TL;DR: Amazon CodeWhisperer — now part of Amazon Q Developer — is AWS's AI coding assistant that provides code suggestions trained on Amazon's massive codebase, with built-in security scanning and deep AWS service integration.
Official Website: Visit CodeWhisperer | Tool Page: CodeWhisperer details & alternatives
What is Amazon CodeWhisperer?
Amazon CodeWhisperer, rebranded as part of Amazon Q Developer, is AWS's AI-powered coding companion. It generates real-time code suggestions based on your comments and existing code, with a particular strength in AWS SDK usage, cloud infrastructure code, and security-aware development. CodeWhisperer stands out for its built-in security vulnerability scanning and its reference tracker that flags suggestions matching open-source code, helping developers maintain licence compliance.
Getting Started
Step 1: Set Up CodeWhisperer
- Visit CodeWhisperer to get started
- Install the AWS Toolkit extension for VS Code or JetBrains
- Sign in with an AWS Builder ID (free) or your AWS IAM Identity Centre credentials
Step 2: Start Getting Suggestions
- Open a code file and start typing — suggestions appear inline
- Write a comment describing what you need and CodeWhisperer generates code
- Press
Tabto accept,Escto dismiss - Use
Alt+Cto manually trigger suggestions
Core Features
AI Code Generation
- Real-time code suggestions across 15+ languages
- Entire function generation from comments
- Best-in-class AWS SDK and API code generation
- Infrastructure-as-Code suggestions for CloudFormation, CDK, and Terraform
Security Scanning
| Scan Type | What It Detects | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| On-Demand Scan | OWASP Top 10, CWE vulnerabilities | Free tier (50 scans/month) |
| Inline Scan | Real-time security issue flagging | Professional tier |
| Secrets Detection | Hardcoded credentials and API keys | All tiers |
| IaC Scanning | Misconfigurations in CloudFormation/Terraform | Professional tier |
Reference Tracker
- Flags when a suggestion matches open-source training data
- Shows the licence type (MIT, Apache, GPL, etc.)
- Links to the original repository
- Helps maintain open-source licence compliance
Amazon Q Developer Integration
- Chat interface for asking AWS architecture questions
- Code transformation for upgrading Java versions
- Troubleshoot AWS console errors with AI assistance
- Generate CLI commands from natural language
Tips for Best Results
- Write detailed comments before each function — CodeWhisperer relies heavily on them
- For AWS-specific code, mention the service name in your comment (e.g., "Upload file to S3 bucket")
- Run security scans before every pull request to catch vulnerabilities early
- Use the reference tracker to stay compliant with open-source licences
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual (Builder ID) | Free | Unlimited code suggestions, 50 security scans/month |
| Professional | $19/user/month | Enhanced security, admin controls, SSO, higher limits |
Try CodeWhisperer
Ready to code smarter on AWS? Visit CodeWhisperer's official website to set up your free account, or view CodeWhisperer details, alternatives & reviews for ratings, alternatives, and user reviews.
FAQs
Is Amazon CodeWhisperer free?
Yes. The Individual tier is free with unlimited code suggestions and 50 security scans per month. You only need a free AWS Builder ID to get started.
What happened to CodeWhisperer?
Amazon CodeWhisperer has been incorporated into Amazon Q Developer, a broader AI assistant for AWS. The core coding features remain the same under the new branding.
How does it compare to GitHub Copilot?
CodeWhisperer is superior for AWS development — it generates better AWS SDK code and includes built-in security scanning. Copilot is stronger for general-purpose development and has deeper GitHub integration. CodeWhisperer's free tier is also more generous.
Does it work outside of AWS?
Absolutely. While CodeWhisperer excels with AWS code, it supports general-purpose development in Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C#, and other languages.
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Last updated: February 2026
