{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "openai-codex", "name": "OpenAI Codex", "vendor": "OpenAI", "vendorUrl": "https://openai.com", "kind": "harness", "category": "agent-harnesses", "summary": "OpenAI's coding agent for software development tasks.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-codex", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-codex.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-codex.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/openai-codex.json", "repo": "https://github.com/openai/codex", "license": "Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI, its Rust crates and the TypeScript and Python SDKs). Codex cloud is a hosted service under OpenAI's terms", "transports": [], "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@openai/codex" } ], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "Sign in with a ChatGPT account (Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Edu or Enterprise) or use an OpenAI API key. Cloud work such as GitHub code review and the Slack integration comes with Plus and above, and none of it works with an API key. `--oss` talks to a local Ollama or LM Studio server and needs no account.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Included in every ChatGPT plan. Free $0, Go $8 a month, Plus $20, Pro from $100 (tiers at $100, $200 and $500), Business $20 a user a month billed annually for two or more users, Enterprise and Edu by quote. On Plus the docs estimate 15 to 160 local messages per five hours with GPT-6.1 Sol, and Pro has no five-hour limit. Cloud tasks use more of the allowance. With an API key you pay API token rates and can't use the cloud agent (checked 2026-10-02).", "priceSummary": "$20 / mo", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the pricing page or the source (checked 2026-10-02).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 126000, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-02" }, "docsUrl": "https://developers.openai.com/codex", "llmsTxt": "https://learn.chatgpt.com/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "agent.harness", "agent.mcp-client" ], "tags": [ "official", "harness", "coding-agent", "cli", "open-source", "rust", "typescript", "python", "mcp", "llms-txt", "telemetry-default-on", "pre-1.0", "free-tier", "no-card", "hosted", "status-page" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-01", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 73, "grade": "BB", "agentReady": true, "rank": 78, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 629, "categoryRank": 2, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 80, "maintenance": 87, "payments": 60, "reliability": 55, "schema": 90, "security": 82, "transparency": 79 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": -2, "negativeNotes": [ "2026-04-14. CVE-2025-61260 (GHSA-xrxf-jgv3-qmrm), critical (CVSS 9.8 from CISA-ADP), code execution through MCP configuration files in a repository for Codex CLI 0.23.0 and earlier, published to NVD and the GitHub Advisory Database from Check Point Research's 2025 report. Fixed in 2025 and documented by the researcher, with no advisory in OpenAI's own repository, so a small deduction (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-61260; https://research.checkpoint.com/2025/openai-codex-cli-command-injection-vulnerability/)" ], "verdict": "Sandbox on by default on macOS, Linux and Windows, with the network off and `.git` and `.codex` read-only. Pre-1.0 at 0.160.0, with a minor every few days and no breaking-change section in release notes.", "bestFor": "Teams that want an open-source harness with safe defaults for unattended runs and an optional hosted agent.", "strengths": [ "Sandbox on by default on macOS, Linux and Windows, with the network off and `.git` and `.codex` read-only", "Apache-2.0, with public CI and a JSON Schema for config.toml", "`codex exec --json`, `--output-schema` and `exec resume` for pipelines, plus TypeScript and Python SDKs", "Codex cloud keeps the agent phase offline by default and can limit requests to GET, HEAD and OPTIONS", "Included in ChatGPT Free, and `--oss` runs local models through Ollama or LM Studio with no account" ], "weaknesses": [ "Pre-1.0 at 0.160.0, with a minor every few days and no breaking-change section in release notes", "Anonymous usage metrics and feedback collection on by default", "Over 5,000 open issues", "CVE-2025-61260 (critical) has no advisory in OpenAI's own repository", "Cloud tasks and code review need a ChatGPT plan, not an API key" ], "agentNotes": [ "Run `codex exec --json` in pipelines, with `--output-schema` when the final message has to parse", "Keep the default sandbox. `--yolo` removes both the sandbox and approvals", "Set `network_access = true` under `[sandbox_workspace_write]` only for tasks that need it. Network is off by default", "Set `[analytics] enabled = false` and `[feedback] enabled = false` in config.toml to keep usage data local", "Pin the npm version. A 0.x minor lands every few days" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "BB", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 73 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 80, "maintenance": 87, "payments": 60, "reliability": 55, "schema": 90, "security": 82, "transparency": 65 }, "provenanceScore": 93 }, "connect": { "install": "npm i -g @openai/codex # or: brew install --cask codex", "headless": { "run": "codex exec --json \"fix the failing test\"" } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness", "tool": "https://letme.dev/openai-codex" }, "sameCompany": [ "openai-api", "openai-embeddings", "openai-moderation", "openai-image-api", "openai-sora", "openai-agents-sdk", "openai-decisions-api" ], "area": "frameworks", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "ChatGPT Plus", "unit": "month", "usd": 20, "note": "includes Codex local and cloud" }, { "item": "ChatGPT Pro", "unit": "month", "usd": 100, "note": "lowest Pro tier, no five-hour limit" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "OpenAI OpCo, LLC", "domain": "openai.com", "domainRegistered": "2007-01-19", "endpointOnVendorDomain": null, "terms": "https://openai.com/policies/services-agreement/", "privacy": "https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy/", "statusPage": "https://status.openai.com", "changelog": "https://github.com/openai/codex/releases", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-10-01", "notes": [ "The Codex docs moved from developers.openai.com/codex to learn.chatgpt.com (302 redirects on 2 October 2026), and the installer is served from chatgpt.com.", "Legal entity, domain date and security.txt are from the openai-api listing's check of 26 September 2026." ], "score": 93 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-codex.json", "live": { "slug": "openai-codex", "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.openai.