This post compares OpenAI Codex and Gemini CLI after both eliminated their free tiers in mid-2026. It breaks down per-token API pricing, independent evaluation scores, and strategic platform differences to help teams choose the right tool for their workflow.
Five million people now use Codex weekly, up from just three million in April 2026. That growth coincided with a pricing overhaul that eliminated free tiers for both Codex and Gemini CLI within weeks of each other — resetting the competitive landscape for terminal AI coding agents. The old comparison (generous free tool vs. paid alternative) is dead. Now you're choosing between two paid platforms, and the right answer depends on how you actually spend money: by the token, by the seat, or by the task.
The Free Tier Is Gone for Both
OpenAI Codex never had a meaningful free tier for serious development. It's bundled into ChatGPT plans — Free, Go at $8/month, Plus at $20/month, Pro starting at $100/month — rather than sold as a standalone product per AIToolsRecap's pricing breakdown.
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