OpenAI Codex vs Cline (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), Cline is a open-source coding agent. Many developers use one of each. Cline is cheaper to start (free (pay for inference)). Pick OpenAI Codex for professional developers, AI coding agents for the terminal, teams. Pick Cline for open-source AI coding tools, cheap and free AI coding tools, professional developers.
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Side by side
| OpenAI Codex | Cline | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Coding agent (cloud, CLI, IDE) | Open-source coding agent |
| Made by | OpenAI | Cline Bot Inc. |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Starts at | From $20/mo | Free (pay for inference) |
| Plans | Included in ChatGPT Plus $20/mo, Pro $100/mo, Business $20/user/mo (2+ seats, annual) | Free and open source for individuals; pay only for model inference (or bring your own API key). Enterprise custom |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Runs in | Cloud, CLI, IDE extension, ChatGPT app | VS Code extension, CLI, SDK |
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
Cline strengths
- No subscription or seat fees
- Any model provider, no lock-in
- MCP marketplace and client-side architecture
OpenAI Codex drawbacks
- Usage caps on Plus are aimed at focused sessions
- Best experience assumes a ChatGPT account and GitHub repos
Cline drawbacks
- Costs vary with how much inference you burn
- JetBrains extension and SSO are Enterprise-only
Read the full reviews: OpenAI Codex · Cline