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T19:06:47.067346808Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "openai/codex", "version": "rust-v0.161.0", "released": "2026-10-07", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:23:35.402162465Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@openai/codex", "version": "0.161.0", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:23:35.110125025Z" } ], "githubStars": 128364, "npmWeekly": 25613321, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://openai.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "valid", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:50.073851341Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://learn.chatgpt.com/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T14:00:42.986852051Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "openai.com", "registered": "2007-01-19", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/openai.com", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:05:02.32020521Z" }, "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T19:06:47.067346808Z" } }, "answer": "OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 73 (BB) and 72.4 (BB). Qwen Code leads on reliability and agent ergonomics.", "b": { "slug": "qwen-code", "name": "Qwen Code", "vendor": "Alibaba (Qwen team)", "vendorUrl": "https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/en/users/overview/", "kind": "harness", "category": "agent-harnesses", "summary": "Open-source coding agent from Alibaba's Qwen team for the terminal, with desktop, browser and editor interfaces. It runs Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini-compatible models or a local one, and runs headless with `qwen -p`.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-code", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-code.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-code.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-code.json", "repo": "https://github.com/QwenLM/qwen-code", "license": "Apache-2.0", "transports": [], "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@qwen-code/qwen-code" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@qwen-code/sdk" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "qwen-code-sdk" }, { "registry": "oci", "name": "ghcr.io/qwenlm/qwen-code" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "No account of its own. A model key goes in an environment variable or `~/.qwen/settings.json`, for Alibaba Cloud Model Studio (Coding Plan, Token Plan or a standard key), a listed third-party provider, or any OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini-compatible endpoint including a local server. Vertex AI credentials also work. The Qwen OAuth sign-in was discontinued on 15 April 2026.", "pricing": "free", "pricingNotes": "Free and Apache-2.0, with nothing to buy for the CLI. The owner pays the model provider, or nothing with a local model. The Qwen OAuth free tier ended on 15 April 2026. Alibaba Cloud sells a fixed-fee Coding Plan and a usage-billed Token Plan for it, and we couldn't load their price pages on 8 October 2026.", "priceSummary": "Free · OSS", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source (checked 2026-10-08).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 28362, "npmWeekly": 104819, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/en/users/overview/", "llmsTxt": "https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "agent.harness", "agent.mcp-client", "agent.multi-agent" ], "tags": [ "official", "harness", "coding-agent", "cli", "open-source", "typescript", "mcp", "llms-txt", "telemetry-default-on", "pre-1.0", "free", "no-card", "local", "docker" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-05", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 72.4, "grade": "BB", "agentReady": true, "rank": 88, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 629, "categoryRank": 3, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 85, "maintenance": 88, "payments": 60, "reliability": 69, "schema": 91, "security": 53, "transparency": 63 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-08" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Apache-2.0 with no account of its own, any OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini-compatible endpoint, and headless runs bounded by turn, tool-call and wall-time budgets with distinct exit codes. Out of the box, Auto mode lets an LLM classifier approve tool calls, with the sandbox and folder trust both off. Usage statistics are on by default.", "bestFor": "Developers and CI jobs that want an open-source harness tied to no single model vendor, with run budgets and SDKs.", "strengths": [ "Apache-2.0, with CI on main showing 12 passes and 3 cancelled runs in the last 15, none failed", "Headless `qwen -p` with json and stream-json output, and exit codes 53 for the turn limit and 55 for a wall-time or tool-call budget", "Works with any OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini-compatible endpoint, including a local server, with keys set by environment variable", "39 stable releases in the 90 days to 8 October 2026, each with a Breaking Changes heading in a generated changelog", "A Linux tool sandbox (Bubblewrap or Landlock) with `network: closed`, plus Seatbelt, Docker and Podman" ], "weaknesses": [ "The default approval mode is Auto, where an LLM classifier approves tool calls, and sandboxing and folder trust are both off by default", "Usage statistics are on by default and go to an Alibaba Cloud endpoint that the docs don't name", "SECURITY.md points only to an Alibaba Cloud console portal, with no response time, and the repository has no published advisories", "Pre-1.0 at 0.25.0, with breaking changes shipped in patch releases such as 0.23.4 and 0.24.1", "1,402 open issues and 334 open pull requests on 8 October 2026", "The Qwen OAuth free tier ended on 15 April 2026, so every run needs a paid key or a local model" ], "agentNotes": [ "Pass `--approval-mode` on