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Coding & Dev Tools
A code editor with AI built in, for people who want to watch every change happen.
Coding & Dev Tools
Kiro
Amazon's AI code editor that writes a plan and requirements before it writes any code.
3.6our ratingNo community reviews yet. Add yours
FreemiumFrom $20/moWorks with Claude Code
Quick take
- Its spec mode writes requirements, a design and a task list before any code. That makes it easier to follow than most agents if you're not a developer.
- The free plan gives 50 credits a month, which is a taste. Pro at $20 gets 1,000 credits, and plans go up to $200.
- Credits drain fast on the top models. Users complain about higher multipliers on the newest Claude and OpenAI models, and that the new Workflows feature eats credits.
- It now comes as an editor, terminal app, browser version, iPhone app and a multi-agent tool called Kiro Crew, all on one subscription.
- Amazon pushed its own engineers to use Kiro, then gave in and allowed Claude Code and Codex in May 2026.
What is Kiro?
Kiro is Amazon Web Services' AI coding tool. Its main idea is specs: before writing code, it turns your request into written requirements, a technical design and a task list you can read and edit. Then it works through the tasks one by one. There's also a normal chat mode for quick changes, plus hooks that run automatically when files change.
It has grown into a family of tools: the desktop editor, a terminal app, a browser version that runs tasks in the cloud and opens pull requests, an iPhone app, and Kiro Crew for running several agents at once. Pick it over Cursor or Claude Code if you like seeing a plan on paper first, or if your business already runs on AWS.
The catch is the credit meter. Every prompt uses credits, the newest models use them more than four times faster than the default, and users say the new Workflows feature (September 2026) burns through them quickly and asks for approval constantly. The free plan's 50 credits a month is barely a taste.
Who's using it, and who it's for
- Developers
- AWS teams
- Technical founders
- Students
Developers and technical founders who want a written plan before the AI builds anything, especially teams already on AWS.
Key features
Specs
Turns a request into requirements, a technical design and a step-by-step task list you can edit before anything gets built.
Vibe mode
A normal chat with the agent for quick fixes and questions when you don't need a full plan.
Hooks
Automatic actions that run when files change, such as updating tests or docs every time you save.
Workflows and Crew
Chain several agents into a reusable plan that runs in the background, or run a team of agents with Kiro Crew.
Web and iPhone
Kiro Web runs tasks in the cloud and opens a pull request, and the iPhone app lets you check in from anywhere.
Powers
Ready-made bundles of tools and instructions for services like Supabase, Neon and AWS that load when needed.
How we rate it
3.6overall, out of 5
Our rating, from using the tool ourselves. Each score is out of 5.
- Ease of use
- 4.0
- Features
- 4.5
- Output quality
- 3.5
- Value for money
- 3.0
- Speed & reliability
- 3.0
How quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
How completely it covers the job it's built for, and how well the pieces fit together.
How good the results are before you fix them.
What you get for the price, including the free plan.
How fast it is and how often it falls over.
Community rating
No community reviews yet. Be the first to leave one.
Kiro pricing
Free
Free
Trying spec mode on a small project.
- 50 credits a month
- Open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5
- Rate limits apply
- Our pick
Pro
$20/mo
Most individuals using it a few days a week.
- 1,000 credits a month
- Premium models including the latest Claude
- Buy extra credits at $0.04 each
Pro+
$40/mo
Regular daily users.
- 2,000 credits a month
- Same features as Pro
Pro Max
$100/mo
Professionals in Kiro for hours each day.
- 5,000 credits a month
- Same features as Power
Power
$200/mo
The heaviest users.
- 10,000 credits a month
- Extra credits at $0.04 each
Enterprise
Custom
Companies that need SSO and central billing.
- Single sign-on and admin controls
- Usage analytics
- Overages billed monthly if enabled
Which plan should you pick?
Pro at $20 is the place to start, and you get $20 off your first paid month when you upgrade. Use the Auto model to make credits last, and only move up a tier once you know your monthly usage.
Prices in USD unless noted, checked 21 October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Best use cases
Ways Kiro can slot into your week.
- 1
Plan a feature before you build it
Describe the feature in plain English and let Kiro write the requirements and task list, then edit them before it starts coding.
- 2
Brief a developer
Use the spec Kiro writes as a clear brief for a freelancer or your own team, even if someone else builds it.
- 3
Keep docs and tests up to date
Set hooks to refresh documentation or tests automatically whenever code changes.
- 4
Run jobs in the cloud
Hand a task to Kiro Web, close your laptop and review the pull request later.
How it fits your tech stack
It replaces VS Code as your editor and fits most naturally with AWS, though it works with any project on GitHub. Its terminal app also plugs into editors that support ACP, such as Zed and JetBrains.
Connects to
- GitHub
- AWS
- MCP servers
- Supabase
- Neon
- VS Code extensions
- Zed
- JetBrains
Pros and cons
Pros
- Spec mode makes the AI's plan easy to read and change before it builds
- One subscription covers editor, terminal, web and iPhone
- Good choice for businesses already on AWS
- Hooks and Powers automate a lot of busywork
Cons
- Credits run out fast on the best models, and multipliers have gone up
- Workflows are slow, ask for approval constantly and burn credits
- Free plan's 50 credits a month is very small
- History of pricing changes, including a botched launch in 2025
- Some users say its agent uses more tokens than Claude Code or Codex for the same job
Kiro alternatives
The closest alternatives to Kiro in the library, best rated first.
- Claude Code4.4/5· best for building features end to endKiro vs Claude Code
- Zed4.3/5· best for Running Claude Code inside an editorKiro vs Zed
- OpenAI Codex4.2/5· best for background tasks in the cloudKiro vs OpenAI Codex
- Warp4.1/5· best for A nicer home for Claude CodeKiro vs Warp
Popular comparisons
Why it made the list
It's the best-known tool for spec-driven development, and it comes from AWS, which matters to a lot of businesses.
Not sure Kiro is the one?
Put it next to a similar tool and see the differences side by side.
Kiro FAQ
How much does Kiro cost?
There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $20/mo. Prices checked 21 October 2026 against Kiro's pricing page.
Is Kiro free?
Yes, Kiro has a free option. Pro at $20 is the place to start, and you get $20 off your first paid month when you upgrade. Use the Auto model to make credits last, and only move up a tier once you know your monthly usage.
What is Kiro best for?
Kiro is best for turning a rough idea into requirements and a plan, bigger features you want planned before building and teams already on AWS. Developers and technical founders who want a written plan before the AI builds anything, especially teams already on AWS.
What are the best Kiro alternatives?
The closest alternatives are Claude Code, Zed, OpenAI Codex and Warp. Claude Code is best for building features end to end.
Community reviews
Nobody has reviewed Kiro here yet. If you use it, your take helps everyone else choose.
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