TL;DR Decision Tree:
Want Kimi k2.5 for $0? → OpenCode Zen (ongoing free tier)
Want official IDE for $1? → Kimi Code + AI agent haggling ($0.99-$11.99)
Need agent swarm (beta)? → Allegretto $39/month (Research Preview)
Just testing? → 7-day free trial (card required, auto-renews to $19)
For context on why this pricing exists, see the strategic analysis. For technical comparisons with alternatives, see the three-way comparison.
The Free Path: OpenCode Zen (Ongoing)
Status: Active as of February 3, 2026 Cost: $0 (no credit card required) Best for: Daily coding, testing Kimi capabilities, sustained free access
How to Claim
- Visit opencode.ai or install:
npm install -g opencode - Select “Zen” hosted option during setup
- Create account (no credit card)
- Choose Kimi k2.5 from model dropdown
What You Get
- Kimi k2.5: 76.8% SWE-bench, 256K context, native vision
- GLM 4.7: Alternative 73.8% SWE-bench model
- Standard IDE features: code completion, chat, file operations
The Limitations
- Rate limits: Pay-as-you-go spending caps (exact numbers unpublished)
- No agent swarm: Base model only, no Allegretto-tier parallel agents
- Data handling: OpenCode’s hosted tier data policies apply
- Usage visibility: Spending-based limits, not request counts
When to Upgrade
Free tier supports light-to-moderate usage. Upgrade when:
- Hitting spending caps daily
- Needing extended context or faster response times
- Wanting official Kimi IDE features
- Requiring agent swarm capabilities (beta)
Deep dive: /tools/opencode/ — Self-hosted vs Zen comparison
The Haggling Path: Kimi Code via Kimmmmy ($0.99-$11.99)
Status: Active as of February 3, 2026
Cost: $0.99 to $11.99 (first month, AI-determined) → $19/month ongoing
Best for: Users wanting official IDE at minimum entry cost
The Kimmmmy Pricing Mechanic
Moonshot AI employs an AI agent named “Kimmmmy” to personalize first-month pricing through conversation. This is dynamic pricing, not a fixed promotion.
Observed Range (verified Feb 3, 2026):
- Lowest observed: $0.99
- Highest observed: $11.99
- Typical range: $2.99-$7.99
The Interaction Flow
- Visit kimi.com/code
- Click “Get Started” or “Bargain” promotion
- Interact with Kimmmmy AI agent (multiple conversation rounds)
- Receive personalized discount offer
- Screenshot the final price before accepting
- Complete signup with payment method
- Set calendar reminder for day 27 (auto-renews to $19 Moderato)
What Affects Pricing
Based on observational documentation (not prescriptive tactics):
- Engagement level: More conversation rounds correlate with lower observed prices
- Interaction quality: Users reporting genuine engagement (questions, not just clicking) report better offers
- Time/region factors: Pricing may vary by geography and promotional period
Post-Trial Reality
- Auto-renewal: Converts to $19 Moderato after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancellation: Must occur before renewal date—no grace period per terms
- Model lock-in: Kimi k2.5 only, no switching to Claude/GPT
Deep dive: /tools/kimi-code/ — Full trial terms and capabilities
The Trial Path: 7-Day Free (Card Required)
Status: Ongoing
Cost: $0 for 7 days → $19/month auto-renewal
Best for: Evaluating official IDE before financial commitment
How to Claim
- Visit kimi.com/code
- Select “Moderato” plan
- Choose “7-Day Free Trial”
- Enter payment details (card required upfront)
- Set calendar reminder for day 6 to evaluate cancellation
The Trade-offs
Pros:
- Full Moderato features during trial
- No usage limits published for trial period
- Native IDE experience
Cons:
- Card required (vs $0 options)
- Auto-renewal trap (must actively cancel)
- Same model lock-in as paid tier
When This Makes Sense
Choose 7-day trial over free tiers when:
- You need to evaluate official Kimi IDE specifically
- Planning to subscribe if satisfied (card required anyway)
- Free tier rate limits are already too restrictive
- Want to test Allegretto features (requires upgrade from trial)
Paid Tier Selection Guide
Moderato ($19/month): Daily Driver Tier
What you get:
- Extended agent quota (2 concurrent tasks)
- K2.5 with higher speed and extended quota
- 2048 Kimi Code requests per week
- 20 deep research uses per month
- 20 OK Computer uses per month
- Kimi Code IDE access
- Slides visual mode with Nano Banana
What you don’t get:
- Research Preview Agent Swarm (Allegretto+)
- API access (subscription ≠ API credits)
- Model switching (Kimi k2.5 only)
Best for: Individual developers with moderate daily usage who want the official Kimi experience without API complexity.
