OpenAI Codex vs Bolt.new (2026)
Pricing, features and who each one is for, checked against both vendors' pricing pages in November 2026.
Quick verdict: These solve different jobs: OpenAI Codex is a coding agent (cloud, cli, ide), Bolt.new is a ai app and website builder. Many developers use one of each. OpenAI Codex is cheaper to start (from $20/mo). Pick OpenAI Codex for professional developers, AI coding agents for the terminal, teams. Pick Bolt.new for beginners, AI app builders for non-coders.
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Side by side
| OpenAI Codex | Bolt.new | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Coding agent (cloud, CLI, IDE) | AI app and website builder |
| Made by | OpenAI | StackBlitz |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Starts at | From $20/mo | From $25/mo |
| Plans | Included in ChatGPT Plus $20/mo, Pro $100/mo, Business $20/user/mo (2+ seats, annual) | Free (1M tokens/mo), Pro $25/mo (from 10M tokens), Teams $30/member/mo; up to 28% off yearly |
| Open source | No | No |
| Runs in | Cloud, CLI, IDE extension, ChatGPT app | Web |
OpenAI Codex strengths
- Included with ChatGPT plans you may already pay for
- Parallel cloud agents that keep running when you close your laptop
- Automatic PR review
Bolt.new strengths
- Clear token-based pricing
- Hosting and custom domains on Pro
- Tokens roll over for up to two months
OpenAI Codex drawbacks
- Usage caps on Plus are aimed at focused sessions
- Best experience assumes a ChatGPT account and GitHub repos
Bolt.new drawbacks
- Free sites carry Bolt branding
- Tokens aren't shared between team members
Read the full reviews: OpenAI Codex · Bolt.new