Devin AI Coding Tool Gets a New Pay-As-You-Go Plan: Is It Worth the Cost?

Cognition, the startup behind the viral AI tool Devin, has just introduced a new pricing plan designed to attract developers with tighter budgets. Devin, which gained significant attention for its ability to assist with software development, originally came with a hefty price tag of $500 per month. But as the tool’s capabilities evolved, so did its pricing structure — and now there's a more affordable $20 entry plan with a pay-as-you-go option.

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What’s New with Devin 2.0?

Devin first launched last year, catching the eye of developers and AI enthusiasts with its ability to automate certain software development tasks. While its early version showed promise, it was clear that Devin struggled with more complex coding challenges. Fast forward to 2025, and the tool has improved significantly with its latest version, Devin 2.0.

Cognition’s team claims that Devin 2.0 is “twice as productive” compared to the original, offering features like project planning assistance, code explanations with citations, and even creating wikis for code documentation. These updates have made Devin more competitive against other popular tools like GitHub's Copilot.

However, despite these improvements, it's important to note that even the best AI coding assistants are not foolproof. Recent studies have shown that tools like Devin still struggle with security vulnerabilities and programming logic. A recent evaluation of Devin revealed it completed only three out of 20 tasks successfully, highlighting the inherent limitations of AI-generated code.

How Does the New Pay-As-You-Go Plan Work?

With the new $20 plan, developers get 9 "ACUs" (Active Computing Units), which Cognition uses as a unit of measurement for computing power. While the $20 plan may seem like a steal, it's important to understand how quickly those ACUs can run out. Based on Cognition’s metrics, 1 ACU equals roughly 15 minutes of “active Devin work,” meaning the 9 ACUs on the entry-level plan only cover about 2.25 hours of coding.

If you’re working on a larger codebase, you might find yourself quickly running out of credits. ACUs are priced at $2.25 on the $20 plan, a slight increase from the $2 cost on the $500-per-month subscription. So while it may seem affordable at first glance, extensive use of Devin can rack up significant costs.

For developers looking for an affordable AI assistant, this new pricing plan could be an attractive option — especially for smaller projects or for those who just want to test out Devin without committing to a pricey monthly subscription. However, it’s important to keep in mind that, while Devin has improved, it still has its limitations, especially with larger or more complex coding tasks.

Ultimately, whether Devin is worth the cost depends on your specific needs. If you’re working on a small coding project or just need some help with simple tasks, the $20 plan could be a good starting point. But for more demanding work, the pay-as-you-go model might not provide the cost-effective solution you’re looking for.

As AI coding tools continue to evolve, we can expect more pricing adjustments and feature updates. If you're considering using Devin, it might be worth giving it a shot — but make sure to monitor your usage carefully to avoid unexpected costs.

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