OpenAI Codex

Who OpenAI Codex is for

OpenAI Codex is listed for Coding and Agents & automation, with a focus on coding agent, cli, ide, cloud agents and code review. You can start on the free tier and upgrade later.

Where it scores well

• Strong output and feature depth for its core job (capability rated 5/5).
• Easy to pick up (4/5).

Consider instead: GitHub Copilot, because it ranks higher in Coding (#1, score 98).

Based on our editorial sub-scores and verified pricing fields, not on user reviews.

OpenAI Codex pricing model

OpenAI Codex is freemium. Freemium means a free plan with limits, plus paid upgrades for more usage or features. A free tier is available.

Included with ChatGPT plans: Free and Go ($8/mo) get limited Codex in the desktop app; Plus ($20/mo) adds the web, CLI, IDE extension and cloud code review; Pro starts at $100/mo. Can also run with an API key at API rates.

We don't list plan prices because they change often. See current prices on the official OpenAI Codex pricing page. Last fact-checked Oct 27, 2026.

OpenAI Codex vs alternatives in Coding

Full list: best AI tools for coding.

Editorial ranking

• #3 of 19 in Coding (score 93)
• #8 of 20 in Agents & automation (score 83)

Score breakdown for Coding (primary use case)

Points = weight × (score ÷ 5) × 100, summed and rounded. Use-case fit and access are derived from the data (primary category and verified pricing); the other four are editor ratings. Editorial assessment, not a measured benchmark. How we score.

Recent releases & updates

• Oct 26, 2026 — GPT-6.1 Terra in Codex. OpenAI introduced GPT-6.1 Terra, a faster, lower-cost model for computer use and coding that is available in Codex, ChatGPT Work and the API. OpenAI says the same Codex usage allowance covers more tasks with Terra than with GPT-6.1 Sol. Source

Sources

• Codex homepage
• Codex pricing

Tags

• coding agent
• cli
• ide
• cloud agents
• code review

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenAI Codex free?

Yes. OpenAI Codex has a free tier; its pricing model is freemium. Included with ChatGPT plans: Free and Go ($8/mo) get limited Codex in the desktop app; Plus ($20/mo) adds the web, CLI, IDE extension and cloud code review; Pro starts at $100/mo. Can also run with an API key at API rates.

How much does OpenAI Codex cost?

OpenAI Codex's pricing model is freemium. Included with ChatGPT plans: Free and Go ($8/mo) get limited Codex in the desktop app; Plus ($20/mo) adds the web, CLI, IDE extension and cloud code review; Pro starts at $100/mo. Can also run with an API key at API rates. Current plan prices are listed on the official pricing page: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing.

What is OpenAI Codex used for?

OpenAI's coding agent for the desktop app, terminal (Codex CLI), IDE extension and cloud. It can run several agents in parallel, keep tasks going in cloud environments for each repo, and review GitHub pull requests automatically. OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI. On Pickfinch it is listed under Coding and Agents & automation.

How does Pickfinch rate OpenAI Codex?

OpenAI Codex has an editorial score of 93/100 in Coding, its primary use case, ranking #3 of 19. The score combines use-case fit 25%, capability 25%, ease of use 15%, access & value 15%, maturity 10% and transparency 10%. It is an editorial judgment, not a benchmark, and sponsorship never changes it.

What are the best OpenAI Codex alternatives?

In Coding, the highest-ranked alternatives to OpenAI Codex are GitHub Copilot (98), Cursor (93) and Replit (91), by editorial score out of 100.

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