# Amp vs Claude Code

> Amp vs Claude Code: Amp is our pick, leading for beginners and enterprise. They split on where it runs and editor support. Verified October 2026.

![Amp logo](https://www.versusref.com/logos/amp.png) ![Claude Code logo](https://www.versusref.com/logos/claude-code.png)

Both AI coding agents platforms, Amp (Frontier multi-model agent + cloud dev environments (orbs); also terminal_agent (Amp CLI, connects to VS Code/Cursor/Windsurf/Zed/Neovim). OWNERSHIP: no longer branded as Sourcegraph - operated by "Amp Frontier Corporation" (privacy policy, modified Sep 10, 2026); about page: "We are an independent agent research lab"; CLI npm package moved from @sourcegraph/amp to @ampcode/cli (May 14, 2026 changelog). Free Hobby tier with BYOK/ChatGPT-sub since Sep 13, 2026.) and Claude Code (Terminal-first coding agent included in Claude Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise plans or billed via API; also IDE extension, desktop app and cloud sessions (cloud_agent).) go head to head here, priced from $20/mo and $17/mo respectively. Start with the bottom line, then the verified fact table and real production costs.

AI coding agents platforms · 35 facts compared · all sourced · pricing verified Oct 2, 2026

## Bottom line

Amp leads with three use case wins to two for Claude Code, plus two ties. It takes Free Plans and Beginners because its Hobby plan includes all product features, while Claude Code is not included on the Free plan, and because Amp spells out its entry-tier usage, starting with 45,000 minutes. It takes Enterprise on a clearer training policy: no training unless you explicitly opt in. Claude Code answers with checkpoints and rollback and a terminal CLI, winning VS Code and Terminal Workflows. Both start at $20/mo, so Amp's free plan and published allowance decide it.

## Verdict summary

| Use case | Winner | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beginners | Amp | Both start at $20/mo, so price does not separate them for newer developers. |
| Enterprise | Amp | What matters most here is whether the vendor trains on company code. |
| Free Plans | Amp | What the free plan allows is the deciding factor, and here the two are far apart. |
| Local Models | Tie | Running models on your own machine matters most here, and neither Amp nor Claude Code publishes local model support or a list of supported model providers. |
| Open Source | Tie | For teams that want to read or fork the agent, the license matters most. |
| Terminal Workflows | Claude Code | For shell-first developers, where the agent runs matters most. |
| VS Code | Claude Code | Both reach VS Code: Amp's CLI connects to VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Zed and Neovim, while Claude Code supports VS Code and Cursor through its VS Code extension and more. |

