# Conductor vs OpenAI Codex

> Conductor: Run a team of coding agents in parallel, each in its own isolated workspace
> OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent that writes, reviews and runs code from terminal, IDE, desktop or cloud

- Conductor profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/conductor
- OpenAI Codex profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/openai-codex
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/conductor-vs-openai-codex
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Conductor and OpenAI Codex are both Coding AI tools. OpenAI Codex scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.5 vs 8.0 out of 10), led by ease of use and value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only OpenAI Codex is available on Web, Windows and Linux.

### Choose Conductor if

- You want a tool built for running several agent tasks in parallel on one repository, reviewing agent diffs side by side, moving agent work between local and cloud workspaces.
- The Free plan covers local parallel agents with no Conductor fee.
- Supports four agent CLIs (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode) rather than a single vendor.

### Choose OpenAI Codex if

- You want a tool built for delegating coding tasks to an agent.
- Included with ChatGPT plans, with a free tier and an $8 Go tier.
- Open-source CLI under the Apache-2.0 license.

## Pricing

| | Conductor | OpenAI Codex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Conductor | OpenAI Codex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parallel Agents | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-Agent Support | Yes | Not listed |
| Diff Viewer and Review | Yes | Not listed |
| Git Worktree Isolation | Yes | Not listed |
| Cloud Workspaces | Yes | Not listed |
| Multiplayer Collaboration | Yes | Not listed |
| Conductor API | Yes | Not listed |
| iOS App and Remote Control | Yes | Not listed |
| Checks | Yes | Not listed |
| Codex CLI | Not listed | Yes |
| IDE extension | Not listed | Yes |
| Desktop app | Limited | Yes |
| Cloud tasks | Not listed | Yes |
| Code review | Not listed | Yes |
| Non-interactive mode | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP, skills and plugins | Not listed | Yes |
| Subagents and web search | Not listed | Yes |
| Session resume and images | Not listed | Yes |
| Mobile remote control | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Conductor | OpenAI Codex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | Yes |
| Windows | No | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | No | Yes |
| CLI | No | Yes |
| VS Code Extension | No | Yes |
| JetBrains Plugin | No | Yes |

## Conductor strengths

- The Free plan covers local parallel agents with no Conductor fee.
- Supports four agent CLIs (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode) rather than a single vendor.
- Git worktree isolation per task keeps concurrent agent changes separate.
- SOC 2 Type II attestation and SAML SSO/SCIM on Enterprise suit security reviews.
- Frequent releases: the changelog shows versions 0.89 to 0.91 between late September and mid-October 2026.

## Conductor limitations

- Local use is Mac-only; no Windows or Linux desktop app is listed.
- Pro at $50 per month and Teams at $60 per user per month are priced above many AI coding subscriptions, and agent usage is billed separately.
- The pricing page does not state how many cloud hours are included, and usage-based cloud pricing is planned.
- Pro Multiplayer organizations are capped at 5 Pro users.

## OpenAI Codex strengths

- Included with ChatGPT plans, with a free tier and an $8 Go tier
- Open-source CLI under the Apache-2.0 license
- Available in the terminal, VS Code-based editors, the ChatGPT desktop app and the cloud
- Supports MCP, skills, plugins and subagents
- API-key option lets teams pay at API rates instead of a subscription

## OpenAI Codex limitations

- Plus has message limits per five hours that vary widely by model
- Cloud features are not available on the API Key plan
- Higher usage needs Pro, which starts at $100 per month
- Free and Go plans offer only GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app

## FAQ

**Is Conductor better than OpenAI Codex?**

It depends on your workflow. Conductor is built for running several agent tasks in parallel on one repository, reviewing agent diffs side by side, moving agent work between local and cloud workspaces. OpenAI Codex is built for delegating coding tasks to an agent.

**What are the key feature differences between Conductor and OpenAI Codex?**

Conductor: Run a team of coding agents in parallel, each in its own isolated workspace. OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent that writes, reviews and runs code from terminal, IDE, desktop or cloud.

**Does Conductor or OpenAI Codex have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Conductor is freemium and OpenAI Codex is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Conductor or OpenAI Codex?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.