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Codex vs Cursor
Codex is OpenAI's coding agent that comes with ChatGPT; Cursor is an AI-first editor. If you already pay for ChatGPT, start with Codex; if you want an editor built around the agent, pick Cursor.
At a glance
| Fact | Codex | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | OpenAI | Anysphere (part of SpaceX) |
| What it is | OpenAI's coding agent for writing, reviewing and shipping code. | An AI-first code editor with a built-in coding agent. |
| Price | Included with ChatGPT plans, with limits on Free | Free plan, paid from $8/month |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web, CLI | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web, CLI, Slack, iOS |
| Open source | No | No |
| Models | Not stated | Composer |
| Last verified | October 14, 2026 | October 14, 2026 |
| Official site | openai.com/codex | cursor.com |
Where they differ
- Price: Codex is included with ChatGPT plans (limited on Free); Cursor has its own free plan and paid tiers from $8/month.
- Shape: Codex works as an app, CLI, IDE extension and cloud tasks; Cursor is a full editor with a CLI and cloud agents.
- Reviews: both review code, Codex with automatic PR review and Cursor with Bugbot.
Which to pick
Choose Codex if you have ChatGPT already and want parallel cloud tasks without changing editors.
Choose Cursor if you want to switch to an editor where the agent, completions and reviews live in one place.
Keep looking
- Codex listing
- Cursor listing
- Codex alternatives
- Cursor alternatives
- Claude Code vs Codex
- Claude Code vs Cursor
- Cline vs Cursor
- Codex vs GitHub Copilot
Facts from each maker's official pages, last verified October 14, 2026. How we verify.