The key difference
Claude Code and Kiro can run the same Claude models. What differs is how they make you work.
Claude Code is conversation-first. You describe a task in the terminal (or the VS Code and JetBrains extensions, desktop app or browser), and the agent reads the codebase, edits files and runs commands. It can plan before it edits, but how much structure you add is up to you.
Kiro is spec-first. It’s an IDE built on Code OSS (the open-source base of VS Code), and its signature feature is the spec. For a feature, Kiro first writes:
requirements.md: user stories and acceptance criteria (orbugfix.mdwith current, expected and unchanged behavior for a bug)design.md: architecture, sequence diagrams and implementation notes- a task list it then executes step by step
Those files live in your repository, so a teammate can review the plan before any code is written.
Models
This is where Kiro surprises people. It’s an AWS product, but it isn’t tied to Amazon models.
- Claude Code runs Anthropic’s Claude models only, from Anthropic or through Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud or Microsoft Foundry.
- Kiro paid plans include Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (plus older Claude versions), OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 in three tiers, open-weight models such as Qwen, DeepSeek and MiniMax, and an Auto mode that routes each task to a model. The Free plan is limited to open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5.
Kiro charges each model at a different credit rate. Per Kiro’s models page, Claude Opus 5.5 costs 2.0x credits and Claude Sonnet 5.5 costs 1.3x. Kiro notes that models with the same multiplier can still use different amounts of credit per task.
Pricing in practice
| Plan | Claude Code | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Not available | Free: 50 credits/month, open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5 |
| ~$20 | Pro: $20/month ($17/month billed yearly) | Pro: $20/user/month, 1,000 credits |
| ~$40 | — | Pro+: $40, 2,000 credits |
| ~$100 | Max 5x: $100 | Pro Max: $100, 5,000 credits |
| ~$200 | Max 20x: $200 | Power: $200, 10,000 credits |
| Going over | Wait for limits to reset, move up a plan, or use an API key | Add-on credits at $0.04 each (paid plans) |
| Teams | Team: Standard seat $25/user ($20 billed yearly), Premium seat $125 ($100 billed yearly) | Paid plans per user for teams of 2–500; Enterprise via sales |
Prices are from the official Claude pricing and Kiro pricing pages, checked October 22, 2026. Kiro also credits $20 toward your first paid upgrade when you sign in with a social login or AWS Builder ID.
How the two pricing models feel in use:
- Claude Code: a flat monthly price. When you hit the usage limit you wait for it to reset or upgrade.
- Kiro: a credit balance you can watch go down, with the option to top up. Because each model has its own multiplier, the same plan lasts longer on cheaper models and Auto.
Workflow and configuration
| Claude Code | Kiro | |
|---|---|---|
| Project instructions | CLAUDE.md (and AGENTS.md in supported setups) |
Steering files in .kiro/steering/, plus AGENTS.md |
| Automation on events | Hooks | Hooks in .kiro/hooks/, which you can create by describing them, e.g. “run tests after every file save” |
| Extensions | MCP servers, subagents, skills, plugins | MCP servers, custom agents, Agent Skills, Powers |
| Where it runs | Terminal CLI, VS Code and JetBrains extensions, desktop app, browser | Kiro IDE, Kiro CLI, Kiro Web (cloud sandboxes); mobile app in preview; JetBrains and Zed through ACP |
| Bring your own key | Yes: Anthropic API key, Bedrock, Google Cloud, Microsoft Foundry | No |
| Free tier | No | Yes, 50 credits/month |
Who should pick which
Choose Claude Code if:
- you work mainly in the terminal or want to keep your current editor
- you prefer to steer the agent in conversation rather than through spec documents
- you want to use your own Anthropic API key or Claude through your cloud provider
Choose Kiro if:
- you want the agent to produce reviewable requirements and a design before it codes
- you want Claude and GPT models, plus cheaper open-weight models, under one plan
- you want a free tier to try it, or you’re an AWS customer who wants the tool from AWS
Use both if: your team likes Kiro’s specs for planning new features but some developers prefer Claude Code for quick fixes. Both read AGENTS.md, so shared project rules can live in one file.
Hands-on test
We haven’t run a hands-on test of this pair yet. This comparison is based on each vendor’s documentation, pricing pages and model lists, linked on the Claude Code and Kiro pages. When we add a test, this page will name the task, the tool and model versions, and the date it was run.
