OpenAI Codex vs Cline
Short answer: OpenAI Codex is in CLI coding agents; Cline is in IDE agent extensions, so they solve different parts of the job. We can't compare entry prices yet because Cline's paid price is not verified or not published. Both OpenAI Codex and Cline have a free plan.
| OpenAI Codex | Cline | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI coding agents | IDE agent extensions |
| Vendor | OpenAI | Cline Bot Inc. |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Free plan | Yes (Codex is included in ChatGPT Free (quick coding tasks).) | Yes (Open-source extension is free for individuals; pay only for model inference (BYOK or Cline provider).) |
| Paid plans from | $8/mo | Free |
| Plans | Free: Free · Go: $8 · Plus: $20 · Pro: $100 · Business: $25 · Enterprise & Edu: — | Open Source: Free · Enterprise: — |
| Open source | Not verified yet | Yes |
| Editors named on vendor page | terminal/CLI | VS Code, JetBrains, terminal/CLI |
| Features named on vendor page | MCP, self-hosting, code review, code completion, security scanning, background/cloud agents, SSO/SAML | MCP, bring your own key, local models, refactoring, self-hosting, SSO/SAML |
| Model families named | Claude, OpenAI GPT | Claude, OpenAI GPT, Gemini, open-weight models |
| Checked | Oct 26, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 |
“Named on vendor page” means the phrase appears on the vendor's own page we captured; it is not a hands-on test. Unknown values are left blank rather than guessed.
FAQ
Is OpenAI Codex cheaper than Cline?
We can't compare entry prices yet because Cline's paid price is not verified or not published. Prices are from each vendor's pricing page.
Do OpenAI Codex and Cline have free plans?
Both OpenAI Codex and Cline have a free plan.
What is the difference between OpenAI Codex and Cline?
OpenAI Codex is in CLI coding agents; Cline is in IDE agent extensions, so they solve different parts of the job. OpenAI Codex is made by OpenAI; Cline is made by Cline Bot Inc.. See the table for plans, editors and features each vendor names.