kitio.aiOpenAI Codex vs Qwen Code
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Qwen Code is completely free, while OpenAI Codex is freemium.
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
- Terminal agent
- Long-context support
- OpenAI-compatible providers
- Subagents
- Apache 2.0 license
| Feature | OpenAI Codex | Qwen Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app | Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $8/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | OpenAI | Alibaba Qwen Team |
| Based in | United States | China |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Qwen Code is completely free, while OpenAI Codex is freemium.
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
Qwen Code
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
- No longer has a free hosted tier
- Best results need Qwen models
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 Qwen Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
Watch out: no longer has a free hosted tier.
OpenAI Codex vs Qwen Code FAQ
What is the difference between OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code?
OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent in the cloud, CLI, IDE and desktop app. Qwen Code: Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models. Both are coding tools.
Is OpenAI Codex or Qwen Code cheaper?
Qwen Code is completely free, while OpenAI Codex is freemium.
Do OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code have free plans?
OpenAI Codex: Yes. Qwen Code: Yes, fully free.
Who makes OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI, based in United States.
Who makes Qwen Code?
Qwen Code is made by Alibaba Qwen Team, based in China.
Which should I choose, OpenAI Codex or Qwen Code?
Choose OpenAI Codex if you value included in chatgpt plans and runs many tasks in parallel. Choose Qwen Code if you value free and open source and works with cheap open models.