Open-source coding agent for VS Code, JetBrains, terminal and desktop, with bring-your-own-model support.
Free stops at: Inference billed at cost or via your own API keys
Listed Not yet reviewed
Free no paid plan listed
Head-to-head · profiles checked Oct 2, 2026
Cline vs OpenAI Codex in 2026: open-source agent or ChatGPT-plan agent
Pick Cline for an open-source agent that works with the model provider you choose, and OpenAI Codex if you already pay for ChatGPT and want one agent across CLI, IDE, desktop, web and iOS. Cline's extension is free for individuals, inference is billed separately, and ClinePass is $9.99/month. Codex has a Free plan, Go at $8/month and Plus at $20/month. Neither profile states training or retention terms.
Starting priceFree; ClinePass $9.99/mo · Free $0; Go $8/moCline · OpenAI Codex
Free tierYes · YesCline · OpenAI Codex
Plans documented3 · 6Cline · OpenAI Codex
SurfacesDesktop, CLI, VS Code, SDK · CLI, IDE, desktop, web, iOSCline · OpenAI Codex
We based this comparison on our Cline profile verified 2026-10-02 and our OpenAI Codex profile verified 2026-09-29, both built from official vendor pages; it uses no third-party benchmarks and no vendor paid for placement.
Is Cline better than OpenAI Codex? The short answer
Cline is the documented choice for developers who want an open-source agent and their own model provider: the extension is free for individuals, and inference is billed separately. OpenAI Codex suits people who already use ChatGPT, because it is included in ChatGPT plans and runs on the CLI, IDE, desktop app, web and iOS. Cline's profile lists no cloud agent, and Codex's profile lists no model choice beyond OpenAI models. Neither profile states training or retention terms.
Based on our Cline profile verified 2026-10-02 and OpenAI Codex profile verified 2026-09-29; Codex privacy terms could not be read, and no benchmark was run.
Cline and OpenAI Codex, as their sites look today
Our own captures of each vendor's public pages. Click a frame for the full-size image.
Cline or OpenAI Codex: which to use, by task
If you only want the answer, this is the table. Everything below is the evidence from the two documented profiles.
| You want to | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Use any model provider or local models | Cline | Cline lists Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Bedrock, Ollama and more; Codex lists OpenAI GPT models |
| Pay only for model usage | Cline | Cline's Open Source plan is free and inference is billed by your provider |
| Try a coding agent for free | Either | Cline is free for individuals; Codex is included in the Free ChatGPT plan |
| Reuse an existing ChatGPT subscription | OpenAI Codex | Codex usage is included in ChatGPT plans and shared with ChatGPT Work |
| Run tasks in the cloud from the web or a phone | OpenAI Codex | Codex lists web and iOS on the Plus plan; Cline lists no cloud agent |
| Automate in scripts and CI | Either | Cline has a CLI and SDK; Codex lists API-key use in CI |
| Agree on a plan before editing | Cline | Cline has Plan and Act modes; Codex's profile lists no equivalent |
| Get automatic GitHub code review | OpenAI Codex | Codex lists code review on connected GitHub repos with ChatGPT plans; Cline lists none |
| Work in a JetBrains IDE | Cline | Cline lists a JetBrains plugin (Enterprise); Codex lists VS Code, Cursor and Windsurf |
| Extend the agent with MCP servers and rules | Cline | Cline lists an MCP marketplace, .clinerules and Skills; Codex's profile lists none |
Who should pick which
Pick Cline if
- You want an open-source (Apache 2.0) agent you can inspect
- You want to bring your own API keys or use local models
- You want Plan and Act modes with per-step approval
- You need a JetBrains plugin, SSO or audit logs (Enterprise)
Pick OpenAI Codex if
- You already pay for ChatGPT and want Codex usage included
- You want a cloud agent on the web and iOS (Plus plan)
- You want automatic code review on connected GitHub repos
- You want an API-key option for CI at API rates
What Cline does better, and what OpenAI Codex does better
Cline
- Open source under Apache 2.0, free for individual developers
- Any model provider, including local runtimes such as Ollama
- Plan and Act modes with checkpoints and one-click undo
- MCP marketplace, .clinerules and Skills
OpenAI Codex
- Included in ChatGPT plans you may already pay for
- Cloud agent on the web and iOS (Plus plan)
- Cloud integrations such as code review and Slack
- Extensions for VS Code, Cursor and Windsurf
Cline vs OpenAI Codex pricing: plans and free tiers
| Plan | Tool | Price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cline Open Source | Cline | $0 | Inference billed at cost or via your own API keys |
| ClinePass | Cline | $9.99/mo | 2-5x the usage on popular open coding models compared to standard API rates |
| Cline Enterprise | Cline | Custom (sales) | Contact sales |
| Codex Free | OpenAI Codex | $0 | Desktop app only listed; usage limits apply |
| Codex Go | OpenAI Codex | $8/mo | Desktop app only listed; usage limits apply |
| Codex Plus | OpenAI Codex | $20/mo | Local messages and cloud chats share an allowance per five-hour period; weekly limits may apply |
| Codex Pro | OpenAI Codex | $100, $200 or $500/mo | Higher usage than Plus; tier mapping not confirmed |
| Codex Business | OpenAI Codex | $25/user/mo ($20 annual) | Usage limits apply; extra credits can be bought |
