Compare / AI code editors & assistants
Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex: which should you pick?
Honest verdict, real prices from our database, setup steps. Rankings are not for sale.
Both are terminal-first coding agents that read your repo, run commands and make changes across many files, and both start at $20/month on the base paid plan (Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus). Claude Code is the pick if you mostly work locally in the terminal and want a careful agent that plans before it edits and is easy to extend with hooks, subagents and MCP. Codex is the pick if you want to hand off tasks to run in the cloud while you work, get automatic GitHub PR reviews, or you already pay for ChatGPT, since Codex is included in every ChatGPT plan, even Free with limits.
| Claude Code | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CLI coding agent | Coding agent |
| Best for | Agentic coding in repos · refactors | Background coding tasks · PRs |
| Starting price | $20/month (Claude Pro, billed monthly; includes Claude Code; $17/mo billed annually) | $20/month (ChatGPT Plus; full Codex in CLI, IDE, web and cloud; Go at $8/mo is desktop-only and lightweight) |
| Free tier | No — Claude Code not included in Free plan | Yes — Free $0 — limited Codex on quick tasks in the desktop app |
| Skill level | advanced | intermediate |
| Last verified | 2026-10-15 | 2026-10-15 |
Pick Claude Code if…
- You live in the terminal and want a local, step-by-step agent
- You want deep customization (hooks, subagents, MCP servers, CLAUDE.md)
- You already use Claude for chat or writing
Set up Claude Code
- Subscribe to Claude Pro (Claude Code isn't on the free plan).
- Install Claude Code and run 'claude' in your project folder.
- Run /init to create a CLAUDE.md with your project rules.
- Give it a small task, approve its plan, and review the diff.
Pick OpenAI Codex if…
- You already pay for ChatGPT Plus or Pro, so Codex comes included
- You want to run tasks in the cloud in parallel and review PRs later
- You want @codex code review on GitHub or Slack integration
Set up OpenAI Codex
- Sign in with your ChatGPT account (Free works for light tasks; Plus unlocks CLI, IDE and cloud).
- Install the Codex CLI or IDE extension and open your repo.
- Add an AGENTS.md with your project rules.
- Give it a task locally, or send it to the cloud and review the PR.
Prices change; confirm on the official site before paying. How we rank.