OpenAI Codex Review
4.5
Free (limited trial)
Visit OpenAI Codex →A cloud coding agent bundled into ChatGPT
Who it's for
Existing ChatGPT subscribers and OpenAI-ecosystem teams who want an agentic coding tool that spans terminal, IDE, web, and mobile, and who are comfortable with usage-based token billing.
Who it's not for
Budget-conscious solo developers wanting predictable flat pricing should look elsewhere, since Codex's April 2026 move to token-based billing means costs can scale unpredictably with usage.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited trial access to Codex via web app, VS Code extension, CLI, and iOS; no cloud code review or Slack integration. |
| Go | $8/mo | Entry paid tier with Codex access across supported surfaces. |
| Plus | $20/mo | Broader Codex usage across web, CLI, and IDE. |
| Pro (5x / 20x) | $100/mo or $200/mo | Higher usage-based rate limits (5x or 20x Plus), launched April 2026 for heavy daily users. |
| Business | $25/user/mo | Pay-as-you-go seat pricing for teams; replaced the retired "Team" plan. Enterprise/Edu available at custom pricing. |
Pros
- Included from the $8/mo Go tier up, giving a low barrier to entry via existing ChatGPT plans
- Spans terminal, IDE, web app, and mobile surfaces from one subscription
- Backed by OpenAI's frontier models with frequent updates
- Flexible Pro rate-limit tiers (5x/20x) for developers who outgrow Plus
Cons
- April 2026 shift to token-based billing makes costs less predictable than flat-rate competitors
- Real-world active daily use often lands around $100-200/mo per developer
- Free tier is trial-only, not viable for sustained daily work
