# Roo Code — AI Coding Tool Review & Pricing

> Roo Code was an open-source AI-powered coding agent for VS Code that enabled developers to automate tasks, refactor code, and execute terminal commands. It utilized a role-based 'modes' system to constrain agent behavior and was highly model-agnostic, supporting a wide range of LLM providers.

Source: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/roo-code · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · Category: IDE Extensions & Plugins · Published by dosa.dev

## At a glance

- **Tool**: Roo Code
- **Company**: Roo Code, Inc.
- **Category**: [IDE Extensions & Plugins](https://ai.dosa.dev/category/ide-plugins)
- **Pricing model**: Free
- **Official website**: https://roocode.com

## Key features

- Role-specific modes like Architect, Code, Ask, and Debug
- Model-agnostic support for multiple LLM providers
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) server integration
- Codebase indexing using vector embeddings
- Configurable auto-approval for actions and commands

## Pricing

**Model**: Free

The extension was free and open-source, relying on user-provided API keys (BYOK) for LLM access; a paid cloud tier existed for teams prior to the project's shutdown.

Full pricing breakdown: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/roo-code/pricing

## Who it is for

- **Best for**: Individual developers and teams who required highly customizable, agentic workflows within VS Code and preferred selecting their own LLM providers.
- **Not ideal for**: Users seeking a maintained or actively supported product, or those preferring simple, plug-and-play AI tools without configuration.

## Verdict

Roo Code is a discontinued, unmaintained project and is not recommended for new adoption; users are advised to migrate to Cline or Kilo Code.

## Recent updates

Development was officially discontinued on May 15, 2026, when the GitHub repository was archived and the extension was shut down following a company pivot.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Roo Code free?

Yes - Roo Code is Free. The extension was free and open-source, relying on user-provided API keys (BYOK) for LLM access; a paid cloud tier existed for teams prior to the project's shutdown.

### Is Roo Code open source?

Yes - Roo Code is open source. The extension was free and open-source, relying on user-provided API keys (BYOK) for LLM access; a paid cloud tier existed for teams prior to the project's shutdown.

### Who is Roo Code best for?

Individual developers and teams who required highly customizable, agentic workflows within VS Code and preferred selecting their own LLM providers.

### Who is Roo Code not ideal for?

Users seeking a maintained or actively supported product, or those preferring simple, plug-and-play AI tools without configuration.

### What are the best Roo Code alternatives?

The closest Roo Code alternatives on ai.dosa.dev are GitHub Copilot, Junie by JetBrains, Gemini Code Assist - all listed under IDE Extensions & Plugins.

### Who makes Roo Code?

Roo Code is developed by Roo Code, Inc.. It is listed in the IDE Extensions & Plugins category on ai.dosa.dev.

## Top alternatives

- [GitHub Copilot](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/github-copilot) (Freemium) — Developers looking to streamline the software development lifecycle, automate recurring tasks, navigate complex legacy codebases, and maintain context across IDEs, GitHub issues, and pull requests.
- [Junie by JetBrains](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/junie) (Freemium) — Developers already integrated into the JetBrains ecosystem who need an autonomous agent for complex refactoring, writing test scaffolds, updating dependencies, and handling routine mechanical coding tasks.
- [Gemini Code Assist](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/gemini-code-assist) (Paid) — Existing enterprise users requiring AI-powered development assistance with private codebase customization and integration into the Google Cloud ecosystem.
- [Amazon Q Developer](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/amazon-q-developer) (Freemium) — Developers working in AWS environments needing help with cloud architecture, code refactoring, and language upgrades.
- [Tabnine](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/tabnine) (Paid) — Regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or defense that require AI coding assistance while keeping all intellectual property and code entirely on private infrastructure.
- [Cline](https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/cline) (Open Source) — Developers who need an agentic assistant for complex, multi-step coding tasks, refactoring, or codebase maintenance while maintaining full control over model choice and costs.
- Full alternatives guide: https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/roo-code/alternatives

## Head-to-head comparisons

- [Cline vs Roo Code](https://ai.dosa.dev/compare/cline-vs-roo-code) (Markdown: https://ai.dosa.dev/compare/cline-vs-roo-code.md)
- [Kilo Code vs Roo Code](https://ai.dosa.dev/compare/kilo-code-vs-roo-code) (Markdown: https://ai.dosa.dev/compare/kilo-code-vs-roo-code.md)