Codex CLI or Codex App: What's the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
Codex CLI is a better fit when the work already lives in a terminal, on a remote machine, or in scripts. The Desktop App is better for several parallel tasks, visual diff review, and project management. They are two interfaces to Codex, not different models. With a custom provider, the client also affects authentication: CLI and Desktop App use one scheme, while the VS Code extension uses another.
Codex CLI vs Codex App: short answer
| Attribute | Codex CLI | Desktop App |
|---|---|---|
| Primary interface | Terminal and TUI | Graphical application |
| Best place to run | Local or remote shell, SSH, container | Local computer, multiple projects and threads |
| Parallel tasks | Built-in subagents switched with /agent, separate processes, and codex exec
|
Multiple threads, built-in worktrees, and visual result management |
| Reviewing changes | Terminal diff and standard Git commands | Visual diff, comments, and opening the editor |
| Repeated work | Shell scripts and an external scheduler | Automations with a result queue for review |
| Custom provider | Shared ~/.codex/config.toml, key through an environment variable |
The same file and provider scheme; a full restart is required after changes |
| Best for | Developers with terminal workflows and remote environments | Users managing several tasks who want visual control |
OpenAI says the Desktop App picks up session history and configuration from the CLI and IDE extension. That lets you combine interfaces, but it does not make them the same runtime: environment variables, restart behavior, and verification remain client-specific. Subagents are available in both CLI and App; the App's advantage is visual management of threads, worktrees, and diffs, not parallelism itself.
Where a custom provider actually applies
BetterToken provides API access for OpenAI-compatible tools. Codex uses the official OpenAI client, a custom provider, the Base URL https://www.bettertoken.ai/v1, and the Responses protocol. BetterToken does not replace Codex itself, ChatGPT sign-in, or application installation: users work with their own BetterToken account and API key.
First identify where the task starts:
- The
codexcommand in Terminal is the CLI. - Codex in the desktop application is the Desktop App.
- The Codex panel inside VS Code is the Extension.
All three read configuration from ~/.codex/config.toml (on Windows, %USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml), but authentication differs.
| Client | How the BetterToken API key is passed | What to do after a change |
|---|---|---|
| CLI / Desktop App | The BETTERTOKEN_API_KEY variable referenced through env_key; the custom provider does not require OpenAI auth |
Quit Codex completely, open a new terminal or application, and run a short task |
| VS Code Extension | Keep the official sign-in and use a separate experimental_bearer_token field according to the current guide |
Run Developer: Reload Window, open a new session, and send a short task |
Both modes use one [model_providers.custom] section. Do not put two sections with the same name in one TOML file. Choose the authentication scheme for the client you are using now. Verify exact fields and the current Model ID in the Codex CLI/Desktop App and Codex VS Code Extension guides.
The Desktop App and IDE Extension may not receive a variable defined only in a shell profile. If a new process cannot see BETTERTOKEN_API_KEY, place it in ~/.codex/.env according to the current OpenAI instructions, restart the client completely, and create a new session. Do not put the key in an article, screenshot, or shared repository.
How to confirm that the provider was applied
After restarting, send a short task with little context. In the CLI, open /status and inspect the current provider. For CLI, Desktop App, and VS Code, find a BetterToken Dashboard record matching the response's time and model. That confirms the model request passed through BetterToken. An old session is unsuitable for a clean test of changed configuration.
The absence of 401, 403, or model not found is only a basic health check. Without /status or the matching Dashboard record, a successful response does not prove which provider and Base URL were used.
How the workflows differ
CLI: terminal, SSH, and reproducible commands
The CLI runs inside the current shell process. Interactive mode suits repository work; codex exec handles non-interactive tasks and scripts; built-in subagents can be inspected and switched with /agent. This is easier to integrate into an SSH session, container, CI check, or existing command set.
Parallel work is possible, but you usually organize directories, processes, and results yourself. If two tasks must not modify the same working copy, use separate worktrees or directories and review the diff before merging.
Desktop App: projects, threads, and visual diffs
The Desktop App brings several tasks into one interface. Threads separate context, built-in worktrees isolate changes, and a diff can be reviewed next to the task discussion. This is convenient when a bug fix, feature, and review are running at the same time.
As of August 11, 2026, the new ChatGPT desktop app with Chat, Work, and Codex is available for macOS and Windows. An existing Codex App becomes the new application after a normal update; for a first install, use the official chatgpt.com/download address. Interface names and locations may change after an update.
What to choose for a specific workflow
Choose CLI if
- your primary interface is Terminal, SSH, or a container;
- you need
codex exec, shell scripts, and external scheduling; - a reproducible command sequence matters;
- you are prepared to manage parallel working directories yourself.
Choose Desktop App if
- several tasks or projects run concurrently;
- reviewing diffs and comments in a graphical interface is easier;
- worktrees and result queues should be visible in one place;
- the task starts with a document, research, or an operational process rather than a terminal command.
Use both interfaces if
Use CLI for remote machines and automation, and the Desktop App for management and review. Shared history and configuration make switching easier, but still verify the working directory, permissions, active provider, and authentication method before each run.
Common provider mistakes
It works in CLI but not in VS Code
CLI/Desktop App and the Extension use different authentication fields. Do not copy an env_key scheme into the Extension as a complete solution, and do not overwrite official auth.json with a BetterToken API key. Open the Extension-specific guide and run Reload Window.
Codex asks for an official sign-in again
For a clean custom provider in CLI/Desktop App, confirm that the new Codex process can access BETTERTOKEN_API_KEY. For the Extension, the official sign-in remains, and a separate field supplies the key for model requests.
Provider not found
The value model_provider = "custom" must match the [model_providers.custom] section name. Remove duplicate sections and confirm that wire_api = "responses".
The configuration saved, but nothing changed
Quit the old process, open a new terminal or run Reload Window, then create a new session. If the App cannot see a key defined in the shell, use ~/.codex/.env and restart the client completely. If the error persists, check Model ID, API key, Base URL, and authentication mode one at a time.
Final choice
Choose Codex CLI for terminals, SSH, scripts, and direct process management. Choose the Desktop App for several parallel tasks, worktrees, and visual review. For a custom provider, choose the client first, apply its authentication scheme, and confirm the result in a short new session.
Find current BetterToken parameters in the Codex guide; for VS Code, use the separate Extension guide.
Sources
- OpenAI: Introducing the Codex app
- OpenAI: Moving to the new ChatGPT desktop app
- OpenAI: Codex documentation
- OpenAI: Configure Codex with Amazon Bedrock
- BetterToken: Codex CLI and Desktop App
- BetterToken: Codex VS Code Extension
Originally published on the BetterToken blog.
BetterToken provides pay-as-you-go access to AI model APIs through
OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible endpoints — useful if you are wiring
Claude Code, Codex, or your own tooling to a custom base URL.
See the docs to get started.
Top comments (0)