Roo Code Review 2026: Extension Shutdown, GitHub, VS Code Marketplace, and Alternatives

If you searched for Roo Code in 2026, you probably saw conflicting signals. The VS Code Marketplace listing is still live. The GitHub repository is still public as a read-only archive. The docs still explain how Roo Code worked as an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code. But the official docs and README now include a critical warning: the Roo Code Extension was shut down on May 15, 2026.

That is the most important fact in this Roo Code review. Older descriptions of Roo Code as a normal "free forever" VS Code coding agent are now incomplete. Developers looking for the official site, GitHub repo, VS Code extension, pricing, or alternatives need a current status check before they decide what to install.

Quick Verdict

Question	Current answer
Is Roo Code still visible online?	Yes. The archived GitHub repo, docs, and VS Code Marketplace listing are still public.
Is the original extension active?	Official docs and README say the Roo Code Extension was shut down on May 15, 2026.
Is it open source?	Yes. The GitHub repo is public under Apache-2.0.
Is the Marketplace listing free?	The listing is marked Free, but the shutdown notice matters more for new users.
Best current use	Research, migration, and understanding the original VS Code agent workflow.
Alternatives named by Roo Code	ZooCode and Cline.

What Is Roo Code?

Roo Code was an open-source AI coding agent for VS Code. Its public materials describe a local editor-based workflow with file-system access, terminal control, model-provider flexibility, MCP support, and modes such as Code, Architect, Ask, Debug, and Custom Modes.

That made Roo Code relevant because it sat in a practical category: AI agents that work inside the editor instead of asking developers to move into a separate hosted IDE. For developers comparing VS Code coding agents, Roo Code belonged in the same conversation as Cline, Continue, and other open-source editor assistants.

The project also had real adoption signal. On June 26, 2026, the VS Code Marketplace listing showed more than 1.7M installs and a roughly 4.75 average rating, while the GitHub repo showed more than 24K stars and Apache-2.0 licensing. That is not the profile of a tiny experiment.

But adoption signal does not cancel the current status warning.

The Current Status: Extension Shutdown

The official Roo Code docs now show an "Extension Shutdown" warning. The README says the same thing: the Roo Code Extension was shut down on May 15, 2026.

This changes how developers should evaluate Roo Code:

• Do not treat Roo Code as a normal active extension recommendation without checking the shutdown notice.
• Do not rely on older articles that describe it as an actively maintained "free forever" extension.
• Do not assume the roocode.com domain is the best current Roo Code entry point; it now redirects to Roomote.
• Use the docs, GitHub repo, and Marketplace page together to understand the actual state.

The Marketplace listing still exists, and it still includes installation commands. That can mislead searchers who only see the listing snippet. The safer interpretation is: Roo Code remains visible and inspectable, but new users should verify whether they want the original extension, a fork, or a replacement.

Roo Code GitHub and Official Docs

For source-level research, the Roo Code GitHub repository is still the main reference, but it is now a public archive. It includes the README, source code, license, issues, and history of the extension.

For product and usage context, the Roo Code docs are more useful than the old roocode.com domain because they still explain the extension and show the shutdown notice directly. The docs also point to installation, provider setup, modes, release notes, FAQ, and GitHub resources.

That distinction matters for search intent. A query like "roo code official" may not mean "send me to a company landing page." It may mean "where is the authoritative Roo Code extension information?" Today, the docs and GitHub repo answer that better than the redirected domain.

VS Code Marketplace Status

The VS Code Marketplace listing is still public. At review time it showed:

• Extension name: Roo Code
• Publisher: Roo Code
• Unique identifier: RooVeterinaryInc.roo-cline
• Pricing label: Free
• More than 1.7M installs
• 4.8 rating from hundreds of reviews
• Version 3.54.0, last updated May 15, 2026
• GitHub/source links pointing to the RooCodeInc repository

The same Marketplace page also repeats the shutdown notice in its overview content. That is the nuance many quick summaries miss. The extension listing can be live while the official project still says the extension was shut down.

Roo Code Pricing

Roo Code's current pricing story should be handled carefully.

The Marketplace listing is marked Free. The GitHub repository is Apache-2.0. But the shutdown notice means "free" is no longer the same as "an active product you should adopt for a new workflow." Older mentions of Roo Code Cloud, Router credits, or free-forever extension positioning should be treated as historical unless you verify them from current official sources.

If your question is simply "did the VS Code extension cost money?" the Marketplace answer is Free. If your question is "should my team standardize on Roo Code now?" the better answer is: only after reading the shutdown notice and comparing alternatives.

Alternatives: ZooCode and Cline

The official Roo Code materials name two alternatives:

ZooCode is described as a fork started by the Roo Code community. If you liked Roo Code's workflow and want continuity from the project community, ZooCode is the first place to inspect.

Cline is named because Roo Code originated from Cline. If you want an actively recognized VS Code coding-agent lineage with a larger current ecosystem, Cline belongs on the shortlist.

Other tools may also fit depending on your needs:

• Continue if you want an open-source AI assistant inside the editor with strong customization.
• OpenHands if you want a broader open-source autonomous software agent environment.
• Aider if you want a terminal-first, git-native coding agent instead of an editor extension.

The right choice depends on whether you want VS Code-native interaction, terminal-native control, open-source inspectability, or a managed cloud workflow.

Who Should Still Read About Roo Code?

Roo Code is still worth reading about if you are:

• Trying to understand what happened to the original extension.
• Looking for the GitHub repository or VS Code Marketplace listing.
• Comparing Roo Code with Cline, ZooCode, Continue, or other VS Code agents.
• Researching open-source agentic coding tools and their history.
• Maintaining an older setup that still references Roo Code.

It is not the right page if you just want a clean install recommendation for a brand-new active extension without caveats. In that case, start with the alternatives and verify their current status directly.

Final Verdict

Roo Code should no longer be presented as a straightforward active VS Code coding-agent recommendation. The better 2026 framing is: Roo Code was a high-signal open-source VS Code AI coding agent with strong public adoption, but the official docs and README now say the extension was shut down on May 15, 2026.

That does not make the project irrelevant. It makes accurate status more important. If you are searching for Roo Code official links, GitHub, Marketplace install details, pricing, or alternatives, use the public repo and docs as references, then evaluate ZooCode, Cline, and other current tools before committing to a workflow.

For a shorter directory summary, open the Roo Code profile. For current source references, use the Roo Code docs, Roo Code GitHub repository, and VS Code Marketplace listing.