AI coding assistants
Amazon Q Developer CLI: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Amazon Q Developer CLI lets developers chat with an assistant in the terminal on macOS and Linux. It turns requests into commands, suggests command completions, and creates or edits code. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $19 per month. Access and transparency score: 53/100, #25 of 31 in its category.
| Access | 25/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 10/30 | |
| Trust | 18/40 |
What is Amazon Q Developer CLI?
Amazon Q Developer CLI lets developers chat with an assistant in the terminal on macOS and Linux. It turns requests into commands, suggests command completions, and creates or edits code.
According to its documentation, Amazon Q Developer CLI lets you:
- chat with an assistant in the terminal
- turn a request into commands
- suggest command completions
- create and edit code
We file it under AI coding assistants, the category of tools to write and fix code, and it also overlaps with developer tools. The category lists 31 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Amazon Web Services. The service launched in 2024.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: developers. The need it covers is simple to state: write and fix code.
Amazon Q Developer CLI is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you want to read the code or host it yourself
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does Amazon Q Developer CLI cost?
Pricing model: open source (public code). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $19 per month (Amazon Q Developer Pro, per user. The legacy CLI remains available to download; new features are offered in Kiro CLI), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is more expensive than the category median ($15 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
The publisher does not clearly state where data is hosted. Assume your content may leave your region.
For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.
No export feature is documented: keep a copy of your content elsewhere.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Amazon Q Developer CLI runs on: macOS and Linux.
Interface languages: English.
API availability is not documented.
The source code is public: awsaws/amazon-q-developer-cli.
How we scored it
Our 53/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 25/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 10/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 18/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Amazon Q Developer CLI against other tools in the aI coding assistants category:
| Tool | Free | Entry price | API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Q Developer CLI | Yes | $19 per month | – | 53 |
| Codex | Yes | $8 per month | Yes | 90 |
| aider | Yes | not published | Yes | 78 |
| Kilo | Yes | $15 per month | Yes | 78 |
| GitHub Copilot | Yes | $10 per month | Yes | 75 |
| Amazon Q Developer | Yes | $19 per month | – | 71 |
| OpenCode | Yes | $10 per month | Yes | 71 |
| Amp | Yes | $20 per month | Yes | 70 |
Verdict
Amazon Q Developer CLI publishes little verifiable information: look at the better-scored alternatives first.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public source code
Limitations
- More expensive than its category median
- Data hosting not disclosed
- Data export not documented
Avoid if…
- You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
- You need to easily retrieve your full history
Alternatives
- Codexfree tier
- aiderfree tier
- Kilofree tier
- GitHub Copilotfree tier
- Amazon Q Developerfree tier
- OpenCodefree tier
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Q Developer CLI free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $19 per month.
Where is Amazon Q Developer CLI data stored?
The publisher does not clearly say so in its public documentation.
Does Amazon Q Developer CLI have an API?
It is not documented.
What are the alternatives to Amazon Q Developer CLI?
In the same category: Codex, aider, Kilo, and GitHub Copilot.
Amazon Q Developer CLI or Codex: which one to choose?
Amazon Q Developer CLI starts at $19 per month, Codex at $8 per month and our score is 53/100 for Amazon Q Developer CLI and 90/100 for Codex. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score