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Tool Coding freemium active Below 8
7.5/10 Useful
Active

$0-$19/user/month

Best plan

$0-$19/user/month

Risk: Amazon Q Developer is not a greenfield default after AWS...

Editorial · no paid placements

Should you use it?

Amazon Q Developer is AWS's AI coding assistant for existing AWS-heavy customers, evolved from CodeWhisperer. Pricing still shows Pro at $19/user/month, but AWS announced that Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions reach end of support on April 30, 2027 and new signups/subscriptions were blocked starting May 15, 2026. New buyers should evaluate Kiro first.

  • Buy if Teams building on AWS (IAM, CDK, CloudFormation, Lambda)
  • Pick $0-$19/user/month
  • Skip if Teams working outside AWS

Plan guidance

What to buy

Best plan $0-$19/user/month

Watch: Amazon Q Developer is not a greenfield default after AWS...

Price range $0-$19/user/month

New signups blocked; existing subscriptions continue

Upgrade only if Not for teams working outside aws

Amazon Q Developer is not a greenfield default after AWS...

Current pricing source: Amazon Q Developer end-of-support announcement

Fit

Use it for this, skip it for that

Best for

  • Teams building on AWS (IAM, CDK, CloudFormation, Lambda)
  • Java or .NET modernization on AWS
  • Security scanning tied to deployed AWS workloads
  • AWS Console in-browser assistance

Avoid if

  • Teams working outside AWS
  • General-purpose coding where Copilot is stronger
  • IDE-first autonomous multi-file editing (Cursor wins)
Watch out
Amazon Q Developer is not a greenfield default after AWS blocked new Q Developer signups/subscriptions on May 15, 2026 and moved the IDE/CLI future to Kiro; existing customers should plan migration before April 30, 2027.

Recent changes

Only what affects the decision

  1. Transition

    June 25 recheck keeps the April 30, 2027 IDE/plugin and paid-subscription end-of-support date, May 15, 2026 new-signup cutoff, and $19/user/month Pro billing model current for existing...

    Amazon Q Developer end-of-support announcement
  2. Transition

    AWS says Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions reach end of support on April 30, 2027; new Q Developer Free Tier account creation and new subscription creation were blocked...

    Amazon Q Developer end-of-support announcement
  3. Pro

    Re-verified June 1...

    Amazon Q Developer pricing

Alternatives

Best swaps

Build comparison

Amazon Q Developer comparisons

See all →
Proof and score math Verified Jun 25

Proof

Why this recommendation is trusted

Source
Registered source
Freshness
Current
Confidence
High confidence
Verified
Review
Volatility
Volatile

High-volatility evidence needs frequent review.

Editorial score

Unweighted average of 4 axes · confidence high

  • Utility 7/10

    How much real work it can do for a competent operator, end to end.

  • Value 8/10

    What you get for the dollar relative to the closest alternative.

  • Moat 7/10

    How hard it would be for a competitor to replicate the underlying advantage.

  • Longevity 8/10

    How likely the product is to still be best-in-class 24 months out.

Verified facts

  1. Best For Best for existing AWS-heavy engineering teams already using Q Developer, while new IDE/plugin buyers should evaluate Kiro because AWS announced Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions will reach end of support on April 30, 2027.
    high Drifts 2026-06-25 Amazon Q Developer official site
  2. Pricing Anchor Amazon Q Developer has a perpetual Free tier for existing eligible access with 50 agentic chat interactions/mo and 1,000 LOC transformation/mo. Pro is $19/user/mo with roughly 1,000 user inputs for agentic requests, 4,000 LOC transformation per user per month pooled at account level, admin controls, and IP indemnity.
    high Volatile 2026-06-25 Amazon Q Developer pricing
  3. Coding Agent Amazon Q Developer is a coding and software-development assistant with AWS-specific features, but AWS says the IDE/plugin and paid-subscription lane is transitioning to Kiro.
    high Drifts 2026-06-25 Amazon Q Developer docs
  4. Watch Out For Amazon Q Developer is not a greenfield default after AWS blocked new Q Developer signups/subscriptions on May 15, 2026 and moved the IDE/CLI future to Kiro; existing customers should plan migration before April 30, 2027.
    high Drifts 2026-06-25 Amazon Q Developer end-of-support announcement
  5. Enterprise Controls Enterprise fit is strongest when IAM, AWS admin controls, and cloud-development workflows are already central to the team.
    high Drifts 2026-06-25 Amazon Q Developer features
Full review notes Long-form details, FAQ, and source history

