Side-by-side comparison · Coding & Dev Tools
Amp vs OpenAI Codex
Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.
Comparing 2 tools. Add one more if you like.
At a glance
Pick it if: Developers and engineering teams working on large codebases who want agents running in the background, not tied to their laptop.
Pick it if: ChatGPT subscribers who want a coding agent without paying for a second subscription.
Overview
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | A coding agent that keeps working on remote machines after you close your laptop. | OpenAI's coding agent. Hand it a task and it works away while you do other things. |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Claude Code | Yes | No |
Rating breakdown
Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.0 | 4.2Winner |
| Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it. | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together. | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them. | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan. | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over. | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Feature comparison
A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Access & platform | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Yes | Yes |
| Browser extension | No | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Teams & business | ||
| Team workspace | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise plan or SSO | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to other apps | Yes | Yes |
| Open source or self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| AI abilities | ||
| Works with your files | Yes | Yes |
| Understands images | Yes | Yes |
| Makes images | No | No |
| Makes video | No | No |
| Writes code | Yes | Yes |
| Runs agents or automations | Yes | Yes |
| Learns your brand or style | – | Yes |
| Works in many languages | Yes | Yes |
| Capabilities score | 13/ 17 | 14/ 17 |
Pricing
Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | HobbyOur pick Free Developers with their own model subscription or keys. | Free Free A quick look at what it can do. |
Megawatt $20/mo Individuals who want Amp to host the machines. | Go $8/mo Occasional light tasks. | |
Gigawatt $200/mo Heavy users running many big jobs. | PlusOur pick $20/mo Anyone who already pays for ChatGPT. | |
Enterprise Custom Large companies with security and compliance needs. | Pro From $100/mo Developers who hit the Plus limits. | |
Business $20/user/mo billed yearly, or $25 monthly Teams of 2 or more. | ||
Enterprise Custom Large organisations. | ||
| Which plan to pick | Start on Hobby and link a ChatGPT or Claude subscription you already pay for. Move to Megawatt at $20 a month only when you want Amp to host the machines so tasks run while you're away. Teams can create a workspace at no extra charge. | If you already have ChatGPT Plus, you have Codex: just try it. If you are choosing between this and Claude Code with no existing subscription, Plus at $20 and Claude Pro at $20 cost the same, so pick whichever chat assistant you prefer. If you outgrow Plus, Pro starts at $100 and has no five-hour limit for now. The $200 tier gives new subscribers less usage than it used to, and Ultrafast mode is only on the $500 tier. |
Key features
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Standout features |
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Pros and cons
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
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Who each one is for
| Attribute | Amp | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Best for |
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| You'll find it used by |
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Questions people ask
Which is better, Amp or OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex scores highest overall in our ratings (Amp 4.0/5 and OpenAI Codex 4.2/5). Amp is best for running several coding tasks in the background at once and working on big, messy codebases. OpenAI Codex is best for background tasks in the cloud and starting a task from your phone.
Which is cheaper, Amp or OpenAI Codex?
Amp: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $20/mo. OpenAI Codex: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $8/mo.
Which is easier to use, Amp or OpenAI Codex?
OpenAI Codex rates highest for ease of use in our scores. ChatGPT subscribers who want a coding agent without paying for a second subscription.
How we compare
Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.
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