Amazon Q Developer vs Claude Code (2026): You Can No Longer Buy Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer is closed to new signups since 15 May 2026, so for most readers this is not a live choice — it is a migration. What Claude Code costs ($20/mo (via Pro)), what it does differently, and whether it is the right replacement.
DevTools Review
Before you read further
Amazon Q Developer is closed to new signups since 15 May 2026. AWS blocked new Q Developer accounts and subscriptions on 15 May 2026. Existing subscriptions can still add seats, but a developer starting today cannot sign up. Support ends 30 April 2027. Vendor points new users to Kiro. Vendor’s own announcement.
We track 11 AI coding tools and re-check every price against the vendor’s own pricing page. Where we have not tested something ourselves, we say so.
Where Amazon Q Developer and Claude Code actually differ
These are the only dimensions on which the two record different values. Everything else we track, they match on.
| Amazon Q Developer | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete | Good | no |
| Codebase context | Workspace | Full project |
| Free tier | yes | no |
| MCP support | not verified | yes |
| Usage model | Existing accounts only (free tier + per-seat) | Usage-metered tiers |
“Not verified” means we have not confirmed it against the vendor — it never means no.
| Feature | A Amazon Q Developer closed to new | C Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Closed to new signups | $20/mo (via Pro) |
| Autocomplete | Good | |
| Chat | ||
| Multi-file editing | ||
| Codebase context | Workspace | Full project |
| Custom models | ||
| VS Code compatible | ||
| Terminal AI | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Read the AWS announcement | Try Claude Code |
What each one costs
Amazon Q Developer — Closed to new signups, verified 6 September 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free (existing accounts only) |
| Pro | $19/user/mo (existing subscriptions only) |
Claude Code — $20/mo (via Pro), verified 6 August 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Pro | $20/mo |
| Max (5x) | $100/mo |
| Max (20x) | $200/mo |
Full detail: Amazon Q Developer pricing · Claude Code pricing
What has changed recently
- Nothing we have recorded has moved for either tool since we started tracking. A quiet entry is still a result.
Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer
AWS's coding assistant, closed to new signups and being replaced by Kiro.
AWS’s coding assistant, closed to new signups and being replaced by Kiro. We rate it 3.5/5 in our Amazon Q Developer review.
Amazon Q Developer is closed to new signups — since May 2026.
AWS blocked new Q Developer accounts and subscriptions on 15 May 2026. Existing subscriptions can still add seats, but a developer starting today cannot sign up.
Claude Code
Claude Code
Terminal-based AI coding agent from Anthropic with full codebase understanding.
Terminal-based AI coding agent from Anthropic with full codebase understanding. We rate it 4.5/5 in our Claude Code review.
Try Claude CodeAt a Glance
- Which is better, Amazon Q Developer or Claude Code?
- Amazon Q Developer is closed to new signups since 15 May 2026, so for a new user there is only one option here: Claude Code, at $20/mo (via Pro).
- Is Amazon Q Developer cheaper than Claude Code?
- Amazon Q Developer is Closed to new signups and Claude Code is $20/mo (via Pro). Both figures were re-checked against each vendor’s own pricing page — Amazon Q Developer on 6 September 2026, Claude Code on 6 August 2026.
- Can you use Amazon Q Developer and Claude Code together?
- Only if you already have access to Amazon Q Developer. New users cannot start.
The bottom line
This is not really a comparison any more. Amazon Q Developer is closed to new signups since 15 May 2026, so unless you already have access, Claude Code at $20/mo (via Pro) is the only one of the two you can actually start with. We keep this page because “what happened to it and what do I use instead” is a real question.
Still unsure? Our 30-second picker narrows all 11 down using four questions.
Disclosure: we earn nothing from the links in this article. We are not enrolled in an affiliate programme for any tool here — most of them do not run one. Nobody pays to be ranked, and where we have not used a tool ourselves we say so.
Written by DevTools Review
We're developers who use AI coding tools every day. Our reviews are based on real-world experience, not press releases. We test with real projects and share what we actually find.