Break-even vs API:
- Moderato unlimited vs API at 10M+ tokens/month
- Subscription wins on convenience, not pure cost for light usage
Allegretto ($39/month): Agent Swarm Beta
What you get (beyond Moderato):
- 2x agent quota
- 2x usage quota for K2.5
- Kimi Code 3.5x quota
- Research Preview Agent Swarm (up to 100 sub-agents, beta)
- Unlimited Slides visual mode
- Refund for Moderato→Allegretto upgrade prorated
Agent swarm capabilities (per Moonshot):
- “Multiple agents, multiplied productivity”
- Use cases: massive search, long writing, batch tasks
- Parallel execution with hierarchical coordination
Best for: Power users needing parallel agent execution, content creators doing batch workflows, teams testing swarm architectures.
The bet: You’re paying $20/month extra for beta features that may not be fully mature. Evaluate Moderato first, upgrade if you hit agent limits.
Vivace ($199/month): Team/Heavy Usage
What you get:
- 10x agent quota
- 2x agent multi-tasking
- Priority access during peak hours
- 10x usage quota
- Kimi Code 17.5x quota
- Research Preview Agent Swarm
- Team collaboration features
Best for: Engineering teams, agencies, heavy production workflows.
OK Computer Rewards: Referral Mechanics
The OK Computer system provides usage credits for referrals and participation.
How It Works
For Referrers (Subscribed Users):
- Generate exclusive discount link via Kimmmmy interaction
- Share with non-subscribed users
- Receive 10 OK Computer units when invitee subscribes
- One-time reward per referrer (maximum 10 units total)
For All Users (More Perks Program):
- Share invitation link from “More Perks” page
- 1 OK Computer unit when friend participates in event
- 5 OK Computer units when friend completes subscription
- Cumulative rewards based on real-time event page data
Critical Limitations
Usage: OK Computer units apply to “OK Computer” feature only—not general Kimi k2.5 usage.
Maximizing Value
- Time referrals strategically: Credits expire monthly, so refer near month-start
- Verify receipt: Check free OK Computer balance in-app; email notifications may not arrive
- Don’t hoard: Use credits immediately—expiration is automatic and non-negotiable
- Track via event page: Real-time cumulative status shown on promotion page
Geographic Restrictions
Not available in:
- Mainland China (explicitly excluded per terms)
- Some regions restricted due to “payment capabilities or policy regulations”
Verification required: Check signup flow for your region before relying on any specific pricing.
Data handling: Moonshot AI is a Chinese company. Review data handling risks before uploading sensitive code or data.
Decision Framework: Which Path for You?
| Your Situation | Recommended Path | Cost | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing/experimenting | OpenCode Zen | $0 | None |
| Want official IDE cheap | Kimi Code + haggle | $0.99-$11.99 | 30 days |
| Need to evaluate officially | 7-day trial | $0 | 7 days |
| Daily driver, no swarm needs | Moderato | $19/mo | Ongoing |
| Power user, batch workflows | Allegretto | $39/mo | Ongoing |
| Team/enterprise | Vivace | $199/mo | Ongoing |
The Risk-Averse Strategy
- Start with OpenCode Zen (free, immediate, no CC)
- If you hit limits, try Kimi Code haggling ($0.99-$11.99, 30-day commitment)
- If satisfied, continue Moderato ($19/mo) or upgrade to Allegretto ($39/mo) if you need swarm
Never pay $19+ without testing free options first.
Quick Command Reference
OpenCode Zen:
| |
Kimi Code (if subscribed):
| |
Check subscription status:
- Web: kimi.com/code → Account → Subscription
- CLI:
kimi account(if available)
Related Resources
Value Section:
- Free Frontier Stack — Complete free tier setup including Kimi k2.5
- Smart Spend Guide — When to upgrade from free to paid
Analysis:
- Kimi k2.5 Strategic Analysis — Why this pricing exists
- Kimi vs Claude vs Codex — Technical feature comparison
Model & Tool Guides:
- Kimi k2.5 Model Guide — Capabilities, benchmarks, API pricing
- Kimi Code Tool Guide — Official IDE deep dive
- OpenCode Tool Guide — Self-hosted vs Zen comparison
Verification & Risks:
- Kimi Data Handling Risks — Privacy and compliance analysis
- Kimi Claims Verification — Evidence levels and verification methodology
Last verified: February 3, 2026
Sources: kimi.com/code pricing page (screenshot verified), Kimi Promotion Terms (black-friday agreement), OpenCode documentation, Kilo Code dashboard (free tier removal confirmed)
Evidence level: High (primary source screenshots + official documentation)