OpenAI Codex is a coding agent that comes with every ChatGPT plan, with a desktop app on all plans and the command line tool, IDE extension and cloud tasks from Plus at $20 a month. It suits teams and developers who already pay for ChatGPT. It is worth trying before buying anything else if you have ChatGPT, but its usage limits are estimates rather than fixed numbers.
What OpenAI Codex is
Codex is OpenAI's AI coding agent. It reads your code, makes changes, runs tasks and can review code for you Codex pricing ↗. OpenAI says Codex is included in the Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Edu and Enterprise ChatGPT plans Codex pricing ↗.
It works in several places. Free and Go users get the desktop app for quick coding tasks Codex pricing ↗. Plus and higher add Codex on the web, the command line tool, an IDE extension and iOS, plus cloud integrations such as automatic code review and Slack Codex pricing ↗.
Codex runs on OpenAI's own models, including GPT-6 Luna, GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Astra on paid plans Codex pricing ↗. Hands on testing is in progress, and we will update this review with results.
What it does well
It comes with something you may already pay for. If your team has ChatGPT Plus or Business seats, Codex is already included, so there is nothing new to buy Codex pricing ↗.
There is a real free option. The desktop app works on the Free plan with GPT-6 Luna, subject to rollout Codex pricing ↗. That is enough to try small tasks.
It covers the main ways developers work. You can run it in a terminal, inside your editor, on the web or as cloud tasks that work in the background, and connect it to GitHub code review and Slack Codex pricing ↗.
It scales with your needs. Pro plans start at $100 a month and currently have no five hour limit Codex pricing ↗. Business adds SAML SSO, MFA and larger cloud machines, and Enterprise adds compliance and data residency controls Codex pricing ↗.
Adoption is growing fast. JetBrains' survey of more than 15,000 professional developers found Codex use at work rose about fivefold, from 3 percent in January 2026 to 16 percent in May to July 2026 JetBrains research ↗.
Where it falls short
The full toolset needs Plus. The command line tool, IDE extension and cloud tasks are not on Free or Go Codex pricing ↗.
Limits are estimates. On Plus, OpenAI estimates 350 to 3,000 local messages every five hours on GPT-6 Luna and 15 to 160 on the stronger GPT-6.1 Sol, with weekly limits that may also apply Codex pricing ↗. Cloud tasks can use more of the allowance than local messages Codex pricing ↗. That makes heavy use hard to plan.
Credits are hard to price. Extra usage is bought in credits, but the pricing page does not give a dollar price per credit Codex pricing ↗.
It trails the leader in adoption. In the same JetBrains survey, Claude Code was used by about 39 percent of professional developers, more than twice Codex's share JetBrains research ↗.
API key use skips cloud features. If you run Codex with an API key, you lose cloud features like GitHub code review and Slack Codex pricing ↗.
Pricing and plans
Free costs nothing and includes the desktop app with GPT-6 Luna Codex pricing ↗. Go costs $8 a month with the same desktop access Codex pricing ↗. Plus costs $20 a month and adds web, CLI, IDE, iOS and cloud features, with GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6 Luna Codex pricing ↗.
Pro starts at $100 a month, with $200 and $500 tiers, and has no five hour limit for now Codex pricing ↗. Business costs $20 per user a month billed annually or $25 billed monthly, for two or more users Codex pricing ↗. Enterprise and Edu are priced by sales Codex pricing ↗.
Plus and Pro users can buy extra credits when they hit their limit, without upgrading Codex pricing ↗. Faster speed modes use more of your allowance Codex pricing ↗. You can also run Codex with an API key at standard API rates Codex pricing ↗. There is no separate free trial; the Free plan serves that role.
Who should (and shouldn't) use it
- Good fit: businesses that already pay for ChatGPT Plus or Business Codex pricing ↗.
- Good fit: developers who want to try an AI coding agent for free in a desktop app Codex pricing ↗.
- Good fit: teams that want cloud tasks and automatic code review on GitHub Codex pricing ↗.
- Skip it if: you need predictable, fixed usage limits Codex pricing ↗.
- Skip it if: you want the most widely used agent; Claude Code leads adoption JetBrains research ↗ Claude Code ↗.
- Skip it if: you mainly want cheap autocomplete; GitHub Copilot Pro costs $10 a month Copilot plans ↗.
Alternatives worth a look
- Claude Code: our pick for most developers, from $20 a month with Claude Pro or $17 billed yearly Claude Code ↗ Claude pricing ↗.
- GitHub Copilot: fast autocomplete and chat in your current editor, from $10 a month Copilot plans ↗.
- Cursor: an AI first code editor, with Pro at $20 a month Cursor pricing ↗.
- Devin Desktop: a full AI code editor with a free plan and Pro from $20 a month Devin pricing ↗.
Where it appears
Also greatThe Best AI Coding AssistantWhat’s good
- Included with ChatGPT
- Free tier via desktop app
- Fast growing adoption
What to know
- CLI, IDE and cloud need Plus
- Limits are estimates
Key features
- Desktop app on all ChatGPT plans
- CLI and IDE extension on Plus and up
- Cloud tasks on Plus and up
- GPT-6 Luna and GPT-6.1 Sol models
- No five hour limit on Pro
Questions people ask
Is OpenAI Codex free?
Yes, in a limited way. The Free ChatGPT plan includes the Codex desktop app with GPT-6 Luna, subject to rollout Codex pricing ↗.
How much does Codex cost?
It is included with ChatGPT. Plus at $20 a month unlocks the CLI, IDE extension and cloud tasks, and Pro starts at $100 a month Codex pricing ↗.
What are the Codex usage limits?
On Plus, OpenAI estimates 350 to 3,000 local messages every five hours on GPT-6 Luna and 15 to 160 on GPT-6.1 Sol, with possible weekly limits Codex pricing ↗.
Is Codex better than Claude Code?
Codex is a strong choice if you already pay for ChatGPT. Claude Code is more widely used, at about 39 percent of professional developers versus 16 percent for Codex in JetBrains' 2026 survey JetBrains research ↗.
Where this comes from
Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views. Hands on testing is in progress.
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