Blog · October 24, 2026 · Agentdex Editorial

Roo Code Guide (2026): Shutdown, Status and Best Alternatives

Roo Code (Agentdex profile) was a popular open-source AI coding agent for VS Code, known for its custom modes. It is no longer available: the Roo Code team shut down the extension, Roo Code Cloud and Roo Code Router on May 15, 2026, and archived the GitHub repository. If you are looking for Roo Code today, this guide explains what it did, what happened, what it means if you still have it installed, and the best alternatives, based on the official Roo Code repository and announcements as of October 24, 2026.

Key Takeaways

Roo Code shut down on May 15, 2026. The extension, Roo Code Cloud and Roo Code Router all ended, and the GitHub repository is archived.
The extension had more than 3 million downloads. Its final release was v3.54.0 on May 15, 2026.
The team now builds Roomote, a cloud coding agent at roomote.dev, which is a different kind of product from the extension.
The official README points users to Zoo Code, a community fork, and Cline (Agentdex profile), the project Roo Code was originally forked from.
If you relied on custom modes, Zoo Code is the closest match. If you want an actively developed agent with a wider product range, Cline is the safer bet.

A developer at a desk with a wide monitor showing several code windows in a code editor

What Roo Code was

Roo Code started as a fork of Cline in late 2024. It was first called Roo Cline, which is why its VS Code Marketplace ID stayed RooVeterinaryInc.roo-cline. It ran as an extension inside VS Code and worked with any model provider through your own API keys, including local models.

Its signature feature was modes: separate personas for different kinds of work, each with its own instructions and tool permissions.

Mode	What it was for
Code	Writing and editing code
Architect	Planning features and system design before coding
Ask	Answering questions about the codebase without changing it
Debug	Tracking down and fixing bugs
Custom modes	Your own modes, such as a test writer or docs writer, with tailored instructions and permissions

Roo Code also supported the Model Context Protocol, checkpoints, codebase indexing and project rules. By the time it shut down, the repository had about 24,300 stars on GitHub.

What happened to Roo Code

Date	Event
October 2024	Roo Code repository created as a fork of Cline
April 2026	The team announced it would wind down Roo Code to focus on Roomote
May 15, 2026	Extension, Roo Code Cloud and Roo Code Router shut down; final release v3.54.0; repository archived

According to the official shutdown notice, unused balances were refunded. Paying users with billing questions are directed to billing@roocode.com in the repository README. The roocode.com domain now redirects to Roomote.

If you still have Roo Code installed

Expect no updates. The project receives no new features, model support or security fixes, and Roo Code Cloud and Router no longer work.
Export your settings and modes. Save your custom modes file (.roomodes) and any rules before you uninstall, so you can recreate them elsewhere.
Rotate API keys if you are unsure where they are stored. Keys you entered in the extension belong to your own provider accounts, so manage them there.
Plan the move now. An unmaintained agent that runs terminal commands on your machine is a risk worth retiring.

A network of connected nodes and cables representing software integrations and data flow

The best Roo Code alternatives

Tool	What it is	Best for	Cost
Cline	Actively developed open-source agent: VS Code extension, JetBrains plugin, CLI, desktop app and cloud agents	Most Roo Code users who want a maintained, model-agnostic agent	Free software; pay for models, or ClinePass $9.99/month
Zoo Code	Community fork of Roo Code with the same modes	Users who want Roo Code's workflow with minimal change	Free with your own keys; optional pay-as-you-go cloud agents via Zoo Gateway credits
Kilo Code	Open-source coding agent with modes, in the same family as Cline and Roo Code	Users who want modes plus an active company behind the product	Free software; pay for models
Roomote	Cloud coding agent from the Roo Code team	Teams that want agents running in the cloud rather than in the editor	7-day free trial, then from $49/month for up to 10 users; self-hosting offered

Cline

Cline is where Roo Code came from, and the Roo Code README recommends it. It uses Plan & Act instead of many modes, but covers the same ground: multi-file edits, terminal commands with approval, checkpoints, rules files, MCP and any model provider. It also offers things Roo Code never had, such as a CLI for CI, a desktop app and cloud agents. See our Cline guide and Cline vs Roo Code.

Zoo Code

Zoo Code is a fork started by the Roo Code community and listed in the official README. It keeps the modes-based workflow and is available on the VS Code Marketplace and Open VSX, with a JetBrains version in beta. You can bring your own keys, or use its cloud agents on a pay-as-you-go basis through Zoo Gateway credits (minimum top-up $0.50). As with any community fork, check how active the project is before betting a team on it.

Kilo Code

Kilo Code is another open-source agent in the same family. It keeps a modes-based approach and works with many model providers. It is a reasonable option if you want modes and a company actively shipping updates.

Roomote

Roomote is what the Roo Code team builds now. It is a cloud coding agent rather than an editor extension: you assign tasks and it works on them in the cloud. It has a free 7-day trial, then plans from $49/month for up to 10 users, and self-hosting is available. It is closer to tools like Devin (Agentdex profile) than to the old extension, so it is not a like-for-like replacement for solo developers.

How to migrate from Roo Code to Cline

Install Cline from the VS Code Marketplace (or Open VSX in Cursor (Agentdex profile) and other VS Code-based editors).
Add the same API keys you used in Roo Code, or sign in to use Cline credits.
Turn your most-used custom mode instructions into .clinerules files or Cline skills. Our guide to writing agent rules helps here.
Use Plan mode where you used Architect or Ask, and Act mode where you used Code or Debug.
Re-add your MCP servers in Cline's MCP settings.
Uninstall Roo Code once you are happy, so two agents are not watching the same workspace.

Roo Code vs Cursor and other editors

If you are deciding between an extension-based agent and a full AI editor, our Roo Code vs Cursor comparison covers that choice with Roo Code's current status in mind. For other options, see Cursor alternatives and AI coding agents.

FAQ

Is Roo Code still available?

No. Roo Code shut down on May 15, 2026. The extension, Roo Code Cloud and Roo Code Router ended, and the GitHub repository is archived.

Why did Roo Code shut down?

The team chose to focus on Roomote, a cloud coding agent, and wound down Roo Code to do so.

What is the best alternative to Roo Code?

The official README recommends Zoo Code, a community fork, and Cline. Zoo Code is closest to Roo Code's modes; Cline is the more established, actively developed option.

Is Roo Code the same as Cline?

Roo Code started as a fork of Cline in 2024 and added custom modes. They were separate projects, and Cline is still actively developed.

What is Roomote?

Roomote is a cloud coding agent built by the former Roo Code team. It offers a 7-day free trial, then plans from $49/month for up to 10 users, plus a self-hosting option.

Can I import my Roo Code modes into another tool?

Zoo Code is a direct fork, so it keeps the same mode structure. For Cline, recreate your mode instructions as rules files or skills.

Written by Agentdex Editorial. Agentdex is an independent directory reviewing AI coding tools; we are not affiliated with the companies mentioned. Prices and features are as of October 24, 2026, from official sources linked above. Always confirm on the vendor's site.