Codex pricing, free tier and how to use it
AMPM〖100〗 Confirmed・Coding Seat #2（76.4 pts）→Codex is not sold separately, it is bundled with ChatGPT Go/Plus/Pro plans.
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What Is This
OpenAI's AI coding agent can run software engineering tasks (coding, bug fixing, refactoring) independently in a cloud environment, supporting CLI, web, desktop app, and IDE integration (VS Code, JetBrains, Xcode)
Free Version Limitations
A free ChatGPT account can use Codex, but with Limited access; the CLI version can be used with your own API key, and the fee is based on API usage.
Available Models And Quantity
| Model | Free quota | Calculate Time Window | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codex (included in ChatGPT) | Limited access | - | The CLI version is available with its own API key and pay-as-you-go pricing |
Free Usage Limit
| Features | Free quota | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Codex access | Limited | A free ChatGPT account is available, with limited functionality |
| Quota Resets At | - |
|---|---|
| Terms Of Use | Requires a ChatGPT account |
| Free Version For Commercial Use | Yes |
Sources: OpenAI Codex official website
Pricing Plan Differences
Codex Limited Access (Official Website Menu: Go = Codex Limited)
| Which Model | Codex Limited |
|---|---|
| Usage Quota | Limited access |
- Basic Codex functionality
- Full usage
US$8/month, Codex is Limited
Codex complete usage (official website feature list: Plus = Codex Yes, Expanded usage)
| Which Model | Codex complete |
|---|---|
| Usage Quota | Expanded usage |
- Complete Codex functionality
US$20/month, full access to Codex
Codex maximum usage. The official personal plan is currently divided into two tiers: US$100/month = 5 times Plus quota, US$200/month = 20 times Plus quota. 【Checked】As of 2026-08-11, upon re-examination, all four official entrances, openai.com/codex/, openai.com/chatgpt/pricing/, chatgpt.com/pricing/, and help.openai.com, returned HTTP 403 (access denied, not 404 not found), and multiple retry paths were still unable to access directly. This information is verified through multiple independent third-party sources, not from the official website's first-hand page, and the actual content is subject to OpenAI's official announcement.
| Which Model | Codex maximum quota |
|---|---|
| Usage Quota | 5-20 times Plus quota |
- Maximum Codex usage
US$100/month (5 times) or US$200/month (20 times), as of 2026-08-11, all four official entrances showed 403 errors, this information is from a third-party cross-check.
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Using Information
| Developer | OpenAI |
|---|---|
| Category | Coding AI Agents |
| Platform | Web、cli、Desktop App、ide |
| Chinese Support | Partial support |
| Official Link | Visit Codex's official site → |
Notes
Launched in May 2025 and continuously updated rapidly in 2026. Features: cloud-based parallel execution of multiple tasks, built-in worktree, and integratable with ChatGPT. Free version is available but has a quota limit.
Related Comparison Alternatives
Related Guide：Codex CLI Login: ChatGPT Sign-In vs API Key (2026) — Commands, Feature Gaps, and the Plaintext Credential Fix
Both Codex CLI sign-in paths, verified against OpenAI's own docs: codex login uses your subscription, --with-api-key bills at API rates. Which cloud features you lose with a key, and how to stop credentials sitting in plaintext at ~/.codex/auth.json. Last checked 2026-09-06.
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