# DeepSeek vs OpenAI Codex

> DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models
> OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent that writes, reviews and runs code from terminal, IDE, desktop or cloud

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

## Verdict

DeepSeek is listed under AI Assistants and OpenAI Codex under Coding AI. DeepSeek scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.8 vs 8.5 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only DeepSeek is available on iOS and Android. Only OpenAI Codex is available on Linux, CLI and VS Code Extension.

### Choose DeepSeek if

- You want a tool built for Low-cost API integration.
- Web chat and mobile apps are free.
- API output costs from $0.60 per 1M tokens (Flash, off-peak), well below most frontier providers.

### 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

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

## Features

| Feature | DeepSeek | OpenAI Codex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| V4 model family | Yes | Not listed |
| Thinking mode | Yes | Not listed |
| Open weights | Yes | Not listed |
| OpenAI and Anthropic compatible API | Yes | Not listed |
| Tool calls and JSON output | Yes | Not listed |
| Search and Fetch APIs | Yes | Not listed |
| Agent tool integrations | Yes | Not listed |
| DeepSeek Harness | Yes | Not listed |
| Vision on Flash | Yes | Not listed |
| Codex CLI | Not listed | Yes |
| IDE extension | Not listed | Yes |
| Desktop app | Not listed | 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 | DeepSeek | OpenAI Codex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | No | Yes |
| CLI | No | Yes |
| VS Code Extension | No | Yes |
| JetBrains Plugin | No | Yes |

## DeepSeek strengths

- Web chat and mobile apps are free
- API output costs from $0.60 per 1M tokens (Flash, off-peak), well below most frontier providers
- Open weights for V4 and earlier models on Hugging Face
- 1M-token context and 384K max output on both API models
- API works with both OpenAI and Anthropic SDKs and several coding agents

## DeepSeek limitations

- Peak-hour API rates are double the off-peak rates on weekday mornings UTC
- deepseek-v4-pro does not support vision input
- No image generation
- Data is processed by a company based in China, which some organizations cannot accept

## 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 DeepSeek better than OpenAI Codex?**

It depends on your workflow. DeepSeek is built for Low-cost API integration. OpenAI Codex is built for delegating coding tasks to an agent.

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

DeepSeek: Free AI chat app and low-cost API running DeepSeek's open-weights V4 models. OpenAI Codex: OpenAI's coding agent that writes, reviews and runs code from terminal, IDE, desktop or cloud.

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

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

**Which is cheaper, DeepSeek 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.