Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex are both coding agents that can read your project, edit files and run commands. Choose Claude Code if you prefer Anthropic's Claude models and a subscription that starts at $20/month ($17/month billed annually). Choose Codex if you already pay for ChatGPT, since Codex is included in ChatGPT plans, or if you want to try one for free. Both come with a CLI, editor extensions and cloud or web use, so the choice usually comes down to which models work best on your code and which plan you already have.
Comparisons of these two age quickly, because both vendors ship new models and change limits often. So this page sticks to what each vendor states about plans and features, and shows you how to run your own test. Benchmarks you read elsewhere may no longer apply to the current models.
Claude Code vs Codex at a glance
| Claude Code | Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anthropic | OpenAI |
| Where you use it | Terminal, VS Code and JetBrains extensions, desktop app and web | Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, web and iOS |
| Models | Claude models | OpenAI models, such as GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6 Luna |
| Free option | Not on the Claude Free plan | Yes, on ChatGPT Free for quick tasks |
| Entry paid plan | Pro, $20/month or $17/month billed annually | Go, $8/month for lightweight tasks; Plus, $20/month |
| Higher tiers | Max $100, Ultra $200 | Pro at $100, $200 or $500 |
| Team plan | $20 per standard seat billed annually, $25 monthly | Business, $20 per user billed annually, $25 monthly |
| API-key use | Through an Anthropic Console account | Yes, for the CLI, SDK or IDE extension |
What each tool does
Claude Code is described in Anthropic's documentation as an agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and integrates with your development tools. It runs in the terminal, in IDE extensions, in a desktop app and on the web. Anthropic also documents running it in your own CI and using it from Slack.
Codex is OpenAI's coding agent, connected through your ChatGPT account. OpenAI says you can use it across ChatGPT, your editor and the terminal. Its product page highlights cloud tasks that keep going after you close your laptop, reusable cloud environments for each repository and code review. On Plus and above, it lists Codex on the web, in the CLI, in the IDE extension and on iOS, along with automatic code review and a Slack integration.
In daily use, both can do the same core job: take an instruction, work across several files, run commands and return changes for you to review.
Pricing compared
Both products use usage limits, and neither vendor's price tells you how much agent time you'll get. Check the limits on each pricing page before you commit to a higher tier.
Claude Code, through Claude plans:
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Claude Code not included |
| Pro | $20/month, or $17/month billed annually | Claude Code included |
| Max | $100/month | 5x Pro usage |
| Ultra | $200/month | More than Max, with no 5-hour limit |
| Team, standard seat | $20 per seat billed annually, $25 monthly | For teams of 2 to 150 |
| Team, premium seat | $100 per seat billed annually, $125 monthly | 5x standard seat usage |
Codex, through ChatGPT plans:
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Quick coding tasks, with the GPT-6 Luna model in the desktop app, subject to rollout |
| Go | $8/month | Lightweight coding tasks |
| Plus | $20/month | A few focused sessions a week; web, CLI, IDE extension and iOS; code review and Slack |
| Pro | $100, $200 or $500 a month | Higher usage; Ultrafast mode on the $500 plan |
| Business | $20 per user billed annually, $25 monthly | 2 or more users; no training on business data by default |
| Enterprise and Edu | Custom | Organisation-wide controls |
At $20/month the two are level on price. Codex has the cheaper ways in, at $0 and $8. If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus for other reasons, trying Codex costs you nothing extra. If you already pay for Claude Pro, the same logic applies to Claude Code. OpenAI also sells API key access, which it recommends for automation in shared environments such as CI, but API token prices are separate from subscription usage.
Got an idea? Build it now!
Just start with a simple prompt. No coding required: Greta.sh turns your idea into a working app in minutes.
Which should you choose?
| Your situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You already pay for ChatGPT | Codex | It's included in your plan |
| You already pay for Claude | Claude Code | It's included from Pro |
| You want to try an agent for free | Codex | ChatGPT Free includes quick tasks |
| You want to start tasks and check on them from your phone | Codex | OpenAI lists an iOS option from Plus |
| You work mainly in JetBrains IDEs | Claude Code | Anthropic documents a JetBrains extension; check Codex's current support |
| You want to run the agent in your own CI | Either | Both document CI or API-key use |
| You prefer one model family's output on your code | Test both | Results depend on your language and codebase |
How to test them on your own code
A short test tells you more than a benchmark, because your codebase is what matters.
- Pick three real tasks: a small bug, a feature that touches several files and a refactor.
- Use a clean branch for each tool so that neither sees the other's work.
- Give both the same instruction, word for word.
- Compare the results on: whether tests pass, how much you had to correct, whether it changed things you didn't ask for and how much of your plan's usage it took.
- Read every diff. An agent that runs quickly and breaks something subtle costs you more than a slower one.
Both tools can make confident mistakes. You remain responsible for reviewing the code, especially around authentication, payments and data access. Our guide to vibe coding security risks lists what to look for.
How about Cursor?
Cursor is the other tool that usually comes up. It's an AI code editor rather than an agent you add to your existing setup, so it fits people who want to work in one visual environment. See Cursor vs Claude Code for that comparison.
Got an idea? Build it now!
Just start with a simple prompt. No coding required: Greta.sh turns your idea into a working app in minutes.
What if you don't write code?
Claude Code and Codex are built for developers. They assume you can run a project, read a diff and tell whether a change is safe. If you want a working app without that, an AI app builder is the better category; our guide to AI coding assistants vs AI app builders explains the difference.
Greta.sh generates a full-stack app from a plain-English description and deploys it. The free plan gives you 5 credits a day but cannot deploy. Deployment starts on Starter (a $5/month welcome offer, normally $20/month), and Pro (a $20/month welcome offer, normally $50/month) adds the Database, Flows and GitHub version control.
FAQ
Is Claude Code better than Codex?
Neither is better for every project. They do the same core job with different models, and results depend on your language, codebase and the current model versions. Run the same real tasks through both, then compare what you had to fix.
Is Codex free?
Codex is included in ChatGPT's Free plan for quick coding tasks, subject to limits and rollout. Heavier use needs a paid plan: Go at $8/month, Plus at $20/month or Pro from $100/month.
Is Claude Code free?
No. Claude Code isn't included in Claude's Free plan. It starts with Pro at $20/month, or $17/month billed annually.
Is Claude Code cheaper than Codex?
At the common entry point they cost the same, $20/month for Claude Pro and ChatGPT Plus, and Claude Pro drops to $17/month billed annually. Codex also has $0 and $8 options. Actual value depends on the usage limits, which both vendors can change.
Can I use Claude Code and Codex together?
Yes. Both can work on the same repository, and you could use one to review the other's work. Use separate branches, so that you can tell which tool made which change, and keep in mind you'd be paying for two plans.
Do Claude Code and Codex work in VS Code?
Both have IDE extensions. Anthropic documents extensions for VS Code and JetBrains, and OpenAI offers a Codex IDE extension. Check each vendor's documentation for the editors it currently supports.
Which is better for beginners?
If you are learning to code, try the free or low-cost option first and read every change it makes. If you aren't trying to learn to code, an AI app builder is likely to serve you better than either one.
