Developers want OpenAI's open-source terminal agent, included with ChatGPT plans. This guide maps your config files, walks a 4-step migration checklist and prices the seat delta for a 10-dev team.
01Migration brief
Developers want OpenAI's open-source terminal agent, included with ChatGPT plans. Codex CLI has no fixed per-seat price listed — Included in ChatGPT plans (Free, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu) with usage limits based on model and plan. Compare it against Claude Code's $20/mo seat before switching.
Claude Code
Anthropic $20 per month · FreemiumClaude Code is a terminal-native agentic coding tool that integrates directly into your development environment to plan, edit, and test code across entire repositories. It operates as an autonomous agent that can handle multi-file refactors, bug fixes, and feature implementations by reading your codebase and executing shell commands with your approval.
Codex CLI
OpenAI Free free to use · FreemiumCodex CLI is a terminal-based coding agent that allows developers to inspect, edit, and run code directly within their command-line interface. It leverages OpenAI's advanced reasoning models to automate software development tasks, manage Git repositories, and perform code reviews while enforcing local sandbox security policies.
02Rules & cost
Convert Claude Code rules to the Codex CLI format, then review the output before committing.
Codex CLI has no fixed per-seat price listed — Included in ChatGPT plans (Free, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu) with usage limits based on model and plan. Compare it against Claude Code's $20/mo seat before switching.
034-step checklist
- 01
Audit & export your Claude Code rulesClaude Code reads repo-level rules from CLAUDE.md. Convert them to AGENTS.md with the Rules Converter, then review the output before committing. Open →
- 02
Install & configure Codex CLIInstall Codex CLI with `npm install -g @openai/codex`. Pricing: Freemium. Open ↗
- 03
Adapt your daily workflow (CLI Agents → CLI Agents)You stay in the terminal; mostly the flags, config files and model defaults change — your repo habits carry over. Codex CLI is best for developers needing a terminal-integrated agent for coding tasks, local repository refactoring, automated testing, and code reviews.
- 04
Run a one-week parallel pilot, then reallocate seatsCodex CLI has no fixed per-seat price listed — Included in ChatGPT plans (Free, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu) with usage limits based on model and plan. Compare it against Claude Code's $20/mo seat before switching. Keep Claude Code active for one sprint while Codex CLI handles new tasks; cancel seats only after velocity holds. Open →
04Trade-offs
What you gain
- Codex CLI is best for developers needing a terminal-integrated agent for coding tasks, local repository refactoring, automated testing, and code reviews.
- Interactive terminal UI (TUI) for steering coding agents.
- OS-enforced sandboxing for secure local code execution.
- Support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.
What you give up
- Claude Code is positioned for solo founders, indie hackers, and developers working in real-world codebases who need help with complex, multi-file engineering tasks like refactoring and bug fixing. — confirm Codex CLI covers that before cancelling seats.
- Codex CLI is not ideal for users requiring full-system access without security constraints or those seeking a non-agentic, purely manual command-line tool.
Running both together: Running both is mostly redundant — pilot Codex CLI on one repo for a sprint, then pick one.
05Spec sheet
| Claude Code | Codex CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Anthropic | OpenAI |
| Category | Terminal & CLI Agents | Terminal & CLI Agents |
| Pricing | Freemium Included in Claude Pro ($20/mo), Max 5x ($100/mo), and Max 20x ($200/mo) subscription plans. API users are billed based on standard token consumption. | Freemium Included in ChatGPT plans (Free, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu) with usage limits based on model and plan; additional credits can be purchased. Can also be used via API key with pay-as-you-go token-based pricing. |
| Entry paid plan | Claude Pro ($20/mo) | — |
| Rules file | CLAUDE.md | AGENTS.md |
| Key features |
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06FAQ
How do I convert my Claude Code rules to Codex CLI?+
Claude Code reads CLAUDE.md and Codex CLI reads AGENTS.md. Run them through the Rules Converter (https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/rules-converter?from=claude-md&to=agents-md) and review the output before committing.
Is Codex CLI cheaper than Claude Code?+
Claude Code starts at Claude Pro ($20/mo); Codex CLI has no listed per-seat plan. Codex CLI has no fixed per-seat price listed — Included in ChatGPT plans (Free, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu) with usage limits based on model and plan. Compare it against Claude Code's $20/mo seat before switching.
What do I lose when switching from Claude Code to Codex CLI?+
Claude Code is positioned for solo founders, indie hackers, and developers working in real-world codebases who need help with complex, multi-file engineering tasks like refactoring and bug fixing. — confirm Codex CLI covers that before cancelling seats. Codex CLI is not ideal for users requiring full-system access without security constraints or those seeking a non-agentic, purely manual command-line tool.
Can I use Claude Code and Codex CLI together?+
Running both is mostly redundant — pilot Codex CLI on one repo for a sprint, then pick one.