What Changed Since The Last Refresh

  • The buying recommendation changed more than the price. AWS announced on April 30, 2026 that Amazon Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions will reach end of support on April 30, 2027. New Q Developer Free Tier account creation and new subscription creation were blocked starting May 15, 2026, while existing active Pro subscriptions can continue adding users.
  • Kiro is now the migration path. AWS says Kiro includes the Q Developer capabilities developers rely on, including agentic coding, inline chat, terminal integration, and MCP support, while adding spec-driven development, hooks, steering files, custom subagents, and powers.
  • Q Developer is still alive in AWS-owned surfaces. The AWS post says Q Developer in the AWS Management Console, AWS marketing/docs websites, AWS Console Mobile App, and Slack/Microsoft Teams chat apps is not impacted by the IDE/plugin sunset.
  • Quotas are clearer now. AWS General Reference lists Q Developer Pro at 4,000 LOC/month for code transformation pooled at account level, roughly 1,000 user inputs for agentic requests via 10,000 inference calls, 1,000 generative SQL queries/month in the console, 20 network-reachability analysis requests/day, 30 CodeCatalyst software-development-agent jobs/month, and 20 pull request summaries/month.
  • Free-tier privacy deserves more attention. AWS docs say Amazon Q Developer Free tier content may be used for service improvement and model training unless the user opts out, while Q Developer Pro and Amazon Q Business content are not used for service improvement.

AWS’s AI coding assistant, evolved from CodeWhisperer in April 2024. Existing customers can still use it inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, the AWS Management Console, and the AWS CLI during the transition window. It provides inline code completion, codebase-aware chat, security scanning, and automated Java and .NET modernization.

Free tier access is now mainly relevant for existing eligible users, with a 50 agentic-chat-interaction monthly cap plus 1,000 LOC of transformation. Pro tier remains $19 per user per month for existing subscriptions, with roughly 1,000 user inputs for agentic requests, 4,000 LOC of transformation per user pooled at the account level, admin controls, and IP indemnification.

System Verdict

Pick Amazon Q Developer if you already use it inside an AWS-heavy stack and need the transition runway. No other assistant matches its native understanding of IAM policies, CloudFormation templates, CDK constructs, and the AWS SDK. The AWS Console chat answers service-specific questions without tab-switching to docs, and AWS says those first-party console/chat-app surfaces are not impacted by the IDE/plugin sunset.

Security scanning flags OWASP Top 10 issues and hardcoded credentials with fix suggestions. Code transformation automates Java version upgrades (Java 8 or 11 to 17 or 21) and .NET modernization to AWS patterns. That remains useful for existing Q Developer customers, but new IDE/CLI buyers should evaluate Kiro, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and Codex instead of starting a sunsetted Q Developer path.

Skip it for greenfield editor procurement. AWS is moving the IDE/CLI future to Kiro. GitHub Copilot remains stronger for general coding across languages, frameworks, and non-AWS infrastructure. Cursor still leads on multi-file autonomous edits.

Who pays which tier: Existing Free users can evaluate with 50 agentic chat interactions per month plus 1,000 LOC transformation. Existing Pro subscriptions remain $19 per user per month with roughly 1,000 user inputs for agentic requests and pooled 4,000 LOC transformation. New customers should start with Kiro or an alternative because new Q Developer account/subscription creation was blocked on May 15, 2026.

Key Facts

LineageReplaced CodeWhisperer in April 2024
IDE supportVS Code, JetBrains family, AWS Console, AWS CLI
Free tierExisting eligible access: 50 agentic chat interactions/mo, 1,000 LOC transformation/mo, unlimited autocomplete
Pro tierExisting subscriptions: $19/user/mo. Roughly 1,000 user inputs for agentic requests, 4,000 LOC transformation per user pooled at account level, admin controls, IAM Identity Center SSO
EOL timelineIDE plugins and paid subscriptions reach end of support April 30, 2027; new signups/subscriptions blocked since May 15, 2026
Migration pathKiro for spec-driven IDE/CLI work
Transformation overage$0.003 per LOC above Pro allocation
Console quotas1,000 generative SQL queries/mo, 20 network reachability analysis requests/day
Security scanningOWASP Top 10, hardcoded credentials, fix suggestions
IP indemnificationYes, matching GitHub Copilot’s policy
Free-tier data useFree-tier content may be used for service improvement and model training unless opted out; Pro content is not used for service improvement

Every data point above was verified against vendor documentation on 2026-06-25. See Sources.

