Agentastic vs Codex
Codex is OpenAI's coding agent. The Codex CLI is open source and runs in any terminal, and the same agent powers the Codex view in the ChatGPT desktop app. Agentastic is the workspace around the CLI, and around Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor's CLI agent, and 49 others: it gives each run its own worktree, container, SSH host, or cloud VM, and puts diffs and review passes in one native Mac app. For one Codex session at a time, the CLI or OpenAI's app is enough; for several Codex runs, or Codex beside other agents, that is what Agentastic is for.
Who should choose each option#
Agentastic
Choose Agentastic when you run several Codex sessions, or Codex beside other agents, and want each one isolated with a visual diff and review passes.
Codex
Choose Codex on its own when one terminal session at a time is enough, or use OpenAI's ChatGPT desktop app if Codex is your only agent and you want a GUI.
Feature comparison#
| Feature | Agentastic | Codex |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Workspace for many agents (native macOS app) | OpenAI's coding agent; open-source CLI (Apache-2.0) |
| Codex support | Built in, as a terminal session or structured Chat | Native |
| Other agents | 54 more built-in definitions | Codex only |
| Worktree isolation | Automatic per task; or a container, SSH host, or cloud VM | Experimental --worktree flag in the CLI; managed worktrees in the ChatGPT desktop app |
| Diff and review | Diff viewer, line comments, and Claude, Codex, CodeRabbit, or Greptile review passes | codex review in the terminal; diff pane in the desktop app |
| Scripting | The dev CLI drives the whole app | codex exec for scripts and CI |
| Cost | Free (bring your ChatGPT plan or API key) | Included in ChatGPT plans, or API-key billing |
Pricing#
Agentastic
Free. Sign in to Codex with your ChatGPT account or an API key; Agentastic does not resell usage.
Codex
Codex is included in ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans, sharing usage limits with ChatGPT Work, or billed at API rates with an API key.
Using them together#
Run Codex as one of the agents in an Agentastic worktree, and compare its diff with a Claude Code or Gemini worktree on the same task. Agentastic's Usage panel shows the remaining quota for every Codex login.
Frequently asked questions#
Can I A/B Codex against Claude Code in Agentastic?
Yes, it is a common workflow. Start two worktrees from the same branch, one running Codex and one running Claude Code, then compare the diffs or have one review the other.
Does the Codex CLI support git worktrees?
Yes, experimentally. Since version 0.154.0 in September 2026, codex --worktree and /worktree create isolated checkouts for new or forked sessions (release notes). Agentastic creates a worktree for every task by default and can also use containers, SSH hosts, or cloud VMs.
Does Agentastic resell OpenAI usage?
No. You sign in with OpenAI directly, and Agentastic runs the Codex CLI process on your machine or remote host.
Is the Codex CLI open source?
Yes. The openai/codex repository is licensed under Apache-2.0. Agentastic is free but closed source.
Codex app vs Codex CLI: which should I use?
The Codex app now lives inside the ChatGPT desktop app and adds managed worktrees, a diff pane, and cloud tasks; the CLI is better for terminals, scripts, CI, and remote machines. See Codex app vs CLI and Agentastic vs the Codex app.
Can I use several Codex accounts in Agentastic?
Yes. The Usage panel tracks each Codex login separately, and each added account gets its own CODEX_HOME so work and personal logins never overwrite each other; see multiple Claude Code and Codex accounts.
Further reading#
several Codex sessions on one repository
OpenAI's app, Agentastic, Conductor, and more
what moved into the ChatGPT desktop app
where Codex fits against the rest
See also#
The Codex app now lives inside the ChatGPT desktop app. Compare it with Agentastic, a free Mac workspace that runs Codex beside Claude Code and 51 more agents.
Compare Claude Code and Codex, the coding agents from Anthropic and OpenAI: CLIs and desktop apps, worktrees, platforms, pricing, and running both at once.
Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent. Agentastic is a free macOS workspace that runs it and 52 more agents in parallel worktrees, with diffs and review.
Both run coding agents in parallel git worktrees on macOS. Agentastic is native Swift with any CLI agent and free cloud runs; Conductor is chat-first.
cmux is a free, open-source Ghostty-based terminal for coding agents. Agentastic is a native Mac IDE with worktrees, an editor, review passes, and cloud agents.