Cursor vs OpenAI Codex (2026)
Side-by-side prices, plans and who each one is for. Checked 2026-10-14.
| Cursor | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|
| Works in | editor | terminal, editor, browser |
| Skill level | intermediate, pro | intermediate, pro |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $8/mo | $20/mo |
| Team pricing | $30/user/mo | $25/user/mo |
| Best for | existing, webapp, game, automation | existing, automation, webapp |
| Try Cursor | Try OpenAI Codex |
Pick Cursor if...
- you want a full AI-first editor with agent mode
- you already live in VS Code and want it supercharged
- you want Grok bundled with X Premium in one bill
Pick OpenAI Codex if...
- you already pay for ChatGPT Plus or Pro
- you want CLI, IDE and cloud agents from OpenAI
- you'd rather pay API prices with your own key
Placeholder: comparison sponsor
Sponsored placement for comparison pages Sponsor this spotCursor plans
| Plan | Price | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Limited agent and chat requests | verified |
| Plus | $8/mo | Grok models only; basic usage pool | verified |
| Premium | $30/mo | 4x Plus usage, cloud agents, Bugbot, third-party models at API list price | verified |
| Super | $100/mo | 15x Plus usage, priority at peak times | verified |
| Ultra | $200/mo | 50x Plus usage | verified |
| Teams | from $30/mo per user | $30+/user/month | verified |
| Enterprise | Custom / not listed | Custom | verified |
Sources: cursor.com/pricing cursor.com/help/the-x-subscription/overview
OpenAI Codex plans
| Plan | Price | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Free | Free | Limited Codex access | verified |
| ChatGPT Go | Not verified | Limited Codex; price not shown on page | unverified |
| ChatGPT Plus | $20/mo | Expanded Codex usage | search only |
| ChatGPT Pro 100 | $100/mo | Monthly only | search only |
| ChatGPT Pro 200 | $200/mo | Monthly only | search only |
| ChatGPT Pro 500 | $500/mo | Includes Ultrafast | search only |
| Business Standard seat | $25/mo per user ($20/mo billed annually) | 2-200 users | verified |
| Business Premium seat | $125/mo per user ($100/mo billed annually) | 5x usage, no 5-hour limit | verified |
| API key (gpt-5.3-codex) | Custom / not listed | $1.75 in / $14 out per 1M tokens | verified |
Sources: chatgpt.com/pricing chatgpt.com/codex/pricing/ openai.com/api/pricing/ help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-tiers platform.openai.com/docs/pricing
FAQ
Is Cursor or OpenAI Codex cheaper?
Cursor paid plans start at $8/month and OpenAI Codex at $20/month (checked 2026-10-14). Cursor has the lower entry price.
Does Cursor or OpenAI Codex have a free plan?
Cursor: yes. OpenAI Codex: yes.
Which is better for beginners, Cursor or OpenAI Codex?
Cursor is aimed less at beginners. OpenAI Codex is aimed less at beginners.
Still unsure? Take the 30-second quiz.
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