What it actually is

An AWS-tuned AI coding assistant layered onto inline autocomplete, codebase chat, security scanning, and code transformation. The differentiator is depth of AWS knowledge, not breadth. The product now sits inside a transition story: existing Q Developer users can keep working through the support window, while AWS points new agentic IDE/CLI work to Kiro.

Inside VS Code and JetBrains, Q Developer behaves like Copilot: inline suggestions, chat panel, and agentic mode for multi-step tasks. Those plugins remain live with a deprecation notice and critical bugfixes during the transition. Inside the AWS Console, it answers questions about services, permissions, and deployment state. Inside the AWS CLI, the /q commands produce and explain shell syntax.

The moat is AWS-native context. IAM policy drafting, CDK construct patterns, Lambda handler boilerplate, and CloudFormation YAML all ship with better first-pass quality than a generic tool offers.

When to pick Amazon Q Developer

  • Infrastructure-as-code on AWS dominates daily work. CDK, CloudFormation, Terraform-on-AWS, and IAM policy editing benefit directly.
  • You are an existing Q Developer customer. The product still has a runway to April 30, 2027 for IDE plugins and paid subscriptions.
  • Java 8 or 11 modernization is on the backlog. The transformation agent upgrades codebases to Java 17 or 21 with Pro’s 4,000 LOC per month allocation.
  • .NET apps need to move to AWS idioms. Automated migration shifts .NET Framework code to .NET 8 on AWS.
  • Security scanning belongs inside the IDE loop. OWASP Top 10 and credential-leak detection with fix suggestions catch issues pre-commit.
  • AWS Console is where the work happens. Chat surfaces service docs and deployment troubleshooting without tab-switching.
  • IP indemnification is required. Amazon indemnifies generated code against copyright claims, matching GitHub Copilot.

When to pick something else

  • Greenfield AWS IDE/CLI buying: Kiro. AWS says Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions are transitioning there.
  • General-purpose coding outside AWS: GitHub Copilot. Broader language and framework coverage.
  • AI-native IDE with multi-file agentic edits: Cursor. Composer handles refactors Q Developer cannot.
  • Free autocomplete, no AWS needs: Codeium. Free for individuals, no AWS lock-in.
  • Terminal-first autonomous coding on Anthropic models: Claude Code. $100 to $200 per month, much deeper agentic loop.
  • Heavy ChatGPT Codex user already: ChatGPT Pro bundles Codex, and Operator Mode covers agentic workflows beyond coding.

Pricing

PlanPriceKey limits
Free$0 for existing eligible access50 agentic chat interactions/mo, 1,000 LOC transformation/mo, unlimited autocomplete; content may be used for service improvement unless opted out
Pro$19/user/mo for existing subscriptionsRoughly 1,000 user inputs for agentic requests, 4,000 LOC transformation per user per month pooled at account level, admin controls, SSO (IAM Identity Center), data isolation, IP indemnity
Transformation overage (Pro)$0.003/LOCBeyond the 4,000 LOC monthly pooled allocation

Prices verified 2026-06-25 via aws.amazon.com/q/developer/pricing, the Q Developer tiers docs, and AWS General Reference quotas. Transformation LOC is pooled across all Pro seats in the account, so 10 Pro subscribers share a 40,000 LOC monthly budget.

Against the alternatives

Amazon Q Developer ProGitHub Copilot ProCursor ProClaude Code
Price$19/user/mo$10/user/mo$20/user/mo$100-$200/user/mo
AWS-native depthStrongestWeakWeakWeak
General coding qualityMidStrongStrongest (multi-file agent)Strong (CLI)
Multi-file agentic editsLimitedGrowingStrongest (Composer)Strong (Claude Code)
Security scanningBuilt-in, OWASPAvailable, GitHub Advanced SecurityVia extensionsVia tools
Language breadthAWS-centricBroadestBroadestBroad
IP indemnificationYesYesNoContractual
Best viewed asExisting AWS specialist in transition to KiroGeneral defaultAI-native IDEAnthropic-native agent

