Codex CLI vs GPT-5.2
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right AI tool for your needs.
Our Pick
GPT-5.2 Instant
GPT-5.2 Instant edges out Codex CLI with superior overall performance and features that make it the better choice for most users.
Try GPT-5.2Feature Comparison
Feature
Codex CLI
GPT-5.2
Ratings
Overall Rating
4.7
4.8
Coding
4.7
4.6
Writing
4.3
4.8
Reasoning
4.5
4.7
Speed
4.6
4.9
Value
4.8
4.7
Pricing
Monthly Price
$20
$20
Free Tier
Input (per 1M tokens)
$2.5
$2.5
Output (per 1M tokens)
$10
$10
Features
Context Window
128K
128K
Vision/Images
Audio
Video
Code Generation
AI Agents
Codex CLI
Pros
- Open source (Apache 2.0)
- Multimodal input support
- Local-first privacy
- Rich approvals workflow
- Included with ChatGPT subscription
Cons
- Newer tool with evolving features
- Less mature than Claude Code
GPT-5.2 Instant
Pros
- Newest OpenAI model (Dec 2025)
- Fast responses optimized for speed
- 30% fewer hallucinations than GPT-5.1
- Knowledge cutoff August 2025
- Better at spreadsheets and presentations
- Matches human experts on professional tasks
Cons
- Not as strong as Thinking variant for complex tasks
- Requires paid subscription for full access
- Coding not as strong as Claude Opus 4.5
Choose Codex CLI if you need:
Rapid prototyping, open-source flexibility, ChatGPT users
Choose GPT-5.2 if you need:
Daily tasks, writing, translation, quick coding help
Ready to get started?
Both tools offer free tiers or trials. Try them out and see which one works best for your workflow.