Compare
Claude Code vs Codex
Both are top coding agents from the two biggest AI labs. Claude Code is the pick for deep work in your terminal and editor; Codex is the easier start, since it comes with ChatGPT plans, including limited use on Free.
At a glance
| Fact | Claude Code | Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anthropic | OpenAI |
| What it is | Anthropic's agentic coding tool for the terminal and IDE. | OpenAI's coding agent for writing, reviewing and shipping code. |
| Price | Paid from $17/month | Included with ChatGPT plans, with limits on Free |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web, CLI, Slack, iOS, Android | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web, CLI |
| Open source | No | No |
| Models | Opus, Sonnet, Haiku | Not stated |
| Last verified | October 14, 2026 | October 14, 2026 |
| Official site | claude.com/product/claude-code | openai.com/codex |
Where they differ
- Price: Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan (Pro from $17/month); Codex is included with ChatGPT plans, with limits on Free.
- Where it runs: both have a desktop app, a CLI and the web; Claude Code also reaches into Slack and the Claude mobile apps.
- Style: Codex leans on cloud tasks that run in parallel and automatic pull-request review; Claude Code is built around agentic search of your codebase from the terminal and IDE.
Which to pick
Choose Claude Code if you live in the terminal or VS Code and JetBrains, already pay for Claude, or want GitHub and GitLab work from one tool.
Choose Codex if you already have ChatGPT, want to try an agent for free, or like handing off several cloud tasks at once.
Keep looking
- Claude Code listing
- Codex listing
- Claude Code alternatives
- Codex alternatives
- Aider vs Claude Code
- Claude Code vs Claude Cowork
- Claude Code vs Cline
- Claude Code vs Cursor
Facts from each maker's official pages, last verified October 14, 2026. How we verify.