Grok Build vs Kiro CLI — Feature Comparison
Quick answer: Grok Build supports 0 of 0 tracked features; Kiro CLI supports 13 of 18. Matrix last updated August 29, 2026.
At a glance
| Tool | Latest version | Release date | Releases tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grok Build | v1.0.5 | August 15, 2026 | 118 |
| Kiro CLI | v2.20.0 | August 26, 2026 | 50 |
Core Editing
Multi-file editing, streaming, undo capabilities
| Feature | Grok | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file Editing — Edit multiple files in a single operation | — | — |
| Streaming Output — Real-time streaming of AI responses | — | ✓ since 2.20.0 |
| Undo/Redo — Ability to undo and redo changes | — | ✓ since 2.20.0 |
| Diff View — Visual comparison of changes | — | ✓ (v2.18.0 mentions a review screen for spec runs to read documents and stage comments, implying diff/review capabilities) |
Terminal Integration
Shell and command execution support
| Feature | Grok | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| Command Execution — Run shell commands | — | ✓ since 2.20.0 |
| Shell Integration — Integration with user shell environment | — | ✓ (CLI tool with terminal history preservation (v2.20.0) and shell command context implies shell integration) |
| Background Tasks — Run tasks in background | — | ✓ (v2.17.0 mentions running sessions in the cloud and picking up from any device, implying background/remote task execution) |
MCP Support
Model Context Protocol server and client capabilities
| Feature | Grok | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Client — Connect to MCP servers | — | ✓ since 2.12.0 |
| MCP Server — Expose as MCP server | — | ✓ since 2.11.0 |
| Custom Tools — Define and use custom tools | — | ✓ (v2.13.0 mentions global hooks across all workspaces; v2.14.0 mentions upgrading custom agents to universal format) |
IDE Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, and other editor support
| Feature | Grok | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code — Visual Studio Code integration | — | — |
| JetBrains — IntelliJ/WebStorm integration | — | — |
| Vim/Neovim — Vim or Neovim integration | — | — |
| Web UI — Browser-based interface | — | — |
Agentic Features
Planning, tool use, and autonomous capabilities
| Feature | Grok | Kiro |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Mode — Plan before executing changes | — | ✓ since 2.15.0 |
| Autonomous Mode — Extended autonomous operation | — | ✓ since 2.19.0 |
| Task Decomposition — Break complex tasks into steps | — | ✓ since 2.20.0 |
| Context Management — Manage context across conversations | — | ✓ since 2.18.0 |
Feature timeline: who shipped first
First release where Grok and Kiro each shipped a notable feature, and which tool led.
| Feature | Grok | Kiro | Who led |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Slash Commands | — | June 12, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Subagents / Parallel Agents | — | December 18, 2025 | only Kiro |
| MCP Support | — | December 18, 2025 | only Kiro |
| Sandboxing / Permission Modes | — | August 11, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Planning Mode | — | December 18, 2025 | only Kiro |
| Hooks | — | July 17, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Project Memory Files | — | August 12, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Extended Thinking | — | June 5, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Voice Input | — | August 12, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Background Tasks | — | August 11, 2026 | only Kiro |
| Checkpoints / Rewind | — | June 12, 2026 | only Kiro |
Release velocity
Havoptic tracks 118 Grok releases and 50 Kiro releases. See release frequency charts for side-by-side velocity analysis, or browse the Grok Build changelog and Kiro CLI changelog.
Data source
Feature data is maintained in feature-matrix.json under a CC-BY-4.0 license. Release data comes from releases.json. Both are updated daily. See the methodology page for details on sourcing and human review.