Claude Code vs Amp (2026)
Head-to-head comparison for vibe coders: scores, free tiers, pricing and best-for, using the same evidence-based methodology. Rankings are never for sale.
Anthropic's agentic coding tool for the terminal
Frontier coding agent with cloud orbs, from your terminal, desktop or phone
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Claude Code | Amp |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 79/100 | 80/100 |
| Free tier | No: the Free Claude plan does not include Claude Code | Yes: Hobby plan is free with your own API keys or ChatGPT/Claude subscriptions; cloud orbs are pay-as-you-go (or free on your own runners) |
| Open source | No | No |
| Pricing | Included with Claude Pro ($20/mo, $17/mo annual) and Max (from $100/mo); or pay-as-you-go via API | Hobby free (pay-as-you-go orbs, or your own runners free); Megawatt $20/mo (45,000 orb minutes); Gigawatt $200/mo (480,000 orb minutes); Teams at no extra charge; Enterprise custom. No Amp token fees when you use your own keys or ChatGPT/Claude subscriptions |
| Best for | Multi-file refactors and long agentic coding sessions from the terminal | Running many long-lived agents in cloud machines you can check from any device, using your own model subscriptions or keys |
| Category | AI coding editors & agents | AI coding editors & agents |
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Claude Code | Amp |
|---|---|---|
| Fit for the use case /25 | 23 | 23 |
| Vibe-coder friendliness /15 | 11 | 12 |
| Output quality & reliability /15 | 13 | 13 |
| Pricing & free tier /15 | 9 | 11 |
| Ecosystem & integrations /10 | 9 | 8 |
| Momentum /10 | 10 | 9 |
| Code ownership & lock-in /10 | 4 | 4 |
Based on desk research of official pricing pages and docs; see methodology.
Who wins: Claude Code or Amp?
By score, Amp wins Claude Code vs Amp at 80/100 vs 79/100. Amp: Frontier-level agent with a free BYOK/subscription tier and a strong cloud-agent story (orbs). Orb minutes and the $200 tier add cost for heavy use. Proprietary: the npm CLI license reads © Sourcegraph Inc., all rights reserved. Claude Code: Top-tier agentic capability and very high momentum. Needs a paid plan or API key (no free tier). Repo is proprietary, which lowers the ownership score. Amp is best for Running many long-lived agents in cloud machines you can check from any device, using your own model subscriptions or keys. Claude Code is best for Multi-file refactors and long agentic coding sessions from the terminal.
FAQ
- Which is better, Claude Code or Amp?
- By our score, Amp (80/100) ranks above Claude Code (79/100). Amp is best for Running many long-lived agents in cloud machines you can check from any device, using your own model subscriptions or keys. The right pick still depends on your workflow; see the side-by-side table.
- What is the Claude Code vs Amp score?
- Claude Code scores 79/100 and Amp scores 80/100 on PromptToProd's evidence-based ranking. Scores are never for sale.