | $0.20 | $0.80 | Pure coding tasks, rapid prototyping |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | 1M+ tokens | 67.2% | 89.9% | 59.3% | TBD | TBD | Massive codebases, architectural planning |
*Per million tokens
Budget-Conscious Options
| Model | Context Window | SWE-Bench Verified | Human Eval | LiveCodeBench | Input Price* | Output Price* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 | 128K tokens | 64.1% | 87.3% | 56.7% | $0.14 | $0.28 | Exceptional value for daily coding |
| DeepSeek R1 | 128K tokens | 62.8% | 85.9% | 54.2% | $0.55 | $2.19 | Advanced reasoning at budget prices |
| Qwen3 32B | 128K tokens | 60.3% | 83.4% | 52.1% | Varies | Varies | Open source flexibility |
| Z AI GLM 4.5 | 128K tokens | 58.7% | 81.2% | 49.8% | TBD | TBD | MIT license, hybrid reasoning system |
*Per million tokens
Comprehensive Evaluation Framework
Latency Performance
Response times significantly impact development flow and productivity:
- Ultra-Fast (< 2s): Grok Code Fast 1, Qwen3 Coder
- Fast (2-4s): DeepSeek V3, GPT-5
- Moderate (4-8s): Claude Sonnet 4, DeepSeek R1
- Slower (8-15s): Gemini 2.5 Pro, Z AI GLM 4.5
Impact on Development: Ultra-fast models enable real-time coding assistance and immediate feedback loops. Models with 8+ second latency can disrupt flow state but may be acceptable for complex architectural decisions.
Throughput Analysis
Token generation rates affect large codebase processing:
- High Throughput (150+ tokens/s): GPT-5, Grok Code Fast 1
- Medium Throughput (100-150 tokens/s): Claude Sonnet 4, Qwen3 Coder
- Standard Throughput (50-100 tokens/s): DeepSeek models, Gemini 2.5 Pro
- Variable Throughput: Open source models depend on infrastructure
Scaling Factors: High throughput models excel when generating extensive documentation, refactoring large files, or batch processing multiple components.
Reliability & Availability
Enterprise considerations for production environments:
- Enterprise Grade (99.9%+ uptime): Claude Sonnet 4, GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro
- Production Ready (99%+ uptime): Qwen3 Coder, Grok Code Fast 1
- Developing Reliability: DeepSeek models, Z AI GLM 4.5
- Self-Hosted: Qwen3 32B (reliability depends on your infrastructure)
Success Rates: Enterprise models maintain consistent output quality and handle edge cases more gracefully, while budget options may require additional validation steps.
Context Window Strategy
Optimizing for different project scales:
| Size | Word Count | Typical Use Case | Recommended Models | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32K tokens | ~24,000 words | Individual components, scripts | DeepSeek V3, Qwen3 Coder | Focus on single-file optimization |
| 128K tokens | ~96,000 words | Standard applications, most projects | All budget models, Grok Code Fast 1 | Multi-file context, moderate complexity |
| 256K tokens | ~192,000 words | Large applications, multiple services | Qwen3 Coder, Grok Code Fast 1 | Full feature context, service integration |
| 400K+ tokens | ~300,000+ words | Enterprise systems, full stack apps | GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 2.5 Pro | Architectural overview, system-wide refactoring |
Performance Degradation: Model effectiveness typically drops significantly beyond 400-500K tokens, regardless of advertised limits. Plan context usage accordingly.
Community Choice
The AI model landscape changes quicky to stay up to date 👉 check Kilo Code Community Favorites on OpenRouter