Alternatives to Codex CLI

OpenAI's open source coding agent that runs in your terminal. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Codex CLI.

  • Gemini CLI

    Google's open source AI agent for the terminal, powered by Gemini.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Gemini CLI is Google's Apache-licensed terminal agent, requiring Google authentication and Gemini cloud models instead of an OpenAI account, and it includes a usable free tier.

  • GitHub Copilot

    An AI coding assistant from GitHub that suggests code and carries out coding tasks in editors and terminals.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOSCommand line

    GitHub Copilot offers a CLI plus editor integration and a macOS app, but it is closed source, needs a GitHub account and sends code to GitHub's hosted service.

  • Cursor

    An AI code editor built on VS Code, with coding agents that plan and carry out tasks.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOSCommand line

    Cursor moves you to a closed-source VS Code based editor with a CLI and cloud agents, adding codebase indexing, with heavier use requiring a paid plan.

  • OpenHands

    Self-hosted control centre for running coding agents against your projects.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    OpenHands is an MIT-licensed self-hosted interface that can run Codex, Claude Code, Gemini or its own agent, though you still pay for the model access it drives.

  • Amazon Q Developer

    AWS AI coding assistant that writes, debugs and refactors code in your IDE.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Amazon Q Developer is a closed-source AWS assistant focused on cloud work inside the IDE, with a free tier, but its IDE plugin support is being wound down by April 2027.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Codex CLI as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Cody Enterprise

    Enterprise AI coding assistant grounded in Sourcegraph's codebase context.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Codex CLI is an open source Apache-licensed terminal agent from OpenAI that needs an OpenAI account, trading Sourcegraph codebase context for a freemium terminal workflow.

  • Windsurf Plugins

    AI autocomplete and chat plugins for JetBrains, VS Code and other editors.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Codex CLI is OpenAI's open source Apache-licensed coding agent for the terminal with IDE plugins, and it requires an OpenAI account or API access.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.