Claude Code *Opus* for FREE using Amazon Kiro AI

NOTE: Upgrade to Kiro Pro+ instead of Kiro Pro as its also available for FREE

Links and Resources:

Claude Code : https://claude.com/product/claude-code

Kiro API Gateway: https://github.com/jwadow/kiro-gateway

Claude Settings.json Code

"env": {
  "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "http://localhost:8000",
  "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "kiro"
},

How to Setup Full Tutorial:

What Is Amazon Kiro AI?

Amazon Kiro AI is a newly launched AI-native IDE built by Amazon, designed to replace traditional code editors with a fully AI-assisted development environment. Think of it as VS Code — but with powerful AI agents built directly into the interface.

Kiro AI is not just another chatbot plugin. It is a standalone IDE with:

A built-in AI chat panel for your codebase
Vibe mode for conversational, chat-driven development
Spec mode for structured, plan-first project building
Full support for top-tier models including Claude Opus 4.7, Sonnet, and Haiku
A CLI tool similar to Claude Code
A gateway API that lets you use Kiro’s models from external tools

Because Kiro AI is brand new, Amazon is currently offering a 30-day Pro plan for free — no charges during the first month. This is the offer we are going to take advantage of in this guide.

What Models Does Kiro AI Include?

Kiro AI’s Pro plan includes access to the following models:

Model	Best For
Claude Opus 4.7	Complex reasoning, large codebases, intelligent tasks
Claude Sonnet	General-purpose coding and development
Claude Haiku	Fast, lightweight tasks
DeepSeek	Budget-friendly everyday tasks
MiniMax	Cost-effective general use
GLM	Affordable alternative for routine work

The Pro plan normally costs $20 per month. With the current free trial, you get full access to all of these models at no cost for the first 30 days.

How to Claim the Free Kiro Pro Trial

Follow these steps exactly to activate your free Kiro Pro plan:

Step 1: Visit the Official Kiro AI Website

Go to the official Kiro AI website. All relevant links are available in the description of the original video. Do not use third-party links.

Step 2: Sign In

Click Sign In on the Kiro homepage. You can sign in using:

Google
GitHub
Any other supported provider

Step 3: Navigate to the Pro Plan

After signing in, locate the Upgrade option. Click on the Plan section. You will see Kiro Pro listed at $20/month.

Step 4: Click Upgrade to Pro

Click Upgrade to Pro. You will be redirected to a Stripe payment page. At checkout, Kiro Pro will appear at $0 — confirming the free trial is active.

Step 5: Enter Your Details and Subscribe

Fill in your payment details (required by Stripe even for a $0 charge). Click Subscribe. Your Kiro Pro plan will activate immediately.

Tip: If the Pro badge does not appear right away, press Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows/Linux or Cmd + Shift + R on Mac to clear your cache and force a page refresh.

How to Cancel Before Being Charged

Kiro Pro is completely free for the first month. Starting from the second month, the standard rate of $20/month applies. To avoid being charged:

Go to your Kiro account settings
Click Update Subscription
Select Kiro Free
Scroll down and click Continue

You will see a confirmation message:

“Your subscription will be updated at the end of the current billing period.”

This means your Kiro Pro plan stays active for the full month, and automatically switches to the free plan afterward. You will not be charged anything.

After confirming, close the tab and refresh — your Kiro Pro status will still show as active for the remainder of the month.

How to Use the Kiro IDE

Kiro AI comes with a desktop IDE application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Download and Install

From the Kiro homepage, find the Download section
Select your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
Download and run the installer

Sign In to the IDE

Open the Kiro app
Click Sign In
Your browser will open — click Continue to authenticate
The IDE will activate automatically

Once open, Kiro IDE looks and feels exactly like VS Code. All your familiar VS Code workflows apply here. You will see your files in the sidebar, and the AI panel is available on the right.

Vibe Mode vs Spec Mode Explained

When you open a folder in Kiro IDE, you will immediately see two modes: Vibe and Spec. Understanding the difference is key to getting the most out of Kiro.

