OpenAI Codex CLI vs Qwen Code
A side-by-side look at scores, pricing and features — with RECATOOLS' ASEAN-aware verdict for each.
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| RECATOOLS Score | 8.2 / 10 | 7.7 / 10 |
| Capability | ||
| Value for money | ||
| Ease of use | ||
| ASEAN readiness | ||
| API quality | ||
| Pricing | Freemium | Open Source |
| Free tier | CLI is open source (Apache-2.0); ChatGPT Free includes limited Codex usage (GPT-6 Luna, desktop app, subject to rollout); otherwise sign in with a paid plan or API key | Apache-2.0 CLI is free to install and use; you supply the model (own API key or local Ollama/vLLM). The free Qwen OAuth tier ended 15 Apr 2026 |
| Paid from | Included in ChatGPT Go $8/mo, Plus $20/mo, Pro from $100/mo; or API-key usage | CLI free, model access e.g. Alibaba Coding Plan Pro at $50/month or your own API key |
| Has API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free to use | ✓ | ✓ |
| Users | — | — |
| Founded | 2025 | 2025 |
| Maker | OpenAI | Alibaba Group (Qwen team) |
| Verdict | Codex CLI is one of the strongest terminal coding agents available: open source, fast, actively maintained and now running OpenAI's GPT-6 models, with a scriptable mode for automation. Its value depends on a ChatGPT subs... |
Qwen Code is now a broad, fast-moving agent rather than a Gemini CLI fork: sub-agents, agent teams, MCP, hooks, IDE plugins, a desktop app and SDKs, released almost daily under Apache-2.0. You can point it at Qwen, DeepS... |
| Full review → | Full review → |
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Comparisons cover up to 4 tools. Scores are RECATOOLS editorial assessments; verify current pricing on each vendor's site.