# Copilot vs Codex: pricing and usage limits

Verified 2026-10-14. Every figure from the official vendor page; unknown = not published.

| | GitHub Copilot | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Runs in | VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Neovim, Xcode, Zed, Eclipse, CLI | CLI, IDE extension, web, Codex app |
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro $10/mo | Go $8/mo |
| How limits work | Monthly GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01) = base + variable flex allotment; resets monthly; completions unlimited on paid plans; overage at $0.01/credit with a budget. | Included in ChatGPT plans. Plus: estimated local messages per 5-hour window (e.g. GPT-6.1 Sol 15-160, GPT-6 Astra 5-45), weekly limits may apply. Pro: no 5-hour limit currently. Credits extend usage. |
| Official pricing | https://github.com/features/copilot/plans | https://chatgpt.com/codex/pricing/ |

## Every plan

| Tool | Plan | Price | Usage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Free | $0 | FAQ: 2,000 completions + 50 chat requests/month | https://github.com/features/copilot/plans |
| GitHub Copilot | Pro | $10/mo | $15/mo of AI credits ($10 base + $5 flex); unlimited completions | https://github.com/features/copilot/plans |
| GitHub Copilot | Pro+ | $39/mo | $70/mo of AI credits ($39 base + $31 flex) | https://github.com/features/copilot/plans |
| GitHub Copilot | Max | $100/mo | $200/mo total AI credits ($100 base; flex amount not shown) | https://github.com/features/copilot/plans |
| OpenAI Codex | Free | $0 | Limited Codex | https://chatgpt.com/pricing |
| OpenAI Codex | Go | $8/mo | Limited Codex; may include ads | https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing |
| OpenAI Codex | Plus | $20/mo | Expanded Codex; 5-hour message estimates by model | https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing |
| OpenAI Codex | Pro 100 | $100/mo | No 5-hour limit currently; exact allowance unknown | https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-tiers |
| OpenAI Codex | Pro 200 | $200/mo | More than Pro 100; new subs get lower allowance than before (grandfathering to 2026-10-29) | https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-tiers |
| OpenAI Codex | Pro 500 | $500/mo | Highest allowance; Ultrafast mode | https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-tiers |

## FAQ

### Which is cheaper, Copilot or Codex?

GitHub Copilot's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $10/mo ($15/mo of AI credits ($10 base + $5 flex); unlimited completions); OpenAI Codex's cheapest paid plan is Go at $8/mo (Limited Codex; may include ads). Source: official vendor pricing pages, verified 2026-10-14.

### How do the usage limits differ?

GitHub Copilot: Monthly GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01) = base + variable flex allotment; resets monthly; completions unlimited on paid plans; overage at $0.01/credit with a budget. OpenAI Codex: Included in ChatGPT plans. Plus: estimated local messages per 5-hour window (e.g. GPT-6.1 Sol 15-160, GPT-6 Astra 5-45), weekly limits may apply. Pro: no 5-hour limit currently. Credits extend usage.

### Where does each tool run?

GitHub Copilot runs in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Neovim, Xcode, Zed, Eclipse, CLI; OpenAI Codex runs in CLI, IDE extension, web, Codex app.

### What does each plan cost?

GitHub Copilot: Free $0, Pro $10/mo, Pro+ $39/mo, Max $100/mo; OpenAI Codex: Free $0, Go $8/mo, Plus $20/mo, Pro 100 $100/mo, Pro 200 $200/mo, Pro 500 $500/mo.