Codex
#7 Codingby OpenAI · Best for ChatGPT subscribers
Codex is OpenAI's software engineering agent: it works tasks in cloud sandboxes or your terminal, handles parallel task queues, and opens pull requests. Usage is bundled into ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) and Pro plans, making it effectively included for existing subscribers. It pairs naturally with the rest of the OpenAI ecosystem.
Visit Codex ↗Last verified June 10, 2026
Pricing
$20/mo (ChatGPT Plus)
Bundled with ChatGPT Plus/Pro; API pricing for heavy use
Free tier: No · Open source: No
Strengths
- + Included with ChatGPT subscriptions most people already have
- + Parallel cloud tasks with PR integration
- + CLI and IDE options
Limitations
- − Plan limits constrain heavy professional use
- − Less terminal-workflow depth than Claude Code
Best for
ChatGPT Plus/Pro subscribersParallel small tasksOpenAI-stack teams
Alternatives to Codex
Other coding agents in the index, ranked.
- 1.Claude CodeBest overall coding agent$20/mo
- 2.DevinBest for fully delegated tasks$20/mo + usage
- 3.CursorBest agentic IDE$20/mo
- 4.OpenHandsBest open-source optionFree (self-hosted) + API costs
- 5.GitHub CopilotBest for GitHub-native teams$10/mo
- 6.Replit AgentBest for non-developers$20/mo
- 8.LovableBest for AI full-stack app building from prompts$25/mo