Vibe Mode

Vibe mode is for developers who already have a project and want to iterate with AI. The workflow is:

Chat — describe what you want
Build — Kiro’s AI agent makes the changes

This is the fastest way to get things done on an existing codebase. Select Vibe, describe your task in the chat panel, and the AI does the work.

Spec Mode

Spec mode is for starting a new project from scratch. The workflow is:

Plan — describe your project requirements
Build — Kiro creates a structured spec and then builds from it

If you are starting fresh, always use Spec mode. It ensures the AI has a full understanding of your project’s scope before writing any code.

How to Choose the Right AI Model in Kiro

Inside Kiro IDE (Vibe mode), you will find a model selector in the chat panel. Here is how to choose:

DeepSeek / MiniMax / GLM — Use for simple, repetitive, or low-complexity tasks. These are the most cost-efficient options.
Claude Sonnet — Use for everyday coding tasks that require more intelligence and accuracy.
Claude Opus 4.7 — Use for complex reasoning, architecting large systems, debugging tricky issues, or anything that needs the highest level of intelligence.

Pro Tip: Turn on Autopilot mode in Kiro. With autopilot enabled, the AI handles file reading, editing, and terminal commands automatically — you just describe the goal.

How to Install and Use the Kiro CLI

Kiro AI also offers a CLI tool that works exactly like Claude Code’s CLI — for developers who prefer the terminal over a GUI.

Install the Kiro CLI

Open VS Code
Open a new terminal (Terminal → New Terminal)
Copy the Kiro CLI install command from the official Kiro website
Paste it into your terminal and press Enter

The Kiro CLI will be installed on your machine.

Sign In to the Kiro CLI

Run the following in your terminal:

kiro

The CLI will prompt you to sign in. Press Enter, complete the sign-in in your browser by clicking Continue, and your CLI session will be authenticated.

Switch Models in the CLI

Inside the Kiro CLI, use:

/model

This displays the available models. Select whichever model fits your current task.

How to Use Kiro AI Inside Claude Code

This is where things get powerful. You can route Kiro’s AI models directly through Claude Code using Kiro’s gateway API. Here is the full setup.

Step 1: Install Claude Code

Go to the official Claude Code website and copy the install command. Open a new terminal in VS Code and paste the command. Press Enter to install Claude Code.

Do not open Claude Code yet.

Step 2: Set Up the Kiro Gateway

Before launching Claude Code, you need to start the Kiro gateway — a local API server that acts as a bridge between Claude Code and Kiro’s models.

Go to the Kiro gateway page (link in the original video description)
Copy the first command and paste it into your VS Code terminal
This downloads the Kiro gateway API folder to your machine

Step 3: Navigate Into the Folder

Use the cd command provided on the gateway page to enter the downloaded folder:

cd kiro-gateway-folder-name

Step 4: Install Python (If Needed)

This step requires Python to be installed. If you do not have it:

Search for “Python” on Google
Go to the official Python website (first result)
Click Download and run the installer for your OS (Windows, Mac, or Linux)

Step 5: Install Dependencies

Copy and paste the dependency install command from the gateway page into your terminal. Press Enter.

Step 6: Open the Folder in VS Code

Type the following in your terminal to open the gateway folder in VS Code:

code .

Alternatively, drag and drop the folder into VS Code.

Step 7: Configure the .env File

Inside VS Code, open the .env file. Scroll down to find the Kiro ID authentication line. Remove the # (hashtag) at the beginning of that line to uncomment it, then save the file.

Make sure you are signed in to Kiro before this step — the gateway uses your existing Kiro session for authentication.

You can also do this in Notepad or any plain text editor if you prefer.

Step 8: Run the Kiro API Server

Open a terminal inside the gateway folder and run:

python main.py

The Kiro API server will start. Keep this terminal running — Claude Code needs this server to be active in order to use Kiro’s models.

Copy the URL displayed in the terminal (this is your local API endpoint).

Configure Claude Code to Use Kiro

With the Kiro API running, now configure Claude Code to point to it.

