OpenAI Codex CLI vs OpenCode
OpenAI Codex CLI and OpenCode are both terminal AI coding tools. Here's how they line up on the things that actually decide it — price, platform, and what they plug into.
| OpenAI Codex CLI | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free tier | Free |
| Platform | windows, mac, linux | windows, mac, linux |
| Works with | chatgpt | claude, chatgpt, gemini |
| In one line | OpenAI's free, open-source terminal coding agent — runs agentic file editing, shell commands, and multi-step tasks powered by o4-mini. | Free, open-source AI coding agent for the terminal with a polished TUI — bring your own API key for Claude, GPT, or Gemini across 75+ providers, or run a local model through Ollama at zero cost. |
Which should you pick?
On budget alone, OpenCode is the lower-cost entry (free), so it's the safer place to start if you're not ready to pay. They both work with chatgpt, so if that's your setup either one fits. For the full picture, read the reviews below — the verdict is where the real difference shows up.