Pick OpenAI Codex if
developers already on a ChatGPT plan who want one agent across desktop, CLI, and GitHub review.
Read the OpenAI Codex pageOpenAI Codex vs Windsurf
Our take
Pick OpenAI Codex if you're a developer already on a ChatGPT plan who want one agent across desktop, CLI, and GitHub review. Pick Windsurf if you're a software engineer who want an agent in a VS Code-like desktop and will accept Cognition’s routing. Skip Windsurf if you're on a non-developers, or team that cannot send code to a third-party model API.
Best for
OpenAI Codex A reviewable coding session on an OpenAI account
Windsurf Changing a repo in an editor
Free plan
OpenAI Codex $0 · /month. GPT-6 Luna at Standard speed in the desktop app (rollout)
Windsurf $0 · limited quota
Lowest paid
OpenAI Codex Plus $20/mo
Windsurf Pro $20/mo
Next step up
OpenAI Codex Business $25
Windsurf Max from $200/mo
Coding agent
OpenAI Codex Codex
Windsurf Devin Local
Runs where
OpenAI Codex Hosted
Windsurf
Watch out
OpenAI Codex Codex and ChatGPT Work share the same usage pool
Windsurf The name moved
Last checked
OpenAI Codex 2026-10-22 · learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing
Windsurf 2026-10-19 · windsurf.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Windsurf if
software engineers who want an agent in a VS Code-like desktop and will accept Cognition’s routing.
Read the Windsurf page