kitio.aiClaude Code vs OpenAI Codex
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. OpenAI Codex has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Claude Code.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Terminal agent
- IDE extensions
- Subagents and hooks
- MCP support
- GitHub Actions integration
- Cloud coding tasks
- Codex CLI
- IDE extension
- Desktop app
- Automatic PR review
| Feature | Claude Code | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Anthropic's agentic coding tool for terminal, IDE and web | OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Made by | Anthropic | OpenAI |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
OpenAI Codex has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Claude Code.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Pro
$20/mo
- Claude Code included
- More usage than Free
- Claude in Chrome
Max
$100/mo
- From $100; 5x or 20x Pro usage
- Higher output limits
- $100-$200/mo in API credits
Team Standard
$25/mo
- Per seat
- Claude Code and Cowork
- More usage than Pro
Team Premium
$125/mo
- Per seat
- 5x usage of standard seats
Enterprise
$20/seat + usage
- Billed annually, 20-seat minimum
- Usage at API rates
- Admin spend controls
6 plans
Free
Free
- Limited Codex usage
- Via ChatGPT account
Go
$8/mo
- ChatGPT Go plan
- More Codex usage than Free
Plus
$20/mo
- ChatGPT Plus plan
- Codex in CLI, IDE and cloud
Pro
$100/mo
- Starting price; $200 and $500 tiers
- Highest Codex limits
Business
$25/mo
- Per user
- Shared workspace and admin controls
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Enterprise security
- Flexible usage
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Claude Code
- Strong at multi-step coding tasks
- Highly customizable with hooks and skills
- Works where you already code
- Usage limits on Pro plan
- Locked to Anthropic models
OpenAI Codex
- Included in ChatGPT plans
- Runs many tasks in parallel
- Open-source CLI
- Token-based limits are hard to predict
- Free tier usage is small
Which one should you choose?
Choose Claude Code if you want:
- Strong at multi-step coding tasks
- Highly customizable with hooks and skills
- Works where you already code
Watch out: usage limits on pro plan.
Choose OpenAI Codex if you want:
- Included in ChatGPT plans
- Runs many tasks in parallel
- Open-source CLI
Watch out: token-based limits are hard to predict.
Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex FAQ
What is the difference between Claude Code and OpenAI Codex?
Claude Code: Anthropic's agentic coding tool for terminal, IDE and web. OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app. Both are coding tools.
Is Claude Code or OpenAI Codex cheaper?
OpenAI Codex has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Claude Code.
Do Claude Code and OpenAI Codex have free plans?
Claude Code: No. OpenAI Codex: Yes.
Who makes Claude Code?
Claude Code is made by Anthropic, based in United States.
Who makes OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Claude Code or OpenAI Codex?
Choose Claude Code if you value strong at multi-step coding tasks and highly customizable with hooks and skills. Choose OpenAI Codex if you value included in chatgpt plans and runs many tasks in parallel.