Step 1: Open Claude Code Settings

Open a new terminal (click the + button in VS Code’s terminal panel). Type:

claude

Press Enter. Claude Code will launch. When prompted about Anthropic’s API, select Yes and enter the Kiro gateway URL you copied earlier.

Step 2: Edit settings.json

Claude Code will open the .claude directory. Find settings.json and add the gateway configuration code. The exact code snippet is provided in the original video’s description — copy and paste it inside the opening curly brace { of the settings file. Save the file.

You can also do this manually through your file manager: navigate to your home folder → open the .claude folder → edit settings.json in any text editor.

Step 3: Select Your Model

Inside Claude Code, type:

/model

Select Claude Opus 4.7 (or any other model). Claude Code will confirm the active model. You now have Claude Code running with Kiro’s Claude Opus — completely free during your trial.

How to Use Claude Code Inside VS Code with Kiro

You can also use Claude Code directly inside VS Code through the official Anthropic extension.

Step 1: Install the Anthropic Extension

Open the Extensions tab in VS Code (Ctrl+Shift+X)
Search for Anthropic
Click Install on the official Claude Code extension

Step 2: Open Claude Code in VS Code

After installation, find the Claude icon in the VS Code sidebar. Click it to open the Claude Code panel.

Step 3: Start a New Session

Click New Session. Select your preferred model from the model selector.

Type a message (e.g., “Hey”) to confirm it is working. You will see Claude responding through the Kiro gateway, using your Kiro Pro models.

Important: Keep the Kiro API Running

The Kiro gateway API (python main.py) must remain running in the background for Claude Code to work. Do not close that terminal. You can minimize it — it will continue running in the background.

FAQ

Is the Kiro AI Pro trial actually free?

Yes. Amazon Kiro AI is currently offering a 30-day Pro plan at $0. You will need to enter payment details on Stripe, but you will not be charged during the first month. Cancel before the billing period ends to avoid any charges.

Will I be charged if I forget to cancel?

Yes. After the free month ends, Kiro Pro charges $20/month unless you downgrade to the free plan. Follow the cancellation steps in this guide immediately after activation to protect yourself.

Can I use Kiro CLI and Kiro IDE at the same time?

Yes. Both tools share the same Kiro account. You can use whichever interface you prefer — IDE, CLI, or both.

Does Kiro AI work on Windows, Mac, and Linux?

Yes. Kiro AI offers downloads and CLI support for all three platforms.

Do I need an Anthropic API key to use Claude Code with Kiro?

No. When using the Kiro gateway, you authenticate with your Kiro account instead. The gateway URL replaces the Anthropic API endpoint, so your Kiro Pro credits are used instead.

What is Vibe mode in Kiro?

Vibe mode is Kiro’s conversational build mode — you describe what you want in chat and the AI builds it. It is best for iterating on existing projects.

What is Spec mode in Kiro?

Spec mode is Kiro’s planning-first mode — you describe your project requirements, Kiro creates a structured specification, and then builds from it. It is best for new projects.

Is this a legitimate offer from Amazon?

Yes. Kiro AI is an official Amazon product and the free Pro trial is an official offer. All activation steps happen on Kiro’s official website and Stripe.

Conclusion

Amazon Kiro AI is one of the most exciting launches in the AI coding space in 2026. With its 30-day free Pro trial, you get access to Claude Opus 4.7, Sonnet, and Haiku inside a full-featured IDE — and as this guide shows, you can also pipe those same models directly into Claude Code using the Kiro gateway.

The setup takes about 10 minutes and the result is a fully capable, Claude-powered coding environment at zero cost.

Quick Recap:

Sign up at the official Kiro website and activate the free Pro trial
Immediately downgrade to the free plan to avoid being charged after month one
Use the Kiro IDE with Vibe or Spec mode for AI-assisted development
Install the Kiro CLI for a terminal-based workflow
Set up the Kiro gateway to use Claude Opus directly inside Claude Code or the VS Code extension

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