# Kiro vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)

> Kiro: Spec-driven agentic IDE from AWS that turns prompts into designs, tasks and code
> Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place

- Kiro profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/kiro
- Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/windsurf
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/kiro-vs-windsurf
- Last reviewed: November 2026

## Verdict

Kiro and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) are both Coding AI tools. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 8.0 out of 10), led by value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Kiro is available on Web and CLI. Only Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is available on JetBrains Plugin.

### Choose Kiro if

- You want a tool built for turning feature ideas into structured specs and tasks before agents write code in large codebases.
- Spec-driven workflow produces requirements, design and task lists before code is written.
- Based on Code OSS, so VS Code settings, themes and Open VSX extensions carry over.

### Choose Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) if

- You want a tool built for managing multiple coding agents.
- Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits.
- Full IDE that stays compatible with VS Code and Windsurf extensions.

## Pricing

| | Kiro | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Kiro | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spec-driven development | Yes | Not listed |
| Agent hooks | Yes | Not listed |
| Steering files | Yes | Not listed |
| Memory | Yes | Not listed |
| Correctness checking | Yes | Not listed |
| Model choice | Yes | Not listed |
| Kiro CLI | Yes | Not listed |
| Kiro Web | Yes | Not listed |
| Local command sandbox | Yes | Not listed |
| Open standards and MCP | Yes | Not listed |
| Agent Command Center | Not listed | Yes |
| Spaces | Not listed | Yes |
| Full IDE | Not listed | Yes |
| Devin Local | Not listed | Yes |
| Agent Client Protocol support | Not listed | Yes |
| Tab and Supercomplete | Not listed | Yes |
| Fast Context | Not listed | Yes |
| Devin Cloud handoff | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP and extensions | Not listed | Yes |
| SWE-2 model | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Kiro | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | No | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| CLI | Yes | No |
| JetBrains Plugin | No | Yes |

## Kiro strengths

- Spec-driven workflow produces requirements, design and task lists before code is written.
- Based on Code OSS, so VS Code settings, themes and Open VSX extensions carry over.
- Same credit pool works across IDE, CLI and Web with no separate cloud compute charge.
- Multiple model families, including open-weight options, with an Auto mode.
- Free tier with 50 credits and downloadable apps on macOS, Windows and Linux.

## Kiro limitations

- Credits can run out quickly on complex spec tasks; costs vary by model and monthly credits do not roll over.
- Free tier excludes premium models and is limited to open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5 under rate limits.
- Mobile app is iOS-only, in preview, and needs iOS 26 or later.
- Cloud sessions are only available in US East (N. Virginia), and Enterprise pricing is not published.

## Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) strengths

- Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits
- Full IDE that stays compatible with VS Code and Windsurf extensions
- One view for managing local, cloud and third-party agents
- Supports ACP agents such as Codex, Claude Agent and OpenCode
- Available on macOS, Windows and Linux

## Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) limitations

- Paid plans have daily and weekly usage quotas, and extra usage is billed at API pricing
- Pro rose to $20 per month, and Max costs $200 per month
- The rename and the move to devin.ai changed menus, docs and branding, and some names such as the JetBrains plugin still say Windsurf
- Cascade was retired in favour of Devin Local, so Cascade workflows had to migrate

## FAQ

**Is Kiro better than Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

It depends on your workflow. Kiro is built for turning feature ideas into structured specs and tasks before agents write code in large codebases. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is built for managing multiple coding agents.

**What are the key feature differences between Kiro and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

Kiro: Spec-driven agentic IDE from AWS that turns prompts into designs, tasks and code. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place.

**Does Kiro or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Kiro is freemium and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Kiro or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.