Codex vs Claude Code: which one to pick as a beginner
In short: Codex (from OpenAI) and Claude Code (from Anthropic) are AI coding agents: you tell them in words what you want, and they write the code in your files. Codex starts from the ChatGPT app and has a free plan; Claude Code starts from the terminal or the Claude app and needs a paid subscription.
Below is an honest comparison, with a table, prices checked on the official pages on 8 October 2026, and the situations where each one is the better pick. Zero2App has a course for each, so we gain nothing if you pick one over the other. We are not affiliated with OpenAI or Anthropic.
What is the difference, in short?
| Codex | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT | Anthropic, the company behind Claude |
| Where you start | In the ChatGPT desktop app, in Codex mode | In the terminal or in the Claude desktop app, in the Code tab |
| Other places | Terminal, VS Code, phone (iOS) and cloud, from the Plus plan | VS Code, web, phone (iOS and Android) and cloud |
| Computers | Mac and Windows; Linux in preview | Mac, Windows and Linux in the terminal; the desktop app on Mac and Windows |
| Free plan | Yes, only in the desktop app, with a lighter model; access is rolling out gradually | No; you need a paid Claude plan |
| First plan with everything | ChatGPT Plus, $20 a month | Claude Pro, $20 a month ($17 billed yearly) |
| Project rules | The AGENTS.md file | The CLAUDE.md file |
Prices are before tax, from the Codex pricing page and claude.com/pricing. They change often, so check them before you pay.
What does Codex do well?
Codex is the easiest to start with if you already have ChatGPT. Since 9 July 2026, it’s a mode of the ChatGPT desktop app, next to Chat and Work (official release notes). You don’t install anything separately and you don’t open the terminal.
The second advantage is the starting price. On the Free and Go plans, Codex works in the desktop app on your computer, with a lighter model. The official page says access is rolling out gradually, though, so you may not have it yet. For the terminal, VS Code, the phone and the cloud you need at least Plus.
Where it’s harder: some documentation and many guides online still describe the old Codex app, from before July 2026. And the Free limits are lower, so on a bigger project you’ll feel the need for Plus.
What does Claude Code do well?
Claude Code has the most features in the terminal, where you can control it in detail: permissions, skills, subagents, hooks and plugins. If you don’t want the terminal, you also have it in the Claude desktop app, on the web and on your phone (official overview).
It’s also the tool Zero2App was built with, courses included. That doesn’t automatically make it better for you, but it’s why our first course was about it.
Where it’s harder: there’s no free plan. You need at least Claude Pro, at $20 a month. Details in how much Claude Code costs. And the terminal is scary at first, even if you get used to it quickly.
What does the first month cost?
At Zero2App, each course costs €39, paid once, and modules 00 and 01 are free, in full. On top of the course, you pay for the agent’s plan directly to the company that makes it:
- Codex: €39 + $0, if the free plan is enough for the first modules. For the whole course, modules 10–12 need ChatGPT Plus: €39 + $20.
- Claude Code: €39 + $20 with Claude Pro, or $17 a month if you pay for the whole year up front.
If you just want to try, the first two modules of each course cost nothing with us. For Claude Code, you still need Pro to do the exercises.
Which one should you pick?
It depends on what you already have and what you want to do:
- You already have ChatGPT and don’t want another subscription? Codex. You start with what you have.
- You don’t want to open the terminal at all? Codex, from the ChatGPT app, or Claude Code from the Claude desktop app. Both work without the terminal.
- You want the finest control and the most features? Claude Code, in the terminal.
- You already have Claude Pro? Claude Code is included. You pay nothing extra.
The basic ideas are the same for both: tell it clearly what you want, let it work, check the result and undo what you don’t like. What you learn with one helps you with the other.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use both?
Yes. They are separate services, with separate subscriptions. At Zero2App, your XP, level and tokens add up across courses, and the tokens from one course lower the price of the other.
Is Codex free?
Partly. The free ChatGPT plan includes Codex only in the desktop app on your computer, with a lighter model, and access is rolling out gradually. Everything else, meaning the terminal, VS Code, the phone and the cloud, needs at least Plus.
Which one is better?
Neither is better for everyone. For a beginner, the big differences are where you start (the ChatGPT app or the terminal) and how much you pay at first. The quality of the result depends more on how clearly you explain what you want.
Do I need to know English?
No. You can write to both in your own language, and the Zero2App courses are available in Romanian and English.
Want to try?
The first two modules of each course are free. See the Codex course for beginners or the Claude Code course for beginners. If you haven’t heard of Claude Code before, start with what is Claude Code. New terms are in the glossary.