Codex vs Claude Code
Claude Code and OpenAI Codex side by side: plans, prices, models, MCP support and where each one runs.
- Local servers
- Yes
- runs stdio servers
- Hosted servers
- Yes
- connects by URL
- Config
- CLI + JSON
- how servers are added
- Plugins
- Yes
- plugin marketplaces
Both start at $20 a month: Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus. Claude Code has no free plan. Codex has a limited free tier in the desktop app. Both run in the terminal, in VS Code and other editors, in a desktop app and on the web, and both connect to the same MCP servers (plans and prices as of November 2026).
Our advice: pick Claude Code if you want Claude models doing the work. Pick Codex if you already pay for ChatGPT, want to try a coding agent for free, or want one whose source code is open. For a three-way view that adds Cursor, see Cursor vs Claude Code vs Codex. For the chat apps behind each plan, see Claude vs ChatGPT.
Good for
- Developers choosing a coding agent for the terminal or editor
- ChatGPT subscribers wondering if Claude Code is worth a second plan
- Claude subscribers curious about Codex
- Teams that want one instruction file and the same MCP servers in either agent
Side by side
Plans and prices as of November 2026 (checked November 3, 2026). Our advice: use Claude Code if you want Claude models.
| Option | Claude Code | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes, limited |
| $20 plan | Claude Pro | ChatGPT Plus |
| Top personal plan | Ultra, $200/mo | Pro, $100 to $500/mo |
| Models on the $20 plan | Opus 5.5 default | GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Luna |
| Open source | No | Yes, Apache-2.0 |
| MCP servers | Yes | Yes |
| Instruction file | CLAUDE.md | AGENTS.md |
Which to pick
Our advice: already paying for ChatGPT? Start with Codex, since it is included. If you want Claude models, Claude Code on Pro at $20 a month is the way in. Both read AGENTS.md and use the same MCP servers, so trying the other one costs little.
The main limit on each side (as of November 2026): Claude Code starts at Pro with no free plan, and Codex in the terminal, editor extension and web starts at Plus.
Best for
- Claude Code: people who want Opus or Sonnet writing their code
- Claude Code: teams already on a Claude Team or Enterprise plan
- Codex: ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Business subscribers
- Codex: anyone who wants to try an agent on a free plan first
- Codex: developers who want to read or change the agent's source
Skip it if
- Claude Code: you need a free plan (Claude Free does not include Claude Code)
- Codex: you want the Free plan to cover the terminal, editor extension or web (those start with Plus)
Questions
Is Codex better than Claude Code?
Neither wins outright. Neither vendor publishes a head-to-head test, and the results depend on your codebase and the model you pick. Both have a $20 plan, so the cheapest way to decide is to run the same real task in each for a week. For a three-way view with Cursor, see Cursor vs Claude Code vs Codex.
How much do Claude Code and Codex cost?
Both start at $20 a month (as of November 2026). Claude Code comes with Claude Pro ($20 monthly, or $17 a month billed yearly), Max at $100 and Ultra at $200. Codex comes with ChatGPT Plus at $20 and Pro at $100, $200 or $500, and a limited version is on the Free and $8 Go plans.
Can I use Claude Code for free?
No. The Claude Free plan does not include Claude Code. You need Pro or higher, or you can pay per token with an API key from the Claude Console.
Is Codex free?
Partly. ChatGPT Free and Go users get Codex with the GPT-6 Luna model in the desktop app, subject to rollout. Codex in the terminal, the editor extension, the web and iOS starts with Plus (as of November 2026).
What are the usage limits?
Claude plans have limits every 5 hours and every week: Max gives 5 times Pro usage, and Ultra gives 10 times Pro usage per week with no 5-hour limit for verified accounts. On ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI estimates 15 to 160 GPT-6.1 Sol messages per 5 hours, weekly limits may also apply, and Pro plans have no 5-hour limit (as of November 2026).
Do Claude Code and Codex both support MCP servers?
Yes. Both connect to local servers and to hosted servers that sign you in with your account. In Claude Code you add one with claude mcp add; in Codex you use codex mcp add or edit ~/.codex/config.toml, and the Codex app, CLI and editor extension share that setup.
Is Claude Code open source?
No. Claude Code's GitHub repository is public for issues and plugins, but its license reads "All rights reserved." The Codex CLI is open source under the Apache-2.0 license.
Can I use one instruction file for both?
Yes. Codex reads AGENTS.md, and Claude Code can read an existing AGENTS.md in place of its own CLAUDE.md. Keep your coding rules in AGENTS.md and both agents follow them.
Can I use Claude models in Codex, or GPT models in Claude Code?
Information
updated Nov 3, 2026
- Transports
- stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP
- Config file (all)
.mcp.json (project) or ~/.claude.json (user)- MCP docs
- code.claude.com
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.
Show all 9Hide
- Claude Code overview · code.claude.com
- Codex pricing · learn.chatgpt.com
- Claude plans and pricing · claude.com
- openai/codex · github.com
- Claude Code model configuration · code.claude.com
- Claude Code license · github.com
- Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP · code.claude.com
- Codex MCP · learn.chatgpt.com
- AGENTS.md · learn.chatgpt.com