## Amp vs Claude Code: head-to-head facts

| Fact | Amp | Claude Code | Verified |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| How usage is metered | $ usage pool + own API key + per-token ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/pricing)) | Time windows + per-token ([source](https://claude.com/pricing)) | Oct 2 |
| What the free plan allows | Hobby (Free): all product features ([source](https://ampcode.com/pricing)) | Claude Code not included on the Free plan ([source](https://claude.com/pricing)) | Oct 2 |
| Cheapest paid plan (monthly) | $20 ([source](https://ampcode.com/pricing)) | $20 ([source](https://claude.com/pricing)) | Oct 2 |
| Top individual plan | $200 ([source](https://ampcode.com/pricing)) | $200 ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11049741-what-is-the-max-plan)) | Oct 2 |
| Usage included at entry tier | 45,000 minutes of orbin' time (Megawatt) + agent usage... ([source](https://ampcode.com/pricing)) | n/a | Oct 2 |
| Rate-limit window | monthly billing period (no rollover) ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/orbs)) | Rolling five-hour session window + weekly limit ([source](https://claude.com/pricing)) | Oct 2 |
| Bring your own API key | true - bypasses plan limits ([source](https://ampcode.com/pricing)) | true ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview)) | Oct 2 |
| Models available | Low: GLM-5.3-Flash (oracle GPT-6 Astra) +7 more ([source](https://ampcode.com/modes)) | Claude Fable 5.1, Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5 +1 more ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/model-config)) | Oct 2 |
| Pick the model per task | ✓  Yes ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/the-dial)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/model-config)) | Oct 2 |
| Where it runs | Web (ampcode.com), cloud orbs +4 more ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs)) | Terminal CLI +9 more ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview)) | Oct 2 |
| Autonomous multi-file edits | ✓  true ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/orbs)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview)) | Oct 2 |
| Runs terminal commands | ✓  Yes ([source](https://ampcode.com/news/subscriptions)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes)) | Oct 2 |
| Background / cloud agents | ✓  Yes ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/orbs)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/claude-code-on-the-web)) | Oct 2 |
| Opens PRs from issues | ✓  Yes ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/github)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/github-actions)) | Oct 2 |
| MCP support | ✓  true ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/customize/mcp)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp)) | Oct 2 |
| Trains on your code? | No training unless explicitly opted in ([source](https://ampcode.com/security)) | Consumer (Free, Pro, Max): user choice ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/data-usage)) | Oct 2 |
| Zero data retention option | ✓  Yes ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/enterprise/minimal-data-retention)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/data-usage)) | Oct 2 |
| Self-hosted / VPC deployment | ✓  Yes ([source](https://ampcode.com/docs/cli/runners)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/self-hosted-environments-deploy)) | Oct 2 |
| License | n/a | Proprietary ('SEE LICENSE IN README.md' on the npm package) ([source](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@anthropic-ai/claude-code)) | Oct 2 |

## Amp vs Claude Code pricing: true cost at 3 usage tiers

Real monthly cost at 3 developer profiles: hobbyist (~5 h/week), full-time developer (~25 h/week of daily agent use), team of 5. Most vendors do not publish how much usage a plan covers, so the full-time row spans the cheapest to the top individual plan unless the vendor publishes its own guidance for daily users. Bring-your-own-key and open-source agents show the model bill you pay the provider, never $0.

| Volume | Buyer | Amp | Claude Code | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ~5 h/week of agent use | Hobbyist | $20/mo | $17/mo | Side projects and evenings. Priced at each vendor's cheapest paid plan (annual billing where offered), the tier every vendor sells for light use. |
| ~25 h/week, daily multi-file agent tasks | Full-time developer | $20-$200/mo | $17-$200/mo | Daily agent use. Most vendors do not publish how much usage a plan covers, so this shows the span from the cheapest to the top individual plan; where a vendor publishes its own guidance for daily agent users, that figure is used instead. |
| 5 seats | Team of 5 | No team fee; each member on their own plan | $125/mo | Priced from each vendor's own team plan: per-seat prices x 5, flat team plans as published. A tool with no published team price shows that rather than a guess. |

## Amp vs Claude Code: verdicts by use case

### Beginners → Amp

Both start at $20/mo, so price does not separate them for newer developers. Amp spells out what its entry tier includes, starting with 45,000 minutes plus agent usage, while Claude Code does not publish its entry allowance. Amp's Hobby plan is free with all product features, whereas Claude Code is not included on the Free plan. Claude Code does publish checkpoints and rollback, an easy undo that Amp does not publish. Still, the published entry allowance and a usable free plan give Amp the edge.

### Enterprise → Amp

What matters most here is whether the vendor trains on company code. Amp states no training unless you explicitly opt in, while Claude Code describes user choice on its consumer plans. Beyond that, the two match closely: both offer a self-hosted or VPC deployment, a zero data retention option, SOC 2 and admin audit logs. Amp offers SAML/OIDC SSO on Teams workspaces, and Claude Code offers SSO on Team and Enterprise. The clearer no-training default gives Amp the edge in a security review.

### Free Plans → Amp

What the free plan allows is the deciding factor, and here the two are far apart. Amp's Hobby plan is free and includes all product features, while Claude Code is not included on the Free plan at all. Both support bringing your own API key, and Amp notes that doing so bypasses plan limits. Paid plans start at $20/mo on both, and neither publishes local model support.

