Codex
OpenAI's coding agent for the terminal, IDE, ChatGPT desktop app and cloud, included in ChatGPT plans from Free up.
Founded 2025
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Codex is OpenAI's coding agent, launched in spring 2025 as an open-source CLI and a cloud agent. You describe a task; Codex reads your code, edits files and runs sandboxed commands, then shows the changes for review. It works in the terminal, as an extension for VS Code and editors built on it, in JetBrains IDEs and Xcode, in the ChatGPT desktop app (the Codex app merged into it in July 2026) and as Codex Cloud on OpenAI-managed computers.
Codex uses OpenAI models such as GPT-6.1 Sol, and the CLI can also run local models. It is included in ChatGPT plans: Free and Go ($8 a month) get GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app, subject to rollout. Plus ($20) covers the web, CLI, IDE extension and GitHub code review, Pro costs $100, $200 or $500 a month, and Business Standard seats cost $25 per user a month ($20 billed yearly).
Best for
Developers who already pay for ChatGPT and want one OpenAI agent across the terminal, their IDE, the desktop app and the cloud, including GitHub pull request reviews and tasks that keep running while they are away.
Pros
- Included in ChatGPT plans from Free up; Plus at $20 a month covers the web, CLI, IDE extension and iOS
- Works in the terminal, VS Code and its forks such as Cursor and Windsurf, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode and the ChatGPT desktop app
- Runs local commands in an OS-enforced sandbox and by default asks before network access or edits outside the workspace
- Cloud tasks keep running while your computer sleeps, and "@codex review" posts reviews on GitHub pull requests
- The Codex CLI is open source (Apache-2.0) and can use local models through Ollama or LM Studio
Cons
- Free and Go list only GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app, subject to rollout, and do not include Codex Cloud
- Usage is capped and OpenAI publishes only estimates: Plus gets about 15-160 local GPT-6.1 Sol messages per five hours, and weekly limits may also apply
- Go, Plus and Pro are billed monthly only, with no annual discount
- On Go, Plus and Pro, your chats may be used for model training unless you turn it off in data controls
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (12-month total) |
|---|---|---|
| FreeGPT-6 Luna at Standard speed in the desktop app, subject to rollout; no Codex Cloud | Free Free plan | |
| GoGPT-6 Luna in the desktop app, subject to rollout; no Codex Cloud; billed monthly only | $8/mo | no yearly price |
| PlusWeb, CLI, IDE extension and iOS; cloud code review and Slack; GPT-6.1 Sol; billed monthly only | $20/mo | no yearly price |
| Pro 100No five-hour Codex limit; billed monthly only | $100/mo | no yearly price |
| Pro 200More usage than Pro 100; no five-hour Codex limit; billed monthly only | $200/mo | no yearly price |
| Pro 500Highest usage; includes Ultrafast mode; no five-hour Codex limit; billed monthly only | $500/mo | no yearly price |
| Business (Standard seat)Per user/month; $20 per user/month billed annually; minimum 2 seats | $25/mo | $240/yr ($20/mo) |
| Business (Premium seat)Per user/month; $100 per user/month billed annually; 5x Standard usage, no 5-hour limit | $125/mo | $1,200/yr ($100/mo) |
| Enterprise & EduContact sales; SCIM, EKM, RBAC, audit logs, data retention and residency controls | Custom | |
Prices checked on .
Features
In AI coding tools
| Feature | Codex |
|---|---|
| Editor type | Yes · Terminal CLI; extension for VS Code, Cursor and Windsurf; JetBrains and Xcode integrations; desktop app; web |
| Agent mode | Yes · Local agent in the app, CLI and IDE; Codex Cloud tasks on eligible Plus and higher plans, subject to rollout and workspace settings |
| Multi-file edits | Yes · Inspect the changed files, keep the edits you want, then commit or open a pull request |
| Runs terminal commands | Yes · Sandboxed by default; asks before network access or edits outside the workspace |
| Model choice | Partial · OpenAI models such as GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6 Luna; local and custom providers via config |
| Codebase indexing | not listed |
| Free tier | Partial · GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app, subject to rollout; no Codex Cloud |
| Team/enterprise plan | Yes · Business $25/user/month ($20 billed yearly), 2+ seats; Enterprise & Edu custom |
| Privacy mode | Yes · Training opt-out in ChatGPT data controls; Business, Enterprise, Edu and API data not used by default |