Agentastic vs the Codex app
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There is no standalone Codex app anymore: on July 9, 2026, OpenAI merged it into the ChatGPT desktop app, where Codex keeps its own coding view beside Chat and Work. That app runs Codex chats locally, in managed git worktrees, on SSH hosts, or in the cloud, with a diff pane, pull request review, scheduled tasks, and control from the ChatGPT phone app, on macOS, Windows, and Linux (in preview), on every ChatGPT plan. Agentastic is a native macOS workspace that runs the Codex CLI as one agent among many: Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor's agent, and 49 more, each in a worktree, container, SSH host, or cloud VM on your own accounts. If Codex is your only agent, OpenAI's app is the simpler choice.
Who should choose each option
Agentastic
Choose Agentastic if Codex is one of several agents you use, or you want containers, SSH hosts, and cloud VMs on your own Modal, Fly.io, or Vercel account, in a free native Mac app.
Codex app (ChatGPT desktop)
Choose Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app if Codex is your only agent, you work on Windows or Linux, or you want OpenAI's own features such as Codex Cloud, Computer Use, and control from the ChatGPT mobile app.
Feature comparison
| Agentastic | Codex app (ChatGPT desktop) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Native macOS workspace for many CLI agents | The Codex view inside the ChatGPT desktop app (formerly the Codex app) |
| Platforms | macOS 14+ | macOS, Windows, Linux (preview) |
| Agents | 55 built-in definitions, Codex included | Codex, next to ChatGPT's Chat and Work |
| Where tasks run | Worktree, Docker or Apple container, SSH host, or cloud VM on Modal, Fly.io, or Vercel Sandbox | Local checkout, managed git worktree, SSH host, or Codex Cloud |
| Worktree handling | A named branch per task, with setup and teardown scripts | Managed worktrees, with Handoff between Local and Worktree |
| Review | Diff viewer, line comments, and review passes by Claude, Codex, CodeRabbit, or Greptile | Diff pane with inline editing and comments; pull request review in the side panel |
| Scheduled work | Scheduled agents with run history | Scheduled tasks on background worktrees |
| Phone | iPhone app in public beta on TestFlight (iOS 18+) | ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android controls a connected Mac or Windows PC |
| Price | Free; bring your ChatGPT plan or API key for Codex | Every ChatGPT plan, including Free; or API-key billing |
Pricing
Agentastic
Free. Codex runs on your own ChatGPT sign-in or API key, and other agents on their own accounts.
Codex app (ChatGPT desktop)
Codex in the desktop app is included in every ChatGPT plan: Free, Go ($8 a month), Plus ($20), and Pro ($100 to $500), plus Business, Edu, and Enterprise. It shares usage limits with ChatGPT Work, or you can pay API rates with an API key.
Using them together
They use the same Codex sign-in. Keep the ChatGPT desktop app for Codex Cloud tasks and phone control, and run the Codex CLI in Agentastic when you want it in parallel with Claude Code or another agent on the same repository.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the Codex app?
On July 9, 2026, OpenAI merged the Codex app into the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS and Windows (what's new). Open the app and choose Codex to get the same coding view, worktrees, and Git tools; developers.openai.com/codex now redirects to learn.chatgpt.com.
Is the Codex app free?
The ChatGPT desktop app, Codex included, is available on every ChatGPT plan, Free included, and higher plans raise the usage limits (pricing). Agentastic is free and runs the Codex CLI on the same ChatGPT sign-in.
Is there a Codex app for Windows or Linux?
Yes. The ChatGPT desktop app runs on Windows, and a Linux preview has been available since August 2026, with packages for Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora. Agentastic is Mac only.
Does the Codex app support git worktrees?
Yes. Each chat can run in your local checkout or a managed worktree, and Handoff moves work between them (worktrees). Agentastic gives every task a worktree too, and can use a container, SSH host, or cloud VM instead.
What is the best Codex app alternative for Mac?
If you use Codex with other agents, Agentastic runs it beside Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and more in one free native app. Conductor, Superset, and Orca are other options; see the best Codex GUIs.
Codex app vs Codex CLI: which should I use?
Use the app for parallel chats with managed worktrees, a diff pane, and cloud tasks. Use the CLI for terminals, scripts with codex exec, CI, and remote machines, or inside a workspace like Agentastic. See Codex app vs CLI.
Can I run Codex and Claude Code side by side?
Not in OpenAI's app, which runs Codex as its only coding agent. In Agentastic, start a Codex worktree and a Claude Code worktree from the same branch and compare the diffs; see Claude Code vs Codex.
Further reading
- Codex app vs CLI — what moved into the ChatGPT desktop app, and when the terminal is enough
- Best Codex GUI and desktop apps — OpenAI's app, Agentastic, Conductor, and more
- Run Codex agents in parallel — several Codex sessions on one repository
- Use multiple Claude Code and Codex accounts — work and personal logins on one Mac
See also
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