Kilo Code API: Add FreeTheAI as a Custom Provider
Kilo Code adds FreeTheAI as a custom provider with the OpenAI Compatible API and fetches the model list automatically.
Steps
Open the providers
In VS Code, open Kilo Code's Settings (gear) and go to the Providers tab.
Add a custom provider
Scroll to the bottom, press Custom provider, and fill in the values above.
Pick models and submit
Select models from the fetched list (or add IDs by hand) and press Submit. They appear in the model picker.
How this guide was checked: Checked against Kilo Code's docs (OpenAI compatible providers) on 2026-09-29.
Tips
- For the Kilo CLI, add the same provider to ~/.config/kilo/kilo.json with npm @ai-sdk/openai-compatible, as in the OpenCode guide.
Troubleshooting
Kilo Code shows "unknown API route" (404). What is wrong?
The Base URL must be exactly https://api.freetheai.org/v1, without /chat/completions, and the provider API must be OpenAI Compatible.
The API key box looks shorter after I paste my key. Is that a problem?
No. Kilo Code hides the key once it is saved. If requests fail with 401, paste the full ftai_ key (53 characters) again.
Do I need a Kilo account?
No. A custom provider works without signing in to Kilo.
Why do I get a 403 error?
A 403 usually means the account follows no provider of that model, or your email is not confirmed. Follow a provider on freetheai.org/providers, then try again.
Kilo Code is stuck on "considering next steps". What should I do?
The model is busy. Switch to another model, and check freetheai.org/status.
Common errors
- 401: the key is wrong or incomplete. Paste the whole key.
- 403: follow a provider of the model, or confirm your email.
- 404: the model ID or URL is wrong.
- 429: daily limit reached, or too many requests at once.