OpenAI Codex

ResearchedCodingAgents

In short

OpenAI Codex is openAI's coding agent; the open-source Codex CLI is a lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal. It has a free plan; it is open source (Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI)).

Last checked Oct 25, 2026 · Test depth: Researched · Sources

OpenAI Codex pricing and key facts

Official site
https://developers.openai.com/codex
Pricing (as of Oct 25, 2026)
Included with ChatGPT plans: limited on Free and Go, expanded on Plus and Pro; can also be used with an API key (API pricing).
Free tier
Yes
Open source
Yes — Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI)
Repository
openai/codex · 130,819 stars (as of Oct 25, 2026)
Test depth
Researched Compiled from official pages and public sources. Not used hands-on yet.
Last checked
Oct 25, 2026

OpenAI Codex score: 82/100

Test depth40Researched
Value100free tier/plan verified: +50; OSI open-source license: +30; fully usable for free (open source): +20
Freshness100checked 0 day(s) before this build

How scores work

OpenAI Codex alternatives

ToolFree planPaid fromOpen sourceScore
OpenAI CodexYesFree / usage-basedYes82
AiderYesFree / usage-basedYes82
Browser UseYesFree / usage-basedYes82
ClineYesFree / usage-basedYes82
CrewAIYesFree / usage-basedYes82
LangGraphYesFree / usage-basedYes82
OpenHandsYesFree / usage-basedYes82

Alternatives share OpenAI Codex's category and are sorted by score. See the Coding leaderboard.

Sources