AI assistants & copilots
Kiro / Amazon Q Developer vs GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is Microsoft's equivalent of Amazon Q Developer in the IDE.
AWS is replacing the Q Developer IDE plugins with Kiro, and the plugins reach end of support on April 30, 2027.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Kiro Amazon Q Developer Sunset | GitHub Copilot |
| Lifecycle | Generally available The IDE plugins and paid subscriptions reach end of support Apr 30, 2027. New signups stopped May 15, 2026. Q Developer in the AWS console, docs, mobile app, and chat apps (Slack/Teams) is not affected. | Generally available |
| What it is | AWS's agentic development environment (IDE + CLI) for spec-driven development, with specs, hooks, steering files, custom subagents, Powers, and MCP. The recommended successor to the Q Developer IDE plugins. AI assistant for AWS and software development. IDE chat and completions, plus help in the AWS console. | AI coding assistant. Completions, chat, code review, and a coding agent that works on assigned issues inside GitHub and IDEs. |
| Pricing model | Kiro uses subscription tiers. Q Developer Pro per-user subscriptions continue for existing customers until Apr 30, 2027. | GitHub Copilot uses per-user plans (Free, Pro, Business, Enterprise) with premium-request allowances. |
| Docs | Kiro docs Amazon Q Developer docs | GitHub Copilot docs |
| Pricing page | Kiro pricing Amazon Q Developer pricing | GitHub Copilot pricing |
| Exams | — | GH-COPILOT |
Key differences
- Kiro is a standalone agentic IDE and CLI built around specs, hooks, steering files, subagents, and Powers. GitHub Copilot works inside existing IDEs and GitHub itself (issues, PRs, code review, coding agent).
- Q Developer stopped new signups on May 15, 2026. Its code transformation (Java upgrades, .NET porting) is moving to AWS Transform.
- Q Developer in the AWS console and chat apps is not part of the sunset (see Cloud console assistant).
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Kiro uses subscription tiers. Q Developer Pro per-user subscriptions continue for existing customers until Apr 30, 2027. Kiro pricing → Amazon Q Developer pricing →
- Azure
- GitHub Copilot uses per-user plans (Free, Pro, Business, Enterprise) with premium-request allowances. GitHub Copilot pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot (GH-300) GH-COPILOT | Azure | Associate | current GitHub certification delivered through Microsoft Learn (exam GH-300). |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
Verification notes
- GitHub Copilot plan names are from general GitHub documentation. Confirm on the plans page.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Kiro and Amazon Q Developer?
GitHub Copilot is Microsoft's equivalent of Amazon Q Developer in the IDE. AWS is replacing the Q Developer IDE plugins with Kiro, and the plugins reach end of support on April 30, 2027.
How does pricing compare between Kiro and Amazon Q Developer and GitHub Copilot?
AWS: Kiro uses subscription tiers. Q Developer Pro per-user subscriptions continue for existing customers until Apr 30, 2027. Azure: GitHub Copilot uses per-user plans (Free, Pro, Business, Enterprise) with premium-request allowances. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
GitHub Copilot (GH-300) (GH-COPILOT).