# OpenAI Codex

> OpenAI's coding agent that writes, reviews and runs code from terminal, IDE, desktop or cloud

- Category: [Coding AI](https://finderatlas.com/categories/coding-ai)
- Pricing: Freemium
- Website: https://openai.com/codex/
- Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, CLI, VS Code Extension, JetBrains Plugin, API
- API: available
- Last updated: 2026-10-20
- FinderAtlas page: https://finderatlas.com/tools/openai-codex

## Overview

OpenAI Codex is OpenAI's coding agent. It reads a codebase, edits files, runs commands and tests, and proposes changes for review. It is available as an open-source command-line tool, an extension for Visual Studio Code and compatible editors, a section of the ChatGPT desktop app, and a cloud service where tasks run in a hosted environment connected to a repository. Users sign in with a ChatGPT account or use an OpenAI API key.

## Key features

- Codex CLI
- IDE extension
- Desktop app
- Cloud tasks
- Code review
- Non-interactive mode
- MCP, skills and plugins
- Subagents and web search
- Session resume and images
- Mobile remote control

## Pricing

- **Free** ($0): Quick coding tasks
- **Go** ($8/month): Lightweight coding tasks
- **Plus** ($20/month): Focused coding sessions
- **Pro** ($100/month): Plans at $100, $200 or $500 per month
- **Business** ($25/user/mo): 2 or more users; $20 per user per month when billed annually
- **Enterprise & Edu** (Custom): Contact sales
- **API Key** (Pay-as-you-go): Billed at OpenAI API pricing

## Best for

- Delegating coding tasks to an agent
- Code review of diffs and pull requests
- Terminal-based workflows
- Running parallel coding tasks in the cloud

## Who uses it

- Software developers
- Engineering teams
- Enterprise engineering organizations
- Open-source maintainers

## 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

## 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

## Not recommended for

- Non-developers
- Users who need unlimited usage on a low-cost plan

## Integrations

- GitHub
- Slack
- Visual Studio Code
- Cursor
- Windsurf
- Xcode
- JetBrains IDEs
- MCP

## FinderAtlas editorial scores (out of 10)

- Code Generation: 9/10
- Agentic Autonomy: 8.8/10
- Ease of Use: 8.3/10
- Value for Money: 8/10
- Ecosystem & Integrations: 8.5/10

## Alternatives

- [Amp](https://finderatlas.com/tools/amp): Coding agent that runs in cloud orbs and keeps working after you close your laptop ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/amp-vs-openai-codex))
- [Factory](https://finderatlas.com/tools/factory): Agent-native software development platform where Droids handle full engineering tasks end to end ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/factory-vs-openai-codex))
- [GitHub Copilot](https://finderatlas.com/tools/github-copilot): AI coding assistant for code completion, chat and cloud agents across IDEs, terminal and GitHub ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/github-copilot-vs-openai-codex))
- [Kiro](https://finderatlas.com/tools/kiro): Spec-driven agentic IDE from AWS that turns prompts into designs, tasks and code ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/kiro-vs-openai-codex))
- [Devin](https://finderatlas.com/tools/devin): Autonomous cloud software engineer that takes tickets through to tested pull requests ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/devin-vs-openai-codex))
- [Google Antigravity](https://finderatlas.com/tools/google-antigravity): Google's agent-first platform for building software with parallel AI coding agents ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/google-antigravity-vs-openai-codex))
- [Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)](https://finderatlas.com/tools/windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-windsurf))
- [Claude Code](https://finderatlas.com/tools/claude-code): Anthropic's coding agent that edits code and runs commands from terminal, IDE or browser ([compare](https://finderatlas.com/compare/claude-code-vs-openai-codex))

## Recent updates

- 2026-10-15: Adds a /config panel, immediate redirection by follow-up messages and /daemon restarts
- 2026-10-14: Users signed in with ChatGPT should switch to GPT-6.1 Sol; API-key sessions are not affected
- 2026-10-09: Beta in the desktop app that suggests the next message, for personal Pro plans
- 2026-05-14: Codex added to the ChatGPT iOS and Android apps as a remote control

## FAQ

**How do I access OpenAI Codex?**

Sign in with a ChatGPT account in the Codex CLI, the IDE extension or the ChatGPT desktop app, or use an OpenAI API key with the CLI, SDK or IDE extension. Free and Go plans have limited access.

**Is OpenAI Codex free?**

Partly. The Free plan costs $0 and gives limited access to GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app, subject to rollout. Plus is $20 per month, Go is $8 per month and Pro starts at $100 per month.

**Is this the same as the old Codex model from 2021?**

No. The 2021 Codex was a code-generation model used in early tools such as GitHub Copilot. The current Codex is a coding agent that edits code and runs commands, and it is a separate product.

**Is the Codex CLI open source?**

Yes. The openai/codex repository on GitHub is licensed under Apache-2.0 and describes itself as a lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal.

**What are the usage limits?**

Plus and standard Business plans have estimated local message limits per five-hour period, which vary by model: 15 to 160 for GPT-6.1 Sol and 350 to 3,000 for GPT-6 Luna. Pro currently has no five-hour limit. Credits can be bought for extra usage on eligible plans.

**Can I use Codex on my phone?**

Partly. Since May 2026 the ChatGPT iOS and Android apps can connect to a machine running Codex so you can review outputs, approve commands and start tasks. The work runs on the connected machine, and there is no separate Codex app.