kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs Kiro
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Kiro is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI agents that plan and code
- Model selection
- MCP support
- Extension marketplace
- Integrated terminal and debugger
- Web version
- Spec-driven development
- Agent hooks
- Steering files
- MCP support
- Kiro CLI
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Agentic IDE from AWS built around specs before code |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Microsoft | Amazon Web Services |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: MCP support.
Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Kiro is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
6 plans
Kiro Free
Free
- 50 credits
- Open weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5
Kiro Pro
$20/mo
- Per user
- 1,000 credits
- Premium models
- Add-on credits at $0.04
Kiro Pro+
$40/mo
- Per user
- 2,000 credits
Kiro Pro Max
$100/mo
- Per user
- 5,000 credits
Kiro Power
$200/mo
- Per user
- 10,000 credits
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Centralized billing and SSO
- Usage analytics
- Enterprise security controls
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Visual Studio Code
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
- Heavier than lightweight editors
- AI features may need separate model access
- Extensions vary in quality
Kiro
- Plans work before writing code
- Hooks automate repetitive checks
- Free tier with 50 credits a month
- Specs add overhead for small changes
- Credit usage can be hard to predict
Which one should you choose?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
Watch out: heavier than lightweight editors.
Choose Kiro if you want:
- Plans work before writing code
- Hooks automate repetitive checks
- Free tier with 50 credits a month
Watch out: specs add overhead for small changes.
Visual Studio Code vs Kiro FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Kiro?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Kiro: Agentic IDE from AWS built around specs before code. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or Kiro cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Kiro is freemium.
Do Visual Studio Code and Kiro have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. Kiro: Yes.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Kiro?
Kiro is made by Amazon Web Services, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or Kiro?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose Kiro if you value plans work before writing code and hooks automate repetitive checks.