Codex vs Claude Code
Both are AI coding agents: you describe a feature or a bug, and the agent reads your project, edits files and runs commands while you review the changes. We rate both Advanced. The practical difference is which subscription you already have. Codex comes with ChatGPT plans, including a limited version on Free, and Claude Code comes with Claude Pro and Max, with no free access.
| Codex | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | OpenAI's coding agent, included in ChatGPT plans: builds features, fixes bugs and reviews pull requests from the ChatGPT desktop app, the CLI, IDE extensions, the web and the cloud. | An AI coding agent that builds and edits whole projects for you. |
| Price | Included with ChatGPT: limited on Free and Go ($8/mo); Plus $20/mo; Pro from $100/mo | Included with Claude Pro ($20/mo) and Max |
| Free plan | Limited | No (paid plans) |
| Difficulty | Advanced | Advanced |
| Price source | Codex pricing (OpenAI) | Claude pricing |
| Full review | Codex page | Claude Code page |
Quick verdict
Pick Codex if
- You already pay for ChatGPT Plus or Pro
- You want to try a coding agent for free first (limited on ChatGPT Free and Go)
- You want automatic code review on pull requests or to hand off tasks from Slack
- You want to delegate longer tasks to cloud runs
Pick Claude Code if
- You already pay for Claude Pro or Max
- You like working from the terminal, or in VS Code, Cursor or JetBrains
- You also use Claude for writing and long documents, since usage is shared with chat
- You want the same agent on desktop, web and mobile
Key differences
Both work the same basic way. You give the agent a task in plain English, it reads the code, makes changes across files and runs commands, and you review the diff before keeping it. Both can also run longer tasks in the background while you do something else.
The biggest difference is access. Codex is included in every ChatGPT plan, per OpenAI: Free and Go ($8/mo) get limited use in the Codex desktop app, while Plus ($20/mo) adds the web, the CLI, the IDE extension, iOS, automatic code review and Slack. Claude Code is not on Claude's free plan; it starts with Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually) and goes up to Max from $100/mo.
Where you use them overlaps a lot. Claude Code runs in the terminal, in VS Code, Cursor and JetBrains, in the Claude desktop app, and on the web and mobile. Codex runs in its desktop app, a CLI, IDE extensions for VS Code, Cursor and Windsurf, Xcode and JetBrains, and the web.
Limits are shared with chat on both sides. Claude Code draws on the same Claude plan usage as your chats, and Codex limits depend on your ChatGPT plan. If you hit limits often, compare the top tiers of each (ChatGPT Pro from $100/mo, Claude Max from $100/mo) before stacking subscriptions.
Which to use for common tasks
| Task | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Try a coding agent without paying | Codex | Limited Codex is included on ChatGPT Free and Go |
| You already pay for ChatGPT Plus | Codex | Included, with the CLI, IDE extension and code review |
| You already pay for Claude Pro | Claude Code | Included, no extra subscription |
| Automatic review on every pull request | Codex | Code review is listed on ChatGPT Plus and up |
| Work from the terminal or JetBrains | Either | Both have a CLI and JetBrains support |
| Never coded before | Neither | Start with Lovable or Bolt.new |
Try this prompt
You are working in my repository. Task: [describe the feature or bug]. First read the relevant files and write a short plan (files to change, risks) and wait for my OK. Then make the smallest change that works, run the existing tests, and finish with a summary of what changed and anything I should check by hand.
Prices from each tool's official pricing page at our last check (2026-10-22). Plans change often, so confirm before you buy. How we pick →
Frequently asked questions
Is Codex or Claude Code better for beginners?
Neither is a beginner tool; we rate both Advanced. If you have never coded, start with Lovable or Bolt.new, or see our vibe coding guide.
Is Codex free?
Partly. Per OpenAI, Codex is included in every ChatGPT plan, and Free and Go get limited use in the Codex desktop app. Plus ($20/mo) adds the web, CLI, IDE extension and code review. Claude Code has no free plan and starts with Claude Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually).
Can I use Codex and Claude Code together?
Yes. Both work on the same local project files, so some developers use one for building and the other for a second-opinion review. Check both pricing pages before paying for two plans.
What about Cursor?
Cursor is an AI code editor rather than a standalone agent, and both Codex and Claude Code can run inside it. See our Codex vs Cursor and Cursor vs Claude Code pages.
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