Kiro (AWS): Pricing, Models, Specs & CLI Guide

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Kiro is an AI-powered code editor from Amazon Web Services, built on Code OSS (the same base as VS Code), with a terminal version called Kiro CLI, a browser version, and an iOS app. What sets it apart from Cursor and Windsurf is spec-driven development: before the agent writes code, it prepares three specification files (requirements, design, task list) that you can review and edit. The free plan gives you 50 credits per month, Pro costs 20 USD for 1,000 credits, and paid plans are available worldwide.

What is Kiro

AWS announced Kiro on July 14, 2025, and made it generally available on November 17, 2025, along with Kiro CLI (the successor to Amazon Q Developer CLI). All versions share a single credit pool and common configuration in the .kiro directory:

• Kiro IDE - editor for Windows 10 and 11, macOS, and Linux (Ubuntu 24+, Debian 13+, Fedora 40+);
• Kiro CLI - terminal agent for macOS, Windows 11 (PowerShell), and Linux (glibc 2.34+);
• Kiro Web - cloud sessions in your browser;
• Kiro Mobile - iOS app, currently via TestFlight;
• Kiro Crew - open-source personal agent running on your own hardware.

Specs, Steering & Hooks - How Kiro Differs

The agent in Kiro works in two modes: loose (vibe, regular conversation) and specification (spec). In spec mode, each feature or bug fix gets three files:

1. requirements.md (or bugfix.md for bugs) - user stories and acceptance criteria or bug analysis;
2. design.md - architecture, sequence diagrams, technical decisions;
3. tasks.md - task list to execute, checked off as work progresses; tasks can run in parallel.

On top of that, there are three mechanisms we verified in the documentation:

• Steering - Markdown files in .kiro/steering/ (project-level) or ~/.kiro/steering/ (global) with rules the agent should follow. Kiro also reads AGENTS.md.
• Hooks - automatic actions triggered by events, such as running a linter after the agent saves a file or blocking a tool until a condition is met (PreToolUse). Actions can be shell commands or prompts for the agent.
• Powers, MCP & Agent Skills - extensions with ready-made knowledge and tools. Powers are free in all plans. We cover the MCP protocol itself in our article MCP - what it is.

How to Get Started - Step by Step

1. Download the installer from kiro.dev and run it.
2. Sign in with Google, GitHub, or AWS Builder ID. Only these methods qualify for the 20 USD bonus when you first upgrade to a paid plan.
3. Import settings from VS Code and open your project folder.
4. Type what you want to build in the chat and choose spec mode if you want to receive a specification first. Review requirements.md and design.md, edit them, and only then have the agent execute tasks from tasks.md.

If you’re new to AI agents, first read vibe coding step by step and the list of common mistakes in security vulnerabilities in vibe coding.

Models in Kiro

Auto runs by default, automatically selecting the model for each task with a 1.0x multiplier. Every other model consumes credits according to its multiplier relative to Auto. Key entries from the documentation table:

For GPT-5.6, queries over 272,000 tokens are charged double. Claude Fable 5.1 (6x multiplier) is only in limited beta for Enterprise customers. More on Anthropic models in our articles Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Sonnet 5.5.

Kiro Pricing

Pricing rules: plan credits don’t roll over to the next month; purchased credit packs (from 5 USD for 125 credits to 100 USD) are valid for 12 months. Subscriptions renew on the 1st of each month, so your first month is prorated. No annual subscription option.

Something Special: How Much Work Fits in Each Plan

Kiro doesn’t specify how many credits a typical task costs, but it does publish multipliers. So we converted plans into “Auto units” - how many tasks that would cost 1 credit in Auto you can fit in a month on each model. This is a proportion from the official table, not a measurement.

A subscription credit costs 0.02 USD, while a purchased one costs 0.04 USD. We calculated when it pays to buy extra credits versus upgrading your plan:

Kiro Availability Worldwide

• Purchase - Available for purchase in most countries worldwide. You pay by card, VAT is added to the price; no local currency pricing.
• Where queries are processed - According to documentation, Free users and individual subscribers are always served in US geography. Frankfurt profile selection (processing in EU regions) is only available for business accounts through IAM Identity Center.
• Language - Interface and documentation are in English. You can write commands in other languages; Claude and GPT models understand them well.

Kiro vs Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity & Claude Code

Full comparison: AI for programming and AI coding agents.

Who is Kiro For

• For developers who want a plan before code - specifications force you to think through features and remain in the repository as documentation.
• For teams on AWS - SSO through IAM Identity Center, billing through AWS, region selection.
• For cost-conscious users - multipliers are transparent, and cheap open models stretch your limit.

If you don’t code and want a ready-made app in your browser, generators are a better fit: Bolt.new, v0, Lovable, or Replit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kiro?

It’s an AI-powered code editor from Amazon Web Services, based on Code OSS, with a terminal version (Kiro CLI) and browser version. Its distinguishing feature is spec-driven development.

Is Kiro free?

Yes, the Free plan costs 0 USD and gives you 50 credits per month, Auto model, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and open models, with rate limits.

How much does Kiro Pro cost?

Pro costs 20 USD per month for 1,000 credits, Pro+ 40 USD for 2,000, Pro Max 100 USD for 5,000, and Power 200 USD for 10,000. VAT is added to prices.

What models are in Kiro? Does it have Claude?

Yes. Paid plans include Claude Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 4.5 and older versions, GPT-5.6, and open models. Free includes Auto, Claude Sonnet 4.5 and 4.0, and open models.

Kiro or Cursor?

Kiro has the advantage when you want specifications before code and predictable credit-based billing with transparent multipliers. Cursor has its own Composer model and a larger community. Both start at 20 USD.

Does Kiro work worldwide?

Yes. Most countries can purchase paid plans, and the free plan only requires a Google, GitHub, or AWS Builder ID account. Queries from individual accounts are processed in AWS regions in the US.

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Sources and Verification Date

• Kiro: pricing and FAQ (country list, credits, bonus)
• Kiro: models, multipliers and regions
• Kiro: changelog (IDE 1.2.4, CLI 2.27.0, Sonnet 5.5, Opus 5.5)
• Kiro: specs
• Kiro: steering
• Kiro: hooks
• Kiro: installation and requirements
• CNBC: Kiro launch July 14, 2025
• SiliconANGLE: Kiro general availability November 17, 2025

Verified October 3, 2026 on Kiro’s website. We update this article after plan and model changes.