kitio.aiGitHub Copilot 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 $10 for GitHub Copilot.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Code completions
- Copilot Chat
- Cloud coding agent
- Code review
- Copilot CLI
- Cloud coding tasks
- Codex CLI
- IDE extension
- Desktop app
- Automatic PR review
| Feature | GitHub Copilot | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | GitHub's AI pair programmer for editors, CLI and pull requests | OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | GitHub (Microsoft) | 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 $10 for GitHub Copilot.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
6 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 2,000 completions/month
- Limited chat and agent mode
- Copilot CLI
Pro
$10/mo
- Unlimited completions
- Monthly AI credits
- Coding agent and code review
Pro+
$39/mo
- More AI credits
- Access to all models
Max
$100/mo
- For high-volume agent workflows
- Largest AI credit allowance
Business
$19/mo
- Per user
- Policy and license management
- IP indemnity
Enterprise
$39/mo
- Per user
- Enterprise controls
- Higher AI credit allowance
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
GitHub Copilot
- Works in almost every major editor
- Tight GitHub issue and PR integration
- Cheap entry plan
- Credit metering makes costs less predictable
- Best features need GitHub-hosted code
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 GitHub Copilot if you want:
- Works in almost every major editor
- Tight GitHub issue and PR integration
- Cheap entry plan
Watch out: credit metering makes costs less predictable.
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.
GitHub Copilot vs OpenAI Codex FAQ
What is the difference between GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Codex?
GitHub Copilot: GitHub's AI pair programmer for editors, CLI and pull requests. OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app. Both are coding tools.
Is GitHub Copilot or OpenAI Codex cheaper?
OpenAI Codex has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $10 for GitHub Copilot.
Do GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Codex have free plans?
GitHub Copilot: Yes. OpenAI Codex: Yes.
Who makes GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is made by GitHub (Microsoft), based in United States.
Who makes OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Which should I choose, GitHub Copilot or OpenAI Codex?
Choose GitHub Copilot if you value works in almost every major editor and tight github issue and pr integration. Choose OpenAI Codex if you value included in chatgpt plans and runs many tasks in parallel.