What it is
Kiro is Amazon Web Services' coding tool. Its main idea is spec-driven development: before writing code, the agent turns your request into a written spec with requirements, a design and a task list, which you can edit, and then works through the tasks. Agent hooks run automatic actions when files change, such as updating tests or docs.
One subscription covers the Kiro IDE (based on Code OSS), the Kiro CLI, Kiro Web, Crew, ACP-compatible editors and CI/CD automation. The default Auto mode mixes several frontier models; paid plans can also pick Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Opus 5 and others, while the free plan gets Claude Sonnet 4.5 and open-weight models such as Qwen3 Coder Next and DeepSeek 3.2.
Kiro is AWS's replacement for Amazon Q Developer. AWS stopped new Q Developer sign-ups and subscriptions on 15 May 2026, and Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions reach end of support on 30 April 2027. The old Q CLI became the Kiro CLI.
Our review
Kiro's spec-first approach is its real difference. Instead of jumping straight to edits, it writes down what it plans to build and why, which gives reviewers something to check and makes large changes easier to follow. For teams that already work from tickets and design docs this fits better than a chat-first agent, and one plan now covers the IDE, CLI, web, Crew, ACP editors and CI.
For AWS customers the decision is largely made. AWS stopped new Q Developer subscriptions on 15 May 2026, ends support for its IDE plugins on 30 April 2027, and since 29 May 2026 the newest models, including Opus 4.7, have been available only in Kiro. Enterprise billing runs through AWS with IAM Identity Center and SAML/SCIM, which slots into existing procurement.
The data defaults split by plan, and that matters. According to Kiro's data-protection page, content from Free and individual paid subscribers can be used to improve the service, including model training, unless they opt out in settings; Free inputs may still be kept up to 60 days for abuse detection. Enterprise users are opted out automatically, and their logs go to an S3 bucket in their own AWS account. A contractor on a personal Pro+ plan working on client code is the case to watch.
Cost predictability is the remaining weak point. Everything consumes credits, including spec refinement and hook runs; a spec task typically costs more than one credit, Sonnet 4.6 runs at 1.3 times Auto, and unused monthly credits vanish. Enterprise overages at $0.04 a credit are off by default, which protects budgets but can stop a developer mid-task. Third-party harnesses such as OpenClaw are banned on subscriptions, so Kiro credits cannot quietly power another agent.
Where it earns its place
A 40-developer AWS shop on Amazon Q Developer Pro
Move off Q Developer before support ends in April 2027
Buy Kiro Enterprise through AWS with IAM Identity Center; Pro at $20 a seat is $800 a month for 40 developers, with content excluded from training automatically. Admins must enable overages ($0.04 a credit) or developers stop at their allowance.
A tech lead whose team reviews every change against a design doc
Get agent-written changes that arrive with a plan reviewers can check
Spec mode writes requirements, design and a task list before editing, so the review starts with intent rather than a diff. Each spec task usually costs more than one credit, so a Pro allowance of 1,000 goes faster than in chat mode.
A freelance developer on a personal Kiro Pro+ plan
Use Kiro on client repositories under an NDA
Turn off Content Collection for Service Improvement in Settings before opening client code; individual plans opt in by default. Pro+ at $40 gives 2,000 credits, and add-on packs from $5 roll over for 12 months.
Before you commit
- Setup
- Download the IDE (Code OSS-based, so VS Code settings and Open VSX extensions carry over) or install the CLI; sign in with GitHub, Google, Builder ID or IAM Identity Center.
- Integrations
- IDE, CLI, Kiro Web, Crew, ACP-compatible editors, CI/CD and MCP servers.
- Data and privacy
- Free and individual plans may be used for training unless opted out; Enterprise is excluded. Individual data stored in US East (N. Virginia), Enterprise in the profile's region, with optional customer-managed KMS keys.
- Cost at scale
- 40 developers on Pro+ cost $1,600 a month; each extra 1,000 credits is $40. GovCloud runs about 20% higher with no free tier.
- Limits
- Credits are charged to 0.01; monthly credits expire at month end; usage dashboard lags up to five minutes. Free plan models are rate-limited.
What's good
- Spec-driven flow produces requirements, design and tasks you can review
- One plan covers IDE, CLI, web, ACP editors and CI/CD
- Enterprise via AWS billing, IAM Identity Center and SAML/SCIM
- Official upgrade path for Amazon Q Developer customers
- Free plan includes Claude Sonnet 4.5
What's not
- Individual plans allow training on your content by default
- Spec work and hooks all consume credits
- Unused monthly credits are lost
- Structured flow is slower for small fixes
- Third-party agent harnesses are not allowed
Best for
AWS-centric teams and developers who want the agent to write a reviewable spec before it writes code.
Alternatives
Kiro: common questions
- Is Kiro worth it?
- Kiro makes the agent show its plan before it touches code, which reviewers will welcome, but individual subscribers should know that their prompts and code feed AWS model training unless they untick a box. We rate it 4.0 out of 5.
- How much does Kiro cost?
- Free (50 credits/month); Pro $20 (1,000 credits); Pro+ $40 (2,000); Pro Max $100 (5,000); Power $200 (10,000); Enterprise via AWS with IAM Identity Center. Extra credits $0.04 each. Unused monthly credits do not roll over; GovCloud about 20% higher.
- What are the downsides of Kiro?
- Individual plans allow training on your content by default; spec work and hooks all consume credits; unused monthly credits are lost; structured flow is slower for small fixes; third-party agent harnesses are not allowed.
- Who is Kiro best for?
- AWS-centric teams and developers who want the agent to write a reviewable spec before it writes code.
- How much does Kiro cost for a team or in production?
- 40 developers on Pro+ cost $1,600 a month; each extra 1,000 credits is $40. GovCloud runs about 20% higher with no free tier.
- Is Kiro safe for company data?
- Free and individual plans may be used for training unless opted out; Enterprise is excluded. Individual data stored in US East (N. Virginia), Enterprise in the profile's region, with optional customer-managed KMS keys.
- What are the best Kiro alternatives?
- The closest alternatives we have reviewed are Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code and Devin (incl. Devin Desktop, formerly Windsurf).
Answers checked Oct 23, 2026.
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