WhichAIPlan / Compare / Copilot vs Codex
checked 2026-10-14
Copilot vs Codex
Plans, prices and usage rules for Copilot and Codex, copied from each vendor's pricing page on 2026-10-14. Where a vendor doesn't publish a number, we say unknown.
At a glance
| GitHub Copilot | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | GitHub / Microsoft | OpenAI |
| 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 | github.com/features/copilot/plans | chatgpt.com/codex/pricing/ |
Entry price difference
Cheapest paid plans differ by $2/mo (1.2x). Entry prices only; usage allowances differ, see the tables.
Every plan
| Tool | Plan | Price | Usage / limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Free | $0 | FAQ: 2,000 completions + 50 chat requests/month | source 2026-10-14 |
| GitHub Copilot | Pro | $10/mo | $15/mo of AI credits ($10 base + $5 flex); unlimited completions | source 2026-10-14 |
| GitHub Copilot | Pro+ | $39/mo | $70/mo of AI credits ($39 base + $31 flex) | source 2026-10-14 |
| GitHub Copilot | Max | $100/mo | $200/mo total AI credits ($100 base; flex amount not shown) | source 2026-10-14 |
| OpenAI Codex | Free | $0 | Limited Codex | source 2026-10-14 |
| OpenAI Codex | Go | $8/mo | Limited Codex; may include ads | source 2026-10-14 |
| OpenAI Codex | Plus | $20/mo | Expanded Codex; 5-hour message estimates by model | source 2026-10-14 |
| OpenAI Codex | Pro 100 | $100/mo | No 5-hour limit currently; exact allowance unknown | source 2026-10-14 |
| OpenAI Codex | Pro 200 | $200/mo | More than Pro 100; new subs get lower allowance than before (grandfathering to 2026-10-29) | source 2026-10-14 |
| OpenAI Codex | Pro 500 | $500/mo | Highest allowance; Ultrafast mode | source 2026-10-14 |
Quick read
- GitHub Copilot: runs in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Neovim, Xcode, Zed, Eclipse, CLI; paid plans from $10/mo. Copilot plans
- OpenAI Codex: runs in CLI, IDE extension, web, Codex app; paid plans from $8/mo. Codex plans
Not sure? Answer 4 questions in the plan finder or see the full comparison of all tools.
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.
Head-to-head comparisons
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