### Local Models → Tie

Running models on your own machine matters most here, and neither Amp nor Claude Code publishes local model support or a list of supported model providers. Claude Code is proprietary, and Amp does not publish a license. Both let you bring your own API key, with Amp noting that this bypasses plan limits, but that still points to hosted providers rather than local models. Neither publishes the facts that would decide this use case.

### Open Source → Tie

For teams that want to read or fork the agent, the license matters most. Claude Code is proprietary, and Amp does not publish a license at all, so neither shows an open source agent. Neither publishes its supported model providers, local model support, GitHub stars or a separate hosted option. With the deciding facts missing on both sides, neither can be recommended over the other.

### Terminal Workflows → Claude Code

For shell-first developers, where the agent runs matters most. Claude Code leads its surfaces with a terminal CLI among ten in total, while Amp lists the web and cloud orbs among six, with a CLI that connects to editors. Both run terminal commands, offer background or cloud agents and support MCP. Both also read project rules files, AGENTS.md for Amp and CLAUDE.md for Claude Code. Having the terminal CLI as a first-class surface gives Claude Code the edge.

### VS Code → Claude Code

Both reach VS Code: Amp's CLI connects to VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Zed and Neovim, while Claude Code supports VS Code and Cursor through its VS Code extension and more. Both make autonomous multi-file edits. The difference is rollback. Claude Code publishes checkpoints and rollback, which Amp does not, and that matters when an agent goes wrong in the editor. Amp does publish its entry-tier usage, which Claude Code does not, and neither publishes codebase indexing. Easy rollback tips the balance to Claude Code.

## Amp vs Claude Code: common questions

### Is Amp cheaper than Claude Code?

Not on individual list price. Amp and Claude Code both have a cheapest paid plan of $20/mo and top individual plans of $200/mo, though Claude Code offers $17/mo when billed annually. Amp's Hobby plan includes all product features, while Claude Code is not included on the Free plan. For teams, Amp lists $0/user/mo, while Claude Code lists $25/user/mo.

### Amp vs Claude Code: which is better for beginners?

Amp offers the gentler start. Both start at $20/mo, but Amp's Hobby plan includes all product features, while Claude Code is not included on the Free plan. Amp also spells out its entry-tier usage, starting with 45,000 minutes. Claude Code's advantage for beginners is its published checkpoints and rollback, an easy undo when the agent makes a mess.

### Amp vs Claude Code team plan pricing: what does each charge per seat?

Amp lists its team plan at $0/user/mo, while Claude Code lists its team plan at $25/user/mo. Both offer an Enterprise plan through contact sales.

### Is Amp or Claude Code better for enterprise privacy?

Amp states that it does no training on your code unless you explicitly opt in, while Claude Code describes user choice on its consumer plans. Both offer a zero data retention option, a self-hosted or VPC deployment, SOC 2 and admin audit logs.

### Is Amp a good alternative to Claude Code if I want a free plan?

Yes. Amp offers a Hobby plan with all product features, while Claude Code is not included on the Free plan. Both support bringing your own API key, and with Amp, doing so bypasses plan limits.

### How do usage limits reset in Amp and Claude Code?

Amp works on a monthly billing period with no rollover, while Claude Code uses a rolling five-hour session window plus a weekly limit. Beyond the plan, Amp sells paid credits at providers' API list prices, and Claude Code bills usage credits at standard API rates.

### Which editors does Amp work with?

Amp's CLI connects to VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Zed and Neovim. Amp also runs on the web and in cloud orbs.

### What model does Claude Code use by default?

Claude Code defaults to Claude Opus 5.5 and lets you pick the model for each task, with options including Claude Fable 5.1 and Claude Sonnet 5.5. It publishes a max context of 1,000,000 tokens.

Source: https://www.versusref.com/coding-agents/amp-vs-claude-code/