The cost of using OpenAI Codex depends on your subscription tier and usage patterns, with the service integrated into existing ChatGPT subscription plans rather than offered as a separate standalone product. For ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who pay $20 per month, Codex access is included as part of the subscription with a generous monthly usage allowance. During the initial rollout period, OpenAI provided essentially unlimited access to allow users to explore the capabilities, but as the service has stabilized, usage is measured against monthly quotas. The Plus tier includes enough Codex usage for most individual developers working on personal projects or small-scale development tasks.
Higher subscription tiers like ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team plans include larger Codex usage allocations appropriate for their pricing levels and target audiences. The Pro plan, designed for power users, includes significantly more Codex usage hours per month, while Enterprise and Team plans are structured to support multiple developers and larger-scale software development projects. These plans also include additional features like priority access, enhanced support, and administrative controls for managing team usage. The exact usage limits and pricing details for each tier are subject to change as the service evolves, but the general principle is that higher-tier subscriptions include proportionally more Codex access.
For users who exceed their monthly Codex allocation, OpenAI offers on-demand usage purchases, though the specific overage pricing varies by subscription tier and hasn’t been fully detailed in public documentation. The CLI tool, while open source, still requires an active OpenAI subscription to access the underlying Codex service, as it communicates with OpenAI’s backend infrastructure. Enterprise customers may also have access to custom pricing arrangements for high-volume usage or specialized requirements. Compared to hiring additional developers or spending time on routine coding tasks, many teams find Codex cost-effective given its ability to handle complete feature implementations and complex development tasks autonomously. The pricing model reflects OpenAI’s approach of integrating advanced AI capabilities into existing subscription tiers rather than creating entirely separate pricing structures for each new feature.