Failure modes

  • Free tier caps hit fast. 50 agentic chat interactions per month is one or two days of real usage. Free is a trial, not a production tier.
  • New Q Developer signups are blocked. AWS says new Q Developer Free Tier account creation and new subscription creation were blocked starting May 15, 2026.
  • IDE/plugin EOL is dated. Q Developer IDE plugins and paid subscriptions reach end of support on April 30, 2027. Plan migration to Kiro or a different coding stack now.
  • Weaker outside AWS. General-purpose coding quality trails GitHub Copilot on non-AWS code.
  • Transformation overage bills separately. Heavy Java or .NET migration workloads can exceed 4,000 LOC per user per month and trigger $0.003 per extra LOC charges.
  • JetBrains support trails VS Code. Parity is close but updates land on VS Code first.
  • Model route changes can happen during transition. AWS said Opus 4.6 would leave Q Developer Pro on May 29, 2026, while newer coding models move through Kiro.
  • Free-tier data use needs opt-out review. AWS docs say Free-tier content may be used for service improvement and model training unless opted out. Pro content is not used for service improvement.
  • Multi-file autonomous editing is limited. Cursor Composer and Claude Code both handle bigger refactors.
  • Console chat quality varies by service. Mature AWS services have better coverage than new or niche offerings.

Methodology

This page was produced by the aipedia.wiki editorial pipeline, an automated system that ingests vendor documentation, verifies pricing and product details against primary sources, and generates the editorial analysis shown. No individual human wrote this review. Scoring follows the four-dimension rubric at /about/scoring/ (Utility, Value, Moat, Longevity, unweighted average). Last verified 2026-06-25 against Amazon Q Developer pricing, the Q Developer tiers docs, AWS General Reference quotas, Amazon Q Developer service-improvement docs, and the Amazon Q Developer end-of-support announcement.

FAQ

Is Amazon Q Developer the same as CodeWhisperer? Q Developer replaced CodeWhisperer in April 2024. It adds chat, code transformation, and AWS Console integration on top of the autocomplete and security scanning CodeWhisperer offered. Existing users migrated automatically.

Does the free tier support real usage? For casual exploration, yes. For daily work, no. 50 agentic chat interactions per month is one or two days of real development; the 1,000 LOC monthly transformation budget barely covers a small library migration.

Is Amazon Q Developer still a good new purchase? Not for greenfield IDE/CLI procurement. AWS says new Q Developer account/subscription creation was blocked starting May 15, 2026 and that IDE plugins plus paid subscriptions reach end of support on April 30, 2027. Existing AWS customers can use the transition window, but new buyers should evaluate Kiro first.

Does Q Developer work outside AWS? Yes. Autocomplete and chat function on any codebase. The AWS-specific advantage (IAM, CDK, CloudFormation, Lambda) is absent on non-AWS work, so GitHub Copilot at $10 per month delivers better value there.

Is code transformation worth the Pro upgrade alone? If the backlog has Java 8 or 11 upgrades or .NET Framework migrations, yes. 4,000 LOC per month per user covers a meaningful chunk of migration work; overage is $0.003 per LOC.

Does Amazon Q Developer provide IP indemnification? Yes. AWS indemnifies generated code against third-party copyright claims, matching GitHub Copilot’s policy.

Sources

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According to aipedia.wiki Editorial at aipedia.wiki (https://aipedia.wiki/tools/amazon-q/)
aipedia.wiki Editorial. (2026). Amazon Q Developer: Editorial Review. aipedia.wiki. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://aipedia.wiki/tools/amazon-q/
aipedia.wiki Editorial. "Amazon Q Developer: Editorial Review." aipedia.wiki, 2026, https://aipedia.wiki/tools/amazon-q/. Accessed July 2, 2026.
aipedia.wiki Editorial. 2026. "Amazon Q Developer: Editorial Review." aipedia.wiki. https://aipedia.wiki/tools/amazon-q/.
@misc{amazon-q-developer-editorial-review-2026, author = {{aipedia.wiki Editorial}}, title = {Amazon Q Developer: Editorial Review}, year = {2026}, publisher = {aipedia.wiki}, url = {https://aipedia.wiki/tools/amazon-q/}, note = {Accessed: 2026-07-02} }
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