# Claude Code vs Codex: AI coding agents compared

Both are coding agents rather than autocomplete: they read your repository, change files, run commands and work through a task on their own. Claude Code is our pick when you want to hand off whole tasks and get a pull request back, working from your terminal, IDE, desktop app or the web; it needs a paid Claude plan from $20 a month. Codex makes more sense if you already pay for ChatGPT, since it comes with those plans at no extra cost and the free plan gives limited access. Run the same real ticket through both before committing your team.

- **[Claude Code](https://suiteintent.com/t/claude-code?m=GB)**: Anthropic's coding agent for your codebase. · Best for: Handing off whole coding tasks · From $20/mo

- **[Codex](https://suiteintent.com/t/codex?m=GB)**: OpenAI's coding agent for CLI, IDE and cloud. · Best for: Developers already paying for ChatGPT · Free plan

## Claude Code

You want to delegate complete tasks, from reading the codebase to opening a pull request, and you are happy to pay for a Claude plan from $20 a month.

## Codex

Your team already pays for ChatGPT, or you want to try an agent on the free plan first, with runs in the CLI, your IDE or OpenAI's cloud.

## Questions

### Which costs less, Claude Code or Codex?

Codex comes with ChatGPT plans, and the free plan includes limited access, so you can try it without paying. Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan, starting at $20 a month. If you already pay for ChatGPT, Codex adds no new bill. Heavy daily use pushes both towards higher plans, so check the limits on each.

### Can both work in my terminal?

Yes. Claude Code runs in your terminal and also in IDEs, a desktop app and the web. Codex runs in the command line, in IDE extensions and in the cloud. Either can read your project, edit files and run commands like tests.

### Can they open pull requests for me?

Claude Code edits files and opens pull requests as part of a task. Codex writes code, fixes bugs and reviews pull requests, and its cloud mode works on tasks in the background. Keep a human review step before merging either agent's changes. Both are fast, and both can be confidently wrong.

### Is my code safe with these agents?

Both send the code they work on to their vendor's models, Anthropic for Claude Code and OpenAI for Codex. Read each vendor's data policy for your plan, especially on business plans. Keep secrets out of the repository and use the permission settings that ask before running commands. For client code under contract, check what the contract allows first.

### Should I use one of these or an AI editor like Cursor?

An agent in the terminal suits developers who describe a task and review the result. An AI editor keeps you in the code, suggesting and changing lines as you work. Many developers use both: an editor for daily work and an agent for larger tasks. Start with the habit you have now and add the other later.