Kiro vs Claude Code
Kiro is AWS's spec-driven coding agent with credit-based plans. Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent with Claude models and usage limits.
- Local servers
- Yes
- runs stdio servers
- Hosted servers
- Yes
- connects by URL
- Config
- CLI + JSON
- how servers are added
- Plugins
- Yes
- plugin marketplaces
Our advice: pick Claude Code if you want Claude models doing the work and you already pay for Claude. Pick Kiro if you want a free tier, a choice of models from several vendors, or a spec-first workflow built by AWS.
Both start at $20 a month on paid plans, and both connect to MCP servers and read AGENTS.md. They bill differently: Kiro uses monthly credits, and Claude Code shares your Claude plan's five-hour and weekly limits. Prices are as of November 2026.
Good for
- Developers choosing a coding agent for the terminal or editor
- AWS teams weighing Kiro's enterprise sign-in and billing
- Claude subscribers curious about Kiro's free tier
- People who like to plan with specs before code is written
Side by side
Our advice: Use Claude Code for Claude models and one subscription across Claude. Use Kiro for a free start, other vendors' models, or spec-driven planning.
| Option | Claude Code | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anthropic | AWS |
| Free plan | No | Yes, 50 credits |
| $20 plan | Claude Pro | Kiro Pro, 1,000 credits |
| Top plan | Ultra, $200/mo | Power, $200/mo |
| How usage is counted | 5-hour and weekly limits | Monthly credits |
| Past the limit | Usage credits at API rates | Add-on credits, $0.04 each |
| Models | Claude models | Auto, Claude, GPT, open-weight |
| Planning style | Plan mode | Specs: requirements, design, tasks |
| Runs in | Terminal, editors, desktop, web | IDE, CLI, web |
| Instruction file | CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md | AGENTS.md |
| MCP servers | Yes | Yes |
Which to pick
Our advice: Already on a Claude plan? Start with Claude Code, since it is included. If you want to try an agent free, work in specs, or choose between Claude, GPT and open models, try Kiro's free tier first. Both read AGENTS.md and use MCP servers, so moving between them costs little.
The main limit on each side: Claude Code has no free plan, and Kiro's credits reset monthly and do not roll over.
Best for
- Claude Code: people who want Claude models and already pay for Claude
- Claude Code: terminal, editor, desktop and web in one tool
- Kiro: developers who want to try an agent on a free plan first
- Kiro: teams on AWS that want its sign-in, billing and spec-driven workflow
- Kiro: people who want to switch between Claude, GPT and open models
Skip it if
- Claude Code: you need a free plan, since it starts at Pro or an API account
- Kiro: you want one Claude subscription to cover everything, since Kiro bills its own credits
Questions
Is Kiro better than Claude Code?
This page names no winner and uses no benchmark. Results depend on your codebase and model. Both have a $20 plan, so the cheapest way to decide is to give the same real task to each.
How much do Kiro and Claude Code cost?
Both start at $20 a month (checked November 3, 2026). Kiro: Free with 50 credits, Pro $20, Pro+ $40, Pro Max $100 and Power $200. Claude Code comes with Claude Pro at $20 a month ($17 a month billed yearly), Max at $100 and Ultra at $200.
Is Kiro free?
Partly. The Free tier gives 50 credits a month with open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5. The first time you upgrade to Pro, you get the rest of that month free plus 500 trial credits to use within 12 months.
Can I use Claude Code for free?
No. The Claude Free plan does not include Claude Code. You need Pro or higher, or an Anthropic Console account that pays per use.
Does Kiro use Claude models?
Yes. Kiro lists Claude Opus 5, Opus 4.8, Sonnet 5, Sonnet 4.6, Sonnet 4.5 and Haiku 4.5, alongside OpenAI GPT-5.6 models and open-weight models. By default it uses Auto, which picks a model for each task.
What is a Kiro credit?
A unit of work in response to your prompts. Simple prompts can use less than one credit, and complex ones such as running a spec task use more. Different models use credits at different rates.
What are the usage limits?
Kiro says it has no daily or weekly rate limits, only your monthly credits, and unused credits do not roll over. Claude Code uses a rolling five-hour limit plus weekly limits that it shares with the rest of your Claude plan. Anthropic gives no fixed message count.
Do both support MCP servers?
Yes. Claude Code connects to MCP servers for tools like Google Drive, Jira and Slack. Kiro says its agent supports MCP, and also AGENTS.md and Skills.md. See what MCP is.
Can I use one instruction file for both?
Yes. Kiro supports AGENTS.md, and Claude Code can read an existing AGENTS.md in place of its own CLAUDE.md. Keep shared coding rules in AGENTS.md.
What is spec-driven development in Kiro?
Kiro turns a prompt into requirements, a design and a list of sequenced tasks, then implements them with agents. Claude Code has a Plan mode that lets Claude propose an approach before editing. See Claude Code.
Information
updated Nov 3, 2026
- Transports
- stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP
- Config file (all)
.mcp.json (project) or ~/.claude.json (user)- MCP docs
- code.claude.com
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.
Show all 6Hide
- Kiro · kiro.dev
- Kiro pricing · kiro.dev
- Claude pricing · claude.com
- Claude Code overview · code.claude.com
- Model configuration · code.claude.com
- Claude Code Desktop · code.claude.com