every run. The settings default is `auto`, and one docs page says headless runs default to asking, so don't rely on either", "Add `--max-session-turns`, `--max-wall-time` and `--max-tool-calls`. All three are unlimited by default. Exit 53 is the turn limit and 55 a budget", "`--yolo` doesn't turn on a sandbox. Add `--sandbox`, or on Linux set `tools.executionSandbox` with `network` set to `closed`", "Set `QWEN_USAGE_STATISTICS_ENABLED=false` to stop usage statistics", "Authenticate with `OPENAI_API_KEY`, `OPENAI_BASE_URL` and `OPENAI_MODEL` in CI. The browser sign-in is discontinued" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "BB", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 72.4 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 85, "maintenance": 88, "payments": 60, "reliability": 69, "schema": 91, "security": 53, "transparency": 77 }, "provenanceScore": 48 }, "connect": { "install": "npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest # or: brew install qwen-code", "headless": { "command": "qwen -p \"$TASK\" --output-format json --approval-mode auto-edit --max-session-turns 30 --max-wall-time 10m", "env": { "OPENAI_API_KEY": "\u003ckey\u003e", "OPENAI_BASE_URL": "\u003cendpoint\u003e", "OPENAI_MODEL": "\u003cmodel\u003e", "QWEN_USAGE_STATISTICS_ENABLED": "false" } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness", "tool": "https://letme.dev/qwen-code" }, "area": "frameworks", "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Qwen team, Alibaba Group (no legal entity is named in the repository or the docs)", "domain": "qwenlm.github.io", "domainRegistered": "", "endpointOnVendorDomain": null, "terms": "https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/en/users/support/tos-privacy/", "privacy": "https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/en/users/support/tos-privacy/", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://github.com/QwenLM/qwen-code/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "The project's own Terms of Service and Privacy Notice is one page. It covers usage statistics and the Chrome extension, and maps each sign-in method to the model provider's terms and privacy policy. The project publishes no separate privacy policy for the CLI, so both fields point at that page.", "The LICENSE file carries Copyright 2025 Google LLC and Copyright 2025 Qwen. The docs describe the project as Alibaba's, and SECURITY.md sends reports to an Alibaba Cloud console portal.", "The docs are on GitHub Pages. qwen.ai returned its application page for /.well-known/security.txt, so no security.txt was found. alibabacloud.com couldn't be reached from our network on 8 October 2026.", "The qwen.ai terms and privacy pages render only with JavaScript and weren't read." ], "score": 48 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-code.json", "live": { "slug": "qwen-code", "pages": [ { "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/QwenLM/qwen-code/main/CHANGELOG.md", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:49.8394153Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "0782fd2dec4a" }, { "url": "https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/en/users/support/tos-privacy/", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:34.139570921Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "11f3bc6ce7da" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:49.8394153Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "Agent harness", "b": "Agent harness", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "OpenAI", "b": "Alibaba (Qwen team)", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "no (local only)", "b": "no (local only)", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "", "b": "", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth or key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Free", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI, its Rust crates and the TypeScript and Python SDKs). Codex cloud is a hosted service under OpenAI's terms", "b": "Apache-2.0", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-10-01", "b": "2026-10-05", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "2026-10-01", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "2026-10-01", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "couldn't be read", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "126k stars", "b": "28k stars, 105k npm/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "3/5 (2)", "b": "none", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 73 (BB) and 72.4 (BB). Qwen Code leads on reliability and agent ergonomics.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, OpenAI Codex or Qwen Code?" }, { "answer": "Yes. OpenAI Codex is open source (Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI, its Rust crates and the TypeScript and Python SDKs). Codex cloud is a hosted service under OpenAI's terms). Qwen Code is open source (Apache-2.0).", "question": "Are OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code open source?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Security \u0026 auth, 82 against 53", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 79 against 63" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Teams that want an open-source harness with safe defaults for unattended runs and an optional hosted agent.", "slug": "openai-codex", "watchFor": "Pre-1.0 at 0.160.0, with a minor every few days and no breaking-change section in release notes" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 69 against 55", "Agent ergonomics, 85 against 80" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Developers and CI jobs that want an open-source harness tied to no single model vendor, with run budgets and SDKs.", "slug": "qwen-code", "watchFor": "The default approval mode is Auto, where an LLM classifier approves tool calls, and sandboxing and folder trust are both off by default" } ], "job": { "capability": "agent.harness", "name": "Agent harness" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Aider vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Aider vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Amp vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Amp vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Claude Code vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Cline vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Cline vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Cursor