Codex CLI

byOpenAIlisted Jun 3, 2026

Coding AgentsUsage BasedEasy setupGPT-6 Astra, Sol, and Luna; GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna. GPT-5.5 retires from Codex on October 14, 2026

Codex CLI is OpenAI's open-source terminal-based coding agent, positioned as direct competition to Claude Code and Aider. Running in your local terminal, it can read your codebase, write and edit files, and execute shell commands with configurable approval modes. As OpenAI's answer to Anthropic's Claude Code, it's generated significant interest among developers already in the OpenAI ecosystem.

Freshness note: AI-agent behavior can change after model releases, client updates, pricing changes, or new default settings. Use the aggregate score as a historical baseline and check recent reviews plus model/runtime context before deciding.

Pricing: Included with ChatGPT Free ($0), Go ($8/month), Plus ($20/month), Pro (from $100/month), Business, and Enterprise plans; API-key usage is billed at API rates
Model backbone: GPT-6 Astra, Sol, and Luna; GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna. GPT-5.5 retires from Codex on October 14, 2026
Setup complexity: Easy setup
Last reviewed: Awaiting reviews
Recent signal: Awaiting reviews

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Evidence sources: 1 editorial evaluation available, shown separately from community evidence. Editorial evaluations are Ruling research, not community testimonials, and do not contribute to the community score.

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The strongest OpenAI-native terminal workflow

Context: terminal-based repository changes with explicit approval controls

Ruling editorial benchmark: Codex CLI is a strong terminal agent for developers who want repository inspection, file edits, command execution, and approval controls in the OpenAI ecosystem. The open-source client and rapid release cadence make the workflow inspectable and actively maintained. Teams should still control sandbox permissions, review generated changes, and track model or subscription costs on long-running tasks.

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