Compared · prices checked 10 November 2026
Codex vs Claude Code
Pick Codex if you already pay for ChatGPT and want OpenAI's coding agent in the desktop app, the command line and the cloud, with several tasks running in the cloud. Pick Claude Code if you can read code and want to hand an agent long refactors and migrations that it plans, writes and tests from the terminal, an IDE or the desktop app. Codex is included in ChatGPT plans, limited on Free, then Go $8, Plus $20 and Pro from $100 a month; Claude Code has no free plan and starts at Pro $17 a month billed yearly ($20 monthly), with Max $100 and Ultra $200 a month.
Codex
OpenAI
OpenAI's coding agent, in the ChatGPT desktop app, the command line and the cloud.
Pick it when
You pay for ChatGPT, or want several tasks running in the cloud
For
A developer who already pays for ChatGPT and wants an agent for software work.
What it costs
Included in ChatGPT plans: limited on Free; Go $8, Plus $20, Pro from $100 a month
Read from chatgpt.com on 10 November 2026
Free: Limited Codex access on ChatGPT Free
Founders on eChai
4 of 25 named it for “Which AI agents are running in your stack right now?”
Claude Code
Anthropic
Anthropic's coding agent that plans, writes and tests code from the terminal, an IDE, Slack, the web or the desktop app.
Pick it when
You can read code and want to hand over long jobs
For
A developer or team that wants an agent to carry long refactors and migrations, and already pays for Claude.
What it costs
Included in paid Claude plans: Pro $17 a month billed yearly ($20 monthly), Max $100, Ultra $200 a month; Team $20 a seat a month billed yearly
Read from claude.com on 10 November 2026
Founders on eChai
17 of 20 named it for “Which tool do you vibe code with most?”
