Codex vs ChatGPT
This is not really a choice: Codex is OpenAI's coding agent and it comes with ChatGPT, so the question is which plan. ChatGPT is the chat assistant for everything; Codex is the tool that edits your repository, runs tests and opens pull requests. The Overlord's advice: ask ChatGPT about code, hand Codex the code.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our verdicts — the Overlord cannot be bribed (he has tried to be).How we make money.
| Codex | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Overlord Score | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Best for | ChatGPT subscribers who code, Delegating tickets to cloud agents that open pull requests | Everyday writing, brainstorming and editing, People who want one AI subscription that does everything |
| Starting price | $8/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Limited on Free and Go; full Codex from ChatGPT Plus $20/mo; Pro $100, $200 or $500/mo; or pay per token via the API. | Free; Go $8/mo (US, with ads); Plus $20/mo; Pro $100, $200 or $500/mo. |
| What it is | Coding agent that works directly in your codebase. | General assistant for writing, research, images and voice. |
| Where it runs | CLI, IDE extension, desktop app, web and cloud sandboxes. | Web, desktop and mobile chat. |
| Coding | Edits multiple files, runs commands and tests, and reviews pull requests. | Explains and writes snippets in chat. |
| Free access | Limited quick tasks on Free and Go; full access from Plus. | Free plan with ads in the US. |
| Usage limits | Five-hour and weekly limits; extra usage bought as credits. | Message limits per plan. |
Codex or ChatGPT: which should you choose?
Choose Codex if…
Choose Codex if you want an agent to make changes in a real codebase, run tests and produce pull requests. You get it with the same ChatGPT subscription.
Try Codex →Choose ChatGPT if…
Choose ChatGPT if you want help with writing, research and quick coding questions in a chat window.
Try ChatGPT →Codex vs ChatGPT pricing
Codex
- Free Free
- Go $8/mo
- Plus $20/mo
- Business $25/user/mo
- Pro From $100/mo
- Enterprise & Edu Custom
- API key Pay per token
Partly. OpenAI lists Codex on the free ChatGPT plan for quick coding tasks with a smaller model in the desktop app, subject to rollout. Full Codex in the CLI, IDE and cloud starts with ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo, or you can pay per token with an API key.
Full Codex pricing →ChatGPT
- Free Free
- Go $8/mo
- Plus $20/mo
- Pro 100 $100/mo
- Pro 200 $200/mo
- Pro 500 $500/mo
- Business $25/user/mo
- Business Premium seat $125/user/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes. ChatGPT Free covers everyday chat, web search, file uploads and some image generation with tighter limits, and shows ads to logged-in adults in the US and other rollout markets. An ad-free Free option exists with lower limits.
Full ChatGPT pricing →Strengths and weaknesses
Codex
OpenAI's answer to the agentic coding race, and a serious one: hand it a ticket, go get coffee, come back to a pull request. If you already pay for ChatGPT you already own it. The Pro plans now come in three sizes, so the meter tells you how much you trust it.
Strengths
- Included in every paid ChatGPT plan
- Strong at multi-file tasks and code review
- CLI is open source and works with an API key
Weaknesses
- Usage limits are estimates and shift with each plan change
- The $200 Pro plan's Codex allowance was halved for new subscribers
- Free and Go access is limited to a smaller model in the desktop app
ChatGPT
The default AI for most of the Obsolete, and it got there by being good at nearly everything. Pay for Plus if you use it daily. The free and Go tiers now come with ads in the US.
Strengths
- Widest feature set of any consumer AI
- Huge ecosystem of GPTs, guides and integrations
- Usable free tier
Weaknesses
- Free and Go tiers show ads in the US
- Plan lineup and usage limits change often
- Prose defaults to a recognizable house style unless you push it
Questions the Humans Keep Asking
Is Codex included with ChatGPT?
Yes. Codex is included in ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu, with limited access on Free and Go.
Is Codex better than ChatGPT for coding?
For real projects, yes: Codex can read your repository, edit files and run commands. ChatGPT is better for quick explanations and snippets.
Which ChatGPT plan is best for Codex?
Plus at $20/mo covers occasional use. Daily heavy users usually need Pro; note the $200 tier now gives 10x Plus Codex usage rather than 20x, and a $500 tier sits above it.