| Codex API key | OpenAI Codex | Pay per API token | No GitHub code review or Slack |
USD as published on each vendor's pricing page, checked Oct 2, 2026. Cline pricing in full · OpenAI Codex pricing in full
Usage limits: what the vendors state
| Cline | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Messages / rate limits | No Cline cap stated; limits come from your model provider | Usage limits apply per plan; Plus shares an allowance per five-hour period, weekly limits may apply |
| Context / file size | Not stated | Context window not stated |
| Seats / team | Enterprise adds SSO, RBAC, audit logs and centralized billing (contact sales) | Business $25/user/month billed monthly ($20 annual); Enterprise/Edu via sales |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Cline | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file edits | Yes, with diffs and checkpoints | Yes, code edits and pull-request style changes |
| Terminal commands | Yes, with approval per command | Yes, command output from local runs |
| Plan before acting | Yes (Plan and Act modes) | Not stated |
| Cloud agent | Not stated | Yes (web and iOS) |
| Code review | Not stated | Yes, on ChatGPT plans (not API key) |
| MCP / rules | Yes (MCP marketplace, .clinerules, Skills) | Not stated |
| API / SDK | Yes, SDK (@cline/sdk); inference billed by the provider | Yes, API-key use billed at API rates |
| Mobile apps | Not stated | Yes (iOS) |
Privacy and data training
| Cline | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Training on your data | Not stated | Not confirmed |
| Retention | Not stated | Not confirmed |
| Business controls | Client-side architecture; provider limits and authentication logs on Enterprise | Not stated |
Taken from each vendor's published policy pages at the time of our check. Policies change; the source links are at the bottom.
Switching between Cline and OpenAI Codex: what carries over
Cline → OpenAI CodexCarries over
- Natural-language task descriptions
- Your local repository and test commands
- Your own model keys and non-OpenAI providers
- Plan and Act modes and checkpoints
- MCP marketplace and .clinerules
OpenAI Codex → ClineCarries over
- Natural-language task descriptions
- Your local repository and test commands
- Included usage from your ChatGPT plan
- Cloud agent on the web and iOS
- GitHub code review and Slack integration
Pros and cons
Cline
- Open source under Apache 2.0
- Free for individual developers
- Bring your own API keys
- You pay for model inference separately
- Desktop app version listed as 0.0.41
- JetBrains extension, SSO and team features need Enterprise
OpenAI Codex
- Free plan available to try Codex
- Several surfaces: CLI, IDE, app, web
- API-key option for CI
- Usage limits apply per plan
- API-key use lacks cloud features such as GitHub code review and Slack
- Free and Go plans list desktop app only
The two tools
from $8/mo
OpenAI's coding agent for the CLI, IDE extension, desktop app, web and iOS, included in ChatGPT plans or billed by API.
Free stops at: Desktop app only listed, Usage limits apply
Listed Not yet reviewed
Verified developers.openai.com (opens OpenAI Codex website in a new tab)
Free · paid from $8/mo US · checked Sep 29
Cline or OpenAI Codex: how to choose
- Want to choose your own model provider or run local models: choose Cline
- Want an open-source agent you can inspect: choose Cline
- Already pay for ChatGPT and want Codex included: choose OpenAI Codex
- Want a cloud agent on the web or iOS: choose OpenAI Codex
- Need a JetBrains plugin or SSO: Cline Enterprise is the documented route
- Need documented privacy terms: neither profile states them, so read each vendor's policy first
Frequently asked questions
Is Cline free compared with Codex?
Cline's Open Source plan is free for individual developers, but you pay your model provider for inference. ClinePass is $9.99/month. Codex is included in ChatGPT plans, from a Free plan at $0 to Go at $8/month and Plus at $20/month, or billed at API rates with an API key.
Can Cline use OpenAI models like Codex does?
Yes. Cline works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Bedrock, Azure, Vertex, Ollama, DeepSeek and xAI, plus your own keys. Codex's profile lists OpenAI GPT models and no other providers.
Which one runs in the cloud?
Codex lists a cloud agent on the web and iOS, with the Plus plan named, and cloud integrations such as code review and Slack. Cline's profile lists a desktop app, CLI, IDE extensions and an SDK, and no cloud agent.
Do Cline or Codex use my code for training?
Not stated for either. Cline's profile says prompts and files go to the model provider you select, and with your own API keys not to Cline. Codex's privacy page could not be read, so check OpenAI's terms before using private code.
Sources
- https://cline.bot/
- https://cline.bot/pricing
- https://cline.bot/privacy
- https://docs.cline.bot/cline-overview
- https://developers.openai.com/codex/
- https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing
- https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/codex/main/README.md
- https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs
- https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/models
Only official vendor pages. No third-party benchmarks, forum threads or press were used. How we review.