A generative AI coding assistant from Amazon Web Services. Generally available since April 30, 2024, it can be used through several entry points: IDE extensions, the command line, and the AWS Management Console. It goes beyond code completion — its agent autonomously reads and writes files, generates code diffs, and runs shell commands, so you can hand off feature implementation, test generation, documentation, and code review. What sets it apart from general-purpose coding assistants is its “transformation” capability, which automates Java and .NET version migrations, along with operational support that answers questions about cost optimization and troubleshooting in AWS environments.
Note that AWS will end support for Amazon Q Developer IDE plugins and subscriptions on April 30, 2027, and is directing users to Kiro, its successor agentic development environment. If you are evaluating this service for new adoption, you need to factor that in (details below).
Key Features
- Autonomous agentic coding: Given an instruction, it reads and writes files, generates code diffs, and runs shell commands. Feature additions, bug fixes, test generation, documentation, and code review can all be delegated as a single workflow
- Broad development environment support: Available as extensions for VS Code, JetBrains (IntelliJ IDEA and others), Visual Studio, and Eclipse (preview), plus the command line, where it generates and completes shell commands from natural language. Integrations with GitLab Duo and GitHub are also offered
- Operational support inside the AWS Console: From the AWS Management Console and mobile app, you can ask about architecture design, cost analysis, Well-Architected guidance, and troubleshooting during incidents. It is also usable from Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Legacy modernization: Handles time-consuming version migrations in bulk, such as upgrading Java 8 to 17 or porting .NET applications from Windows to Linux
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) support: Connects to external tools and data sources from the IDE, so answers can take internal systems into account
- Claude models: Anthropic’s Claude models are available in the IDE and CLI (the available model lineup is being narrowed as the service approaches end of support)
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 agentic requests per month, up to 1,000 lines per month for Java upgrades, Claude models in the IDE or CLI |
| Pro | $19 per user | Higher agentic request limits, 4,000 lines per month per user for code transformation (pooled at the account level), admin dashboard with user management, IP indemnity |
On the Pro plan, code transformation beyond the included allocation is billed at $0.003 per line (for example, with 10 subscriptions providing a 40,000-line pool and 50,000 lines used, the 10,000 excess lines cost $0.003 × 10,000 = $30).
Pricing is current as of August 2026. Check the official site for the latest information. Note that new subscription sign-ups closed in May 2026, so confirm with AWS whether new contracts are still possible.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Answers draw on AWS design and operations knowledge, so you can consult the same assistant about both code and infrastructure
- The free tier includes agentic features, making it easy to evaluate before committing
- Java and .NET version migrations can be automated, making it easier to tackle legacy modernization that is otherwise hard to start
- Multiple entry points — IDE, CLI, console, Slack and Teams — give you the same experience across development and operations
- The Pro plan includes intellectual property indemnity, addressing a common concern in enterprise use
⚠️ Cons
- IDE plugins and subscriptions are scheduled to end on April 30, 2027, so migration to Kiro is the long-term premise
- New subscription sign-ups have closed, making this an impractical choice for fresh adoption
- The newest coding models are offered on Kiro first, and the model lineup on Q Developer will keep narrowing
- Much of its strength assumes an AWS environment, so the benefits diminish on projects that do not use AWS
- The free tier’s 50 agentic requests per month is reached quickly under serious use
Comparison with Similar Services
| Criteria | Amazon Q Developer | Kiro | GitHub Copilot | Gemini Code Assist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Amazon Web Services | Amazon Web Services | GitHub (Microsoft) | |
| Main form | IDE extension, CLI, AWS Console | Dedicated IDE, CLI | IDE extension, CLI, on GitHub | IDE extension, Google Cloud Console |
| Strength | AWS operational support and legacy migration | Spec-driven agentic development | Editor integration and ecosystem breadth | Google Cloud integration |
| Free plan | Yes (50 requests/month) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outlook | IDE plugins end April 2027 | Successor to Q Developer | Continuing | Continuing |
Who Is It For
- Teams already using Amazon Q Developer who need a migration plan before the end-of-support date
- Developers running systems on AWS who want code questions and infrastructure questions answered in one place
- Organizations modernizing assets stranded on older runtimes such as Java 8 or .NET Framework
- Operations staff who want to handle investigation and cost analysis in the AWS Management Console using natural language
- That said, if you are adopting agentic coding support for the first time, Kiro is the more realistic starting point
Summary
Amazon Q Developer stands out for bundling code generation, AWS operational support, and legacy modernization into a single assistant. Agentic features are available even on the free tier, and Pro at $19 per user sits at a standard level for coding assistants.
At the same time, AWS has made clear that IDE plugins and subscriptions end on April 30, 2027, with Kiro as the successor. If you already use it, planning the migration is the immediate task; if you are evaluating it now, comparing options with Kiro included is the sensible call.