Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer is a cloud-based development tool engineered by Amazon Web Services. It is compatible across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it highly versatile for developers working on different platforms. The tool supports Amazon’s proprietary language models, Amazon Q and AWS Titan, and enables seamless migration with the use of a configuration file, .amazonqrc. Amazon Q Developer offers an extensive context window of 200k tokens and features agentic editing capabilities across multiple files, providing developers with robust predictive editing functions. It also assures users with SOC2 Type II enterprise-level certifications, although it does not offer a free tier, and pricing information is available upon contacting sales.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple operating systems.
- ✓ Large context window of 200k tokens.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Predictive editing capabilities.
- ✓ Enterprise-level SOC2 Type II certification.
Cons
- ✕ No free tier available.
- ✕ Pricing requires contacting sales.
Claude Code
Claude Code is a standalone development tool designed by Anthropic, optimized for macOS users. It supports the advanced language models Claude 4.5 and Claude Sonnet 4.5, delivering a substantial context window exceeding 400,000 tokens. The tool provides full terminal access and allows multi-file agentic editing, although predictive edits are not included. Notably, Claude Code adheres to a Zero Data Retention (ZDR) privacy mode, ensuring maximum data privacy for users. The tool is accessible with a flexible pricing model ranging from free to $200 per month, and it requires specific setup for migration using the .clauderc configuration file.
Pros
- ✓ Extensive context window over 400,000 tokens.
- ✓ Zero Data Retention (ZDR) privacy mode.
- ✓ Flexible pricing model including a free tier.
- ✓ Supports advanced language models.
Cons
- ✕ Only supports macOS.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Amazon Q Developer | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | cloud | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS |
| Developer | Amazon Web Services | Anthropic |
| Supported Llms | Amazon Q, AWS Titan | Claude 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5 |
| Custom Model | Amazon Q | – |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 400,000+ tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Zero Data Retention (ZDR) |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Contact Sales | $0 – $200/mo |
| Config File | .amazonqrc | .clauderc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Amazon Q Developer and Claude Code offer distinct advantages depending on the user’s needs. Amazon Q Developer stands out with its wide OS compatibility and predictive editing features, while Claude Code excels with its extensive context window and strict data privacy measures. Users should consider their specific requirements, such as operating system compatibility and privacy needs, when selecting the most suitable tool for their development tasks.