OpenAI Codex vs Excel VBA AI Assistant
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. OpenAI Codex starts at $8/mo and Excel VBA AI Assistant starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
AI add-in that writes, explains and debugs macros inside the Excel VBA editor
Free trialAt 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
- Macro and UserForm generation
- Code explanations
- AI debugging
- Performance suggestions
- Auto documentation
- Snippet library
| Feature | OpenAI Codex | Excel VBA AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app | AI add-in that writes, explains and debugs macros inside the Excel VBA editor |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $8/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | OpenAI | VBA Assistant |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
OpenAI Codex starts at $8/mo and Excel VBA AI Assistant starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
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
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
Excel VBA AI Assistant
- Works without leaving the VBA editor
- Code is not used for AI training
- Explains unfamiliar macros
- Only 10 free requests
- Prices are not listed on the homepage
- Limited to Excel VBA
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 Excel VBA AI Assistant if you want:
- Works without leaving the VBA editor
- Code is not used for AI training
- Explains unfamiliar macros
Watch out: only 10 free requests.
OpenAI Codex vs Excel VBA AI Assistant FAQ
What is the difference between OpenAI Codex and Excel VBA AI Assistant?
OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app. Excel VBA AI Assistant: AI add-in that writes, explains and debugs macros inside the Excel VBA editor. Both are coding tools.
Is OpenAI Codex or Excel VBA AI Assistant cheaper?
OpenAI Codex starts at $8/mo and Excel VBA AI Assistant starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do OpenAI Codex and Excel VBA AI Assistant have free plans?
OpenAI Codex: Yes. Excel VBA AI Assistant: No, trial available.
Who makes OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Who makes Excel VBA AI Assistant?
Excel VBA AI Assistant is made by VBA Assistant.
Which should I choose, OpenAI Codex or Excel VBA AI Assistant?
Choose OpenAI Codex if you value included in chatgpt plans and runs many tasks in parallel. Choose Excel VBA AI Assistant if you value works without leaving the vba editor and code is not used for ai training.