kitio.aiOpenAI Codex vs Conductor
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 $50 for Conductor.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Cloud coding tasks
- Codex CLI
- IDE extension
- Desktop app
- Automatic PR review
- Parallel agent workspaces
- Git worktree isolation
- Diff review and merge
- Setup scripts
- Supports several agents
| Feature | OpenAI Codex | Conductor |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app | Mac app for running Claude Code and Codex agents in parallel |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $8/mo | $50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | OpenAI | Melty Labs |
| 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 $50 for Conductor.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
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
4 plans
Free
Free
- Run multiple coding agents in parallel
- Local workspaces on your Mac
- Bring your own subscriptions and keys
Pro
$50/mo
- Conductor Cloud workspace hours
- Live collaboration (up to 5 Pro users)
- Conductor API and mobile app
Teams
$60/mo
- Per user
- Collaboration for any team size
- Admin portal and central billing
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Custom terms for large teams
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
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
Conductor
- Free to use
- Keeps parallel agents from conflicting
- Works with agents you already pay for
- macOS on Apple Silicon only
- You still pay for each agent's usage
Which one should you choose?
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.
Choose Conductor if you want:
- Free to use
- Keeps parallel agents from conflicting
- Works with agents you already pay for
Watch out: macos on apple silicon only.
OpenAI Codex vs Conductor FAQ
What is the difference between OpenAI Codex and Conductor?
OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app. Conductor: Mac app for running Claude Code and Codex agents in parallel. Both are coding tools.
Is OpenAI Codex or Conductor cheaper?
OpenAI Codex has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $50 for Conductor.
Do OpenAI Codex and Conductor have free plans?
OpenAI Codex: Yes. Conductor: Yes.
Who makes OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Who makes Conductor?
Conductor is made by Melty Labs, based in United States.
Which should I choose, OpenAI Codex or Conductor?
Choose OpenAI Codex if you value included in chatgpt plans and runs many tasks in parallel. Choose Conductor if you value free to use and keeps parallel agents from conflicting.