Codex CLI
OpenAI's open-source CLI tool for code generation and modification. Supports multimodal inputs (text, screenshots, diagrams), features rich approvals workflow, and local-first privacy with all file operations happening locally. Apache 2.0 licensed with MCP support.
Pricing
Ratings
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
Best For
Rapid prototyping, open-source flexibility, ChatGPT users
Quick Info
- Provider
- OpenAI
- Version
- 1.0
- Released
- Jun 2025
- Context
- 128K tokens
Features
Categories
Compare Codex CLI With
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Codex CLI worth it in 2026?
With a rating of 4.7/5, Codex CLI is best for Rapid prototyping, open-source flexibility, ChatGPT users. It offers a free tier so you can try it risk-free.
What are the best alternatives to Codex CLI?
Top alternatives include OpenClaw, Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and GPT-5.1 Instant. Each has different strengths — use our comparison tool above to see detailed head-to-head matchups.
Does Codex CLI have a free plan?
Yes, Codex CLI offers a free tier with Included with ChatGPT Plus. This lets you test the tool before committing to a paid plan.