vs
Claude Code vs Codex CLI
Two terminal-first coding agents. Claude Code is Anthropic's, and it now runs in your IDE, a desktop app and the browser too. Codex CLI is OpenAI's, open source under Apache-2.0, and shares your plan with the Codex app, IDE extension and cloud.
Side by Side
| Claude Code | OpenAI Codex CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | Anthropic's agentic coding tool that runs in the terminal and works across your codebase. | OpenAI's open-source (Apache-2.0) coding agent that runs locally in your terminal: it reads your repo, edits files and runs commands, with codex exec for scripts and CI. Sign in with ChatGPT or use an API key. |
| Category | AI Editors & Agents | AI Editors & Agents |
| Where It Runs | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows, plus VS Code, JetBrains, a desktop app, the web, Slack and mobile. | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows. The same plan covers the Codex IDE extension, desktop app and Codex cloud. |
| Sign-In and Models | A Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account. The CLI, VS Code and JetBrains also support third-party providers. | Sign in with ChatGPT, or use an API key, where model access follows your key. Open source under Apache-2.0. |
| Scripting and CI | Run Claude in your own CI, plus Code Review on pull requests. | codex exec runs non-interactive tasks in scripts and pipelines. API-key use suits CI but skips cloud features like GitHub code review. |
| Free Option | Not on the free Claude plan. Use a paid plan or API credits. | The CLI is free to install. Using it starts with ChatGPT Plus, or an API key billed at API rates. |
| Tags | ||
| Pricing | Included with Claude Pro: $17/mo billed annually, $20 monthly. Max from $100/mo for 5x or 20x Pro usage. Team standard seats $20/mo billed annually, $25 monthly. | Included with ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo: CLI, IDE extension, web and iOS. Pro is $100, $200 or $500 a month. Business is $25 per user a month billed monthly. Or bring an API key and pay API rates. |
| Website | anthropic.com | developers.openai.com |
| On Digidle |
Pricing and plan details checked October 29, 2026 on each vendor's official pages: Claude pricing, Claude Code docs, Codex pricing, Codex CLI, openai/codex on GitHub. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
Which One to Pick
Pick Claude Code If
You already pay for Claude, want Anthropic's models, and like having one agent across your terminal, IDE, desktop and browser.
More on Claude CodePick Codex CLI If
You want an open-source agent you can read and script, you already pay for ChatGPT, or you want codex exec running in CI.
More on Codex CLIBuilt a tool in AI Editors & Agents? Get it featured at the top of its category for 30 days.
On the AI coding agents list.
The 2 biggest AI stories, every morning.
One short email: the two stories that matter, and why.
You're in.
The Daily AI Brief will land in your inbox soon. If you don't see it, check Promotions or Spam and move it to your main inbox.