Head to head
OpenAI Codex vs Claude Code: which is cheaper, and which suits a beginner?
Codex (OpenAI) and Claude Code (Anthropic) are coding agents: you describe a change and they read your project, edit files and run commands. They cost the same at $20 a month, but only one has a free way in. Here’s the plan-by-plan comparison.
Codex is cheaper to start: limited Codex comes with ChatGPT’s free plan and the $8 Go plan. Claude Code starts at $20 with Claude Pro. From $20 up, the two cost the same at every level. Neither is a beginner’s first tool — both edit real files and run real commands.
Price at each level
| Monthly price | OpenAI Codex comes with… | Claude Code comes with… |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | ChatGPT Free — Codex limited | Not available |
| $8 | ChatGPT Go — Codex limited | Not available |
| $17–20 | ChatGPT Plus ($20) — Codex included | Claude Pro ($20, or $17 billed yearly) — included |
| $100 | ChatGPT Pro — expanded Codex | Claude Max 5× — 5× Pro’s usage |
| $200 | ChatGPT Pro, higher tier | Claude Max 20× (price not shown on Anthropic’s page) unconfirmed |
| $500 | ChatGPT Pro, top tier — longer Codex sessions | — |
| Pay as you go | API key | API credits (Anthropic Console) |
From OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s pricing pages, checked Oct 2, 2026. US dollars before tax. Both companies use flexible limits rather than fixed message counts, and both say heavier tasks use your allowance faster.
What you get besides the coding agent
Neither agent is sold on its own, so you’re really choosing a whole subscription. At $20:
- ChatGPT Plus adds the GPT-6 models, picture creation, fuller deep research, ChatGPT Work and no ads. See what each ChatGPT plan includes.
- Claude Pro adds the Opus model, Research, Claude Design, Slides and Docs, and Claude in Chrome and Microsoft 365 — but no picture creation. See every Claude Code plan.
If you already pay for one of them, try its agent first. It costs nothing extra.
Where they run
| Codex | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal | Yes (Codex CLI) | Yes |
| Code editor extension | Yes | VS Code, Cursor, JetBrains |
| Desktop app | Yes | Yes (Code tab; paid plans) |
| In the browser | Yes | Yes (claude.ai/code) |
| Phone | iOS (Plus) | iPhone and Android app |
If you’re new to coding
Both tools are powerful because they can change real files and run real commands on your computer or in the cloud. That’s also the risk: in 2025 and 2026 coding agents given too much access deleted live databases. If you can’t yet read what an agent changed, start with a browser app builder and our eight-step safe workflow, and read is vibe coding safe? before you share anything with real users.
Sources: OpenAI: plans that include Codex · ChatGPT pricing · Claude pricing · Claude Code docs
Quick answers
Is Codex cheaper than Claude Code?
To start, yes. Codex is included, with limits, in ChatGPT’s free plan and the $8 Go plan. Claude Code needs at least Claude Pro at $20. At $20 a month (ChatGPT Plus vs Claude Pro) and at $100 (ChatGPT Pro vs Claude Max 5×) they cost the same.
Which is better, Codex with ChatGPT Plus or Claude Code with Claude Pro?
We haven’t run our own coding test, so we won’t name a winner on code quality. On price they match. The deciding factors are usually which chat assistant you prefer for everything else — ChatGPT Plus also makes pictures; Claude Pro adds Research, Design, Slides and Docs — and which agent you find easier to steer.
Do I need to know how to code to use them?
It helps a lot. Both agents can build things from plain-English descriptions, but they edit real files and run real commands, so you need to be able to judge what they did. Complete beginners usually do better starting with an app builder like Lovable, Bolt or Claude Artifacts.
Can I use them on my phone?
Both have phone access. Codex works on iOS for Plus subscribers; Claude Code runs on the web at claude.ai/code and in the Claude app for iPhone and Android.
Keep learning
How much does Claude Code cost? Pro, Max and pay-as-you-go explained
Claude Code isn’t free: it comes with Claude Pro ($20, or $17 yearly), Max (from $100) or pay-as-you-go API credits. What each gets you and which to choose.
ChatGPT Free vs Go vs Plus: which plan is worth paying for?
ChatGPT Free, Go ($8) and Plus ($20) compared from OpenAI’s own pricing page: models, limits, ads, deep research and Codex, and who should pick which.
Does your AI assistant learn from your chats? How to turn it off
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Meta AI, Grok and DeepSeek: which use your chats for training by default, how long they keep them, and the exact switch.