Work in a folder on your computer
You open a folder. Codex reads the files, edits them, and runs commands inside that folder.
AI tools · Build a tool
Codex pricing, use cases, and first steps
Codex is the ChatGPT mode that builds code. You describe what you want in plain English: a small tool, a fix, a script that organizes files. It reads the folder you open for it, writes the code, tests it, then shows you what it changed.
Codex has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Plus, $20 per month. Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
CodexOpenAI’s agent that writes and fixes code for you- Vendor
- OpenAI (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Plus, $20 per month
- In the European Union
- Partly available
- Page checked on
- October 5, 2026
What Codex does
Who it’s for: technical teams first. A curious non-developer can use it for a small tool or a script, but ChatGPT’s “Work” mode will often suit them better.
A closed space and permissions
By default, Codex only writes in the open folder and has no internet access. To leave the folder or go on the network, it asks your permission.
Review every change
Codex shows, line by line, what it added and what it removed. You keep it or ask for something else.
Also
- Codex Cloud: the task runs without your computer
- Automatic code review
- Act in your apps and your browser
- In the terminal and the code editor
Codex pricing
Prices published in dollars, checked on October 4, 2026 on the Codex pricing page. Codex has no separate subscription: it is included in the ChatGPT subscription. Its feature table covers only Plus and the plans above it: “Computer Use” is listed there, and the Chrome extension is marked “Available with regional limits.” Nothing is stated there for the Free and Go plans. In Europe, the rollout of these two features began in June 2026, according to OpenAI’s release notes.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Exploring with a short task |
| Go | $8 per month | Small occasional tasks |
| Plus Recommended to start | $20 per month | Trying it seriously, a few sessions a week |
| Pro | from $100 per month | Developers who use it all day |
| Business | $25 per user per month ($20 if billed yearly) | Teams working on company code |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
Yes, with limited use: short tasks, in the desktop app. Codex Cloud is not included.
Nova’s advice
Try it first with the free plan, in a test folder. If you already have ChatGPT Plus, Codex is included: nothing more to pay. For your company’s code, go through a Business or Enterprise plan.
Free or paid: how usage is counted
Codex is included in ChatGPT. Every message you send counts toward a limit that refills every 5 hours.
A first try, in 10 minutes
Your data. Codex follows ChatGPT’s rules: on a personal plan, your conversations can be used for training unless you opt out.
What it does less well
- It can deliver a tool that looks like it works but calculates wrong. Test with data whose result you already know.
- Without technical background, you will not be able to review the code. Have your IT team approve it before any real use.
Build a small schedule in a test folderCodex- Create an empty folder on your desktop and open it in Codex (Cmd + O on Mac, Ctrl + O on Windows).
- Paste the prompt below and send it.
- Look at the files it created. If Codex asks for permission, read the request: Enter to accept, Esc to decline.
- Double-click the file it created: it opens in your browser.
- Ask for a change: “Add a color for each person.”
The prompt to copy
In this folder, create a very simple web page, in a single file, to serve as a team schedule: one column per day of the week, and a way to add a name and a time slot. Then explain to me, in plain English, how to open it.
Jobs that use Codex
In the starter kit for one job.
Alternatives to Codex
Claude Code
The Anthropic equivalent, with a mode where every change waits for your approval.
Cursor
A full code editor with the assistant built in, for developers.
Lovable
For getting an app by describing it, without ever seeing code.
Replit
Builds the app and puts it online in the same place.
ChatGPT
“Work” mode is enough for a document, a spreadsheet, or a presentation.
In the same family: build a tool
Read next
Frequently asked questions about Codex
How much does Codex cost?
Free: $0; Go: $8 per month; Plus: $20 per month; Pro: from $100 per month; Business: $25 per user per month ($20 if billed yearly). Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Codex for free?
Yes. Yes, with limited use: short tasks, in the desktop app. Codex Cloud is not included.
What happens to my data with Codex?
Codex follows ChatGPT’s rules: on a personal plan, your conversations can be used for training unless you opt out.
What are the alternatives to Codex?
Claude Code: The Anthropic equivalent, with a mode where every change waits for your approval. Cursor: A full code editor with the assistant built in, for developers. Lovable: For getting an app by describing it, without ever seeing code. Replit: Builds the app and puts it online in the same place. ChatGPT: “Work” mode is enough for a document, a spreadsheet, or a presentation.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 5, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.