Coding comparison 
GitHub Copilot vs OpenAI Codex
Our pick: GitHub Copilot scores 9.3/10 against 9.0/10 for OpenAI Codex. Here's how they differ and which one fits your needs.
GitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer built into GitHub and major editors
9.3/10From $10/moOur pick
Visit GitHub Copilot VS
At a glance
| GitHub Copilot | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Best for | Professional developers, Engineering teams on GitHub | Developers using ChatGPT, Engineering teams |
| Type | Code completion | Coding agents |
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $20/mo |
| Platforms | VS Code, Web, Mac, Windows, Linux | Web, Mac, Linux, Windows, VS Code |
| Launched | 2021 | 2025 |
Key features
GitHub Copilot
- Inline completions
- Copilot Chat
- Agent mode
- Coding agent for issues
- PR summaries
- Multi-model choice
OpenAI Codex
- Cloud task sandboxes
- Codex CLI
- IDE extension
- GitHub PR creation
- Code review
GitHub Copilot: pros and cons
Pros
- Deep GitHub integration
- Works in almost every popular IDE
- Free tier for individuals
- Enterprise controls and IP indemnity
Cons
- Premium model requests are metered
- Agent features lag dedicated AI IDEs in some workflows
OpenAI Codex: pros and cons
Pros
- Included with ChatGPT paid plans
- Runs many tasks in parallel
- Open-source CLI
Cons
- Cloud tasks can be slow for small edits
- Best features need higher ChatGPT tiers
Verdict: GitHub Copilot or OpenAI Codex?
Choose GitHub Copilot if you're professional developers or engineering teams on github and value deep GitHub integration.
Choose OpenAI Codex if you're developers using chatgpt or engineering teams and value included with ChatGPT paid plans.
Overall we rate GitHub Copilot slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all Coding tools for more options.
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