CodingAgentsFree tier

Kiro

kiro.dev ↗

Kiro in short

What it is: Best for developers who want an AI coding agent that plans the work as a spec before it writes code. Price: Free tier. Free $0 (50 credits; open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5, with limits); Pro $20, Pro+ $40, Pro Max $100, Power $200 per user/mo (1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 credits); add-on credits $0.04 each. First upgrade from Free: rest of that month free plus 500 trial credits. (checked 2026-11-03). Best for: turn a prompt into a spec (requirements, design and tasks) before writing code; agentic coding in an IDE, terminal (CLI) or browser. Watch out: free tier has 50 credits; more usage needs a paid plan.

Our verdict

Best for developers who want an AI coding agent that plans the work as a spec before it writes code.

Per kiro.dev, Kiro turns prompts into requirements, designs and tasks before coding, runs in an IDE, CLI and browser, and has a free tier with paid plans from $20 per user per month.

Based on public docs and pricing pages, not hands-on testing. How we check

Strengths

  • Spec-driven development: Kiro writes requirements, a design and sequenced tasks, then implements them with parallel agents
  • IDE, CLI, web app, mobile app and Kiro Crew (open source, free)
  • IDE is based on Code OSS and imports VS Code settings, themes and Open VSX extensions
  • Supports MCP, AGENTS.md and the Agent Client Protocol (ACP)
  • Sign in with GitHub, Google, AWS Builder ID or IAM Identity Center; no AWS account needed

Limitations

  • Free tier has 50 credits; more usage needs a paid plan
  • Unused monthly credits don't roll over
  • Kiro Web needs a paid plan (Pro or higher)
  • Each developer on a team needs their own subscription
  • Use through third-party automation harnesses (such as OpenClaw) is not permitted

Kiro pricing

Free $0 (50 credits; open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5, with limits); Pro $20, Pro+ $40, Pro Max $100, Power $200 per user/mo (1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 credits); add-on credits $0.04 each. First upgrade from Free: rest of that month free plus 500 trial credits.

From the official pricing page, checked 2026-11-03. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.

Is Kiro free?

Yes, it lists a free way to start. Free $0 (50 credits; open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5, with limits); Pro $20, Pro+ $40, Pro Max $100, Power $200 per user/mo (1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 credits); add-on credits $0.04 each. First upgrade from Free: rest of that month free plus 500 trial credits. (official pricing page, checked 2026-11-03)

Good for

turn a prompt into a spec (requirements, design and tasks) before writing codeagentic coding in an IDE, terminal (CLI) or browserlet agents keep working in the cloud when you step away

Note: Built and operated by AWS (source: https://kiro.dev, checked 2026-11-02). Billing and proration: https://kiro.dev/docs/billing/. Add-on credits (packs from $5 for 125 credits, expire 12 months after purchase): https://kiro.dev/docs/billing/add-on-credits/. Downloads for macOS, Windows and Linux: https://kiro.dev/downloads/. Kiro in AWS GovCloud (US) costs about 20% more and has no Free tier.

Alternatives in Coding

  • Cursor: A strong default AI code editor for builders who want an agent in their IDE.
  • GitHub Copilot: The low-friction pick if you already use GitHub.
  • Claude Code: A top choice for terminal-comfortable builders who want an autonomous coding agent.
  • Devin (incl. Devin Desktop, formerly Windsurf): Worth a look if you want to hand off whole tasks to autonomous agents.
  • Cline: Best for builders who want an open, model-agnostic agent and control over costs.
  • Aider: A lightweight, free terminal option for developers.
  • Zed: Great if editor speed matters and you want AI built in.
  • OpenAI Codex: A strong pick if you already pay for ChatGPT.
  • Factory (Droid): Worth a look if you want a terminal or desktop coding agent that is not tied to one model vendor.
  • OpenCode: Best for builders who want a free, open-source coding agent that works with whatever model or subscription they already have.
  • Google Antigravity: Best for developers who want Google's free, agent-first coding app, with Google AI plans when they need more usage.
  • Firebase Studio: Closed to new users and shutting down March 22, 2027; existing users should migrate to Google AI Studio or Antigravity.
  • CodeRabbit: A good add-on reviewer for AI-generated code.

How to choose among AI coding tools →

Recent Kiro releases

All verified releases →

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FAQ

Is Kiro free?

Yes, it lists a free way to start. Free $0 (50 credits; open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5, with limits); Pro $20, Pro+ $40, Pro Max $100, Power $200 per user/mo (1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 credits); add-on credits $0.04 each. First upgrade from Free: rest of that month free plus 500 trial credits. (official pricing page, checked 2026-11-03)

How much does Kiro cost?

Free $0 (50 credits; open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5, with limits); Pro $20, Pro+ $40, Pro Max $100, Power $200 per user/mo (1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 credits); add-on credits $0.04 each. First upgrade from Free: rest of that month free plus 500 trial credits. (from kiro.dev/pricing/, checked 2026-11-03).

What is Kiro used for?

Listed use cases: turn a prompt into a spec (requirements, design and tasks) before writing code; agentic coding in an IDE, terminal (CLI) or browser; let agents keep working in the cloud when you step away.

What are the best alternatives to Kiro?

Other AI coding tools in this directory: Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Devin (incl. Devin Desktop, formerly Windsurf). We list them in data order, not ranked.

Did you test Kiro?

No. Verdicts are based on each vendor's public docs and pricing pages, not hands-on testing, unless a page says otherwise.