For coding, the Claude vs ChatGPT question is really Claude Code vs Codex, because that is where each company puts its developer features. Both run as agents in your terminal and editor and can take on multi-step work, so the choice comes down to where you like to steer the agent and which ecosystem your team already uses.
This explainer compares the two from Anthropic's and OpenAI's own product pages and docs, read on October 28, 2026. For plans and pricing, claudegpt.si's Claude Code vs Codex comparison tracks the numbers and dates them.
Where each coding agent runs
| Claude Code (Claude) | Codex (ChatGPT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal | Yes | Codex CLI |
| Code editor | IDE integration | Codex IDE extension |
| Desktop app | Claude Code Desktop | ChatGPT desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux |
| Remote or cloud work | Sessions on your own infrastructure, in public beta | Codex Cloud environments, started from web, desktop or mobile |
| Chat tools | Steer from Slack or the web | ChatGPT on the web, with Codex picked from the menu |
| Code review | Code review for Team and Enterprise | Review pull requests and local changes |
Anthropic says Claude Code is available for macOS, Linux and Windows. OpenAI's quickstart points developers to the Codex CLI and IDE extension for terminal and editor work.
How Claude Code approaches coding
Anthropic's Claude Code page describes handing Claude a bug fix, a test suite or a migration that runs for days. The agent builds a plan, asks clarifying questions, and you steer and review from the terminal, an IDE, Slack or the web.
Two recent additions matter for daily use. Claude Code now runs in auto mode by default on several paid plans, which lets it work longer while Anthropic says it is designed to catch risky commands. Claude Code Desktop can group related sessions so you can supervise several agents at once. If your company keeps code inside its own network, Anthropic is testing sessions that run on your own infrastructure.
How Codex approaches coding
OpenAI folds Codex into ChatGPT. In the desktop app you pick Codex from the ChatGPT menu for work with codebase context and developer tools, and switch back to Chat or Work for everything else. OpenAI's docs also list an integrated terminal, computer use for desktop apps, and code review that walks through pull requests and local changes.
Codex Cloud is where the setup differs most. You set up a reusable environment, Codex checks your repositories and helps prepare the setup, and you can then start and continue cloud tasks from the web, the desktop app or your phone.
Which to pick for your workflow
- Choose Claude Code if you live in the terminal, want an agent that plans long jobs and asks before it guesses, or need sessions inside your own network.
- Choose Codex if your team already works in ChatGPT, you want cloud tasks you can check from a phone, or you prefer one desktop app for chat, documents and code.
- Run the same small task in both, such as a failing test, before you commit a team to either. Results depend heavily on your codebase.
One honest caveat: if you already pay for one of the two assistants, its coding agent is often the sensible place to start, since switching costs time.
Keep track of the changes
Both agents change quickly, and features move between plans. ClaudeGPT Si is a free AI publication that covers Claude and ChatGPT releases, dates every story and lists its sources, so it is a good place to check what changed before you pick one.