Amp Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives

What is Amp?

Amp is an agentic coding tool built by Amp Frontier Corporation. You give Amp a task and it works in a thread on an orb, a cloud machine set up with your code, tools and plugins, so the agent can keep going after you close your laptop. You can control threads from the web, the amp command-line tool, or Amp’s macOS and iOS apps.

Amp launched in May 2025 as a product of Sourcegraph, the code search company. On 2 December 2025 it became its own company. In 2026 the team rebuilt Amp around orbs, dropping the temporary Amp Neo name in May, and added subscriptions in July. On 13 September 2026 Amp became free to use when you bring your own compute and model subscriptions or API keys, and you can link a ChatGPT subscription.

Amp differs from editor-based tools in its focus on long-running, parallel work. It uses several models for different jobs rather than one default, lets you choose the models behind its modes, and supports shared threads and multiplayer sessions so teammates can see how an agent solved a problem. Runners let agents use your own machines instead of Amp’s orbs.

Key features of Amp

• OrbsCloud machines created per thread with your code and tools ready, so agents keep working without your laptop.
• RunnersUse your own computers as runners for free, share them with your workspace and give each task its own Git worktree.
• Multi-model modesAmp mixes models from several labs and lets you choose which models sit behind each agent mode.
• Threads and multiplayerSave, share and collaborate on agent threads with teammates.
• Plugins and skillsShared plugins, skills and portals extend what agents can do across a team.
• Apps and SlackStart and steer agents from the macOS and iOS apps or from Slack.

Who is Amp best for?

• Developers who run many tasks at once and want agents to keep working in the cloud.
• ChatGPT subscribers who can link their subscription to power Amp instead of buying tokens.
• Small teams that want shared threads, multiplayer sessions and shared runners at no extra charge.

Popular ways to use Amp

• Background features: start a thread on an orb and check the result later from your phone.
• Parallel bug fixes: run several orbs at once, each working on a different issue.
• Using your own hardware: connect a runner so agents work on your machine for free.
• Team learning: share threads so colleagues can see how an agent tackled a task.
• Scripting: run the Amp CLI headless from scripts or a server.

Amp pricing (October 2026)

Amp charges no token fees when you bring your own keys or link a model subscription such as ChatGPT. Beyond plan limits, orb time is paid as you go, and Gigawatt pricing is listed on Amp’s site.

Amp pros and cons

How to get started with Amp

1. Sign up at ampcode.com.
2. Optionally link your ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscription or add API keys.
3. Create a project from a Git repository or start fresh.
4. Review the changes and share the thread with teammates if useful.

Tips to get better results from Amp

• Use your own runner for long jobs to avoid paying for orb time.
• Split big jobs into several threads so they can run in parallel.
• Share good threads with your team as examples of effective prompts.

Amp vs alternatives

OpenAI Codex and Claude Code from Claude are the main agent rivals, both included with chat subscriptions. Devin also works in cloud machines but leans towards ticket handoff for teams.

If you prefer an editor, Cursor and Devin Desktop are better fits, and Cline is an open-source alternative that runs in your IDE. See all best AI coding tools.

Our verdict: is Amp worth it?

Amp FAQs

Pricing and features change often. Details on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. Always confirm current plans on the official Amp website.