CLI vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Cursor CLI vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Devin vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Devin vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Pi vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Pi vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Gemini CLI vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Gemini CLI vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "GitHub Copilot CLI vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "GitHub Copilot CLI vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "goose vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "goose vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-openai-codex.json", "title": "Kiro CLI vs OpenAI Codex", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-openai-codex" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Kiro CLI vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-opencode.json", "title": "OpenAI Codex vs OpenCode", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-opencode" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-openhands.json", "title": "OpenAI Codex vs OpenHands", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-openhands" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-prime-agent.json", "title": "OpenAI Codex vs Prime Agent", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-prime-agent" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/opencode-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "OpenCode vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/opencode-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openhands-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "OpenHands vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openhands-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/prime-agent-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Prime Agent vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/prime-agent-vs-qwen-code" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/paperclip-vs-qwen-code.json", "title": "Paperclip vs Qwen Code", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/paperclip-vs-qwen-code" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 14, "edge": "qwen-code", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "openai-codex": 55, "qwen-code": 69, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 1, "edge": "qwen-code", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "openai-codex": 90, "qwen-code": 91, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 5, "edge": "qwen-code", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "openai-codex": 80, "qwen-code": 85, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 29, "edge": "openai-codex", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "openai-codex": 82, "qwen-code": 53, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 0, "edge": "", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "openai-codex": 60, "qwen-code": 60, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 1, "edge": "qwen-code", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "openai-codex": 87, "qwen-code": 88, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 16, "edge": "openai-codex", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "openai-codex": 79, "qwen-code": 63, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 73 (BB) and 72.4 (BB). Qwen Code leads on reliability and agent ergonomics. Both do agent harness.", "verdicts": { "openai-codex": "Sandbox on by default on macOS, Linux and Windows, with the network off and `.git` and `.codex` read-only. Pre-1.0 at 0.160.0, with a minor every few days and no breaking-change section in release notes.", "qwen-code": "Apache-2.0 with no account of its own, any OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini-compatible endpoint, and headless runs bounded by turn, tool-call and wall-time budgets with distinct exit codes. Out of the box, Auto mode lets an LLM classifier approve tool calls, with the sandbox and folder trust both off. Usage statistics are on by default." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code.min.md" }, "markdown": "OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 73 (BB) and 72.4 (BB). Qwen Code leads on reliability and agent ergonomics. Both do agent harness.\n\n- OpenAI Codex: grade BB, 73/100, rank #78 of 629. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/openai-codex.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/openai-codex.json\n- Qwen Code: grade BB, 72.4/100, rank #88 of 629. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/qwen-code.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-code.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### OpenAI Codex (BB)\n\nGood for: Teams that want an open-source harness with safe defaults for unattended runs and an optional hosted agent.\n\nAhead on:\n- Security \u0026 auth, 82 against 53\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 79 against 63\n\nWatch for: Pre-1.0 at 0.160.0, with a minor every few days and no breaking-change section in release notes\n\n### Qwen Code (BB)\n\nGood for: Developers and CI jobs that want an open-source harness tied to no single model vendor, with run budgets and SDKs.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 69 against 55\n- Agent ergonomics, 85 against 80\n\nWatch for: The default approval mode is Auto, where an LLM classifier approves tool calls, and sandboxing and folder trust are both off by default\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | OpenAI Codex | Qwen Code | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 55 | 69 | Qwen Code +14 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 90 | 91 | Qwen Code +1 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 80 | 85 | Qwen Code +5 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 82 | 53 | OpenAI Codex +29 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 60 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 87 | 88 | Qwen Code +1 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 79 | 63 | OpenAI Codex +16 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -2 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **73 · BB** | **72.4 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | OpenAI Codex | Qwen Code |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |\n| Vendor | OpenAI | Alibaba (Qwen team) |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |\n| Transports | | |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | API key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Free |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI, its Rust crates and the TypeScript and Python SDKs). Codex cloud is a hosted service under OpenAI's terms | Apache-2.0 |\n| Read-only variant documented | yes | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-10-01 | 2026-10-05 |\n| Terms last updated | couldn't be read | 2026-10-01 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | couldn't be read | 2026-10-01 |\n| Customer content may train models | couldn't be read | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read | not found in the text |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read | not found in the text |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read | not found in the text |\n| Popularity | 126k stars | 28k stars, 105k npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**OpenAI Codex.** Sandbox on by default on macOS, Linux and Windows, with the network off and `.git` and `.codex` read-only. Pre-1.0 at 0.160.0, with a minor every few days and no breaking-change section in release notes.\n\n**Qwen Code.** Apache-2.0 with no account of its own, any OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini-compatible endpoint, and headless runs bounded by turn, tool-call and wall-time budgets with distinct exit codes. Out of the box, Auto mode lets an LLM classifier approve tool calls, with the sandbox and folder trust both off. Usage statistics are on by default.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### OpenAI Codex\n\n1. Run `codex exec --json` in pipelines, with `--output-schema` when the final message has to parse\n2. Keep the default sandbox. `--yolo` removes both the sandbox and approvals\n3. Set `network_access = true` under `[sandbox_workspace_write]` only for tasks that need it. Network is off by default\n4. Set `[analytics] enabled = false` and `[feedback] enabled = false` in config.toml to keep usage data local\n5. Pin the npm version. A 0.x minor lands every few days\n\n### Qwen Code\n\n1. Pass `--approval-mode` on every run. The settings default is `auto`, and one docs page says headless runs default to asking, so don't rely on either\n2. Add `--max-session-turns`, `--max-wall-time` and `--max-tool-calls`. All three are unlimited by default. Exit 53 is the turn limit and 55 a budget\n3. `--yolo` doesn't turn on a sandbox. Add `--sandbox`, or on Linux set `tools.executionSandbox` with `network` set to `closed`\n4. Set `QWEN_USAGE_STATISTICS_ENABLED=false` to stop usage statistics\n5. Authenticate with `OPENAI_API_KEY`, `OPENAI_BASE_URL` and `OPENAI_MODEL` in CI. The browser sign-in is discontinued\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, OpenAI Codex or Qwen Code?\n\nOpenAI Codex and Qwen Code score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 73 (BB) and 72.4 (BB). Qwen Code leads on reliability and agent ergonomics.\n\n### Are OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code open source?\n\nYes. OpenAI Codex is open source (Apache-2.0 (Codex CLI, its Rust crates and the TypeScript and Python SDKs). Codex cloud is a hosted service under OpenAI's terms). Qwen Code is open source (Apache-2.0).\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"openai-codex\", \"b\": \"qwen-code\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare openai-codex qwen-code`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/openai-codex.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/qwen-code.json\n\n## Other comparisons with OpenAI Codex or Qwen Code\n\n- [Aider vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Aider vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Amp vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Amp vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Claude Code vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Cline vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Cline vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Cursor CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Cursor CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Devin vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Devin vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Pi vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Pi vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [goose vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [goose vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Kiro CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Kiro CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kiro-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [OpenAI Codex vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-opencode.md)\n- [OpenAI Codex vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-openhands.md)\n- [OpenAI Codex vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-prime-agent.md)\n- [OpenCode vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/opencode-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [OpenHands vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openhands-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Prime Agent vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/prime-agent-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Paperclip vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/paperclip-vs-qwen-code.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-08", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "OpenAI Codex vs Qwen Code", "url": "" } ], "description": "OpenAI Codex and Qwen Code score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 73 (BB) and 72.4 (BB). Qwen Code leads on reliability and agent ergonomics. Both do agent harness. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "OpenAI Codex BB 73", "Qwen Code BB 72.4", "scores" ], "h1": "OpenAI Codex vs Qwen Code", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-openai-codex-vs-qwen-code.png", "path": "/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "OpenAI Codex vs Qwen Code for AI agents, BB 73 vs BB 72.4", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-08", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-codex-vs-qwen-code" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2400, "slim": 680 }, "version": 1 }