OpenAI Codex
OpenAI's coding agent available in the cloud, CLI and IDE.
Coding agent · Pricing: Included with ChatGPT plans (see site)
Pros
- Runs tasks in parallel in the cloud
- CLI is open source
Cons
- Best value tied to ChatGPT subscription
Recent changes
- 2026-10-26 Security warning: Forever Security found a malicious AGENTS.md planted in a real user's ~/Downloads folder that told Codex to add an MCP server and install npm malware via ~/.codex/config.toml (over 90% success in its tests). Don't run coding agents inside Downloads. Source
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Alternatives to OpenAI Codex
- Claude Code (Terminal coding agent)
- Cursor (AI code editor)
- GitHub Copilot (AI coding assistant)
- Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) (AI code editor)
- Kiro (Spec-driven coding agent)
- Google Antigravity (Agent-first coding app)
FAQ
What is OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex is a coding agent. OpenAI's coding agent available in the cloud, CLI and IDE.
How much does OpenAI Codex cost?
Included with ChatGPT plans (see site). BuildJury only states prices confirmed on the official pricing page; check https://openai.com/codex/ for current plans.
What is OpenAI Codex best for?
BuildJury ranks OpenAI Codex for: Existing codebase (#4), Terminal coding agents (#2).
What are the downsides of OpenAI Codex?
Best value tied to ChatGPT subscription.