Best Codex GUI and Desktop Apps (2026)

OpenAI's official Codex GUI is now the Codex view inside the ChatGPT desktop app: the standalone Codex app merged into it on July 9, 2026, and it runs on macOS and Windows, with a Linux preview. If Codex is your only agent, use it; it is available on every ChatGPT plan and handles worktrees, review, cloud tasks, and control from your phone. Agentastic is the strongest Mac choice when Codex is one of several agents, because it runs Codex beside Claude Code and dozens of other CLIs, each task in its own worktree or container with one review flow. Conductor, Superset, Orca, T3 Code, Nimbalyst, and Paseo are the main third-party apps, while the Codex IDE extension, Zed, and Codex Cloud cover editor-first and cloud work.

We reviewed every product against first-party documentation on October 5, 2026.

Codex GUIs at a glance#

Tool	Best for	Platforms	Agents	Parallel isolation	Price and license	Main tradeoff
Agentastic	Codex beside other agents on a Mac	macOS 14+	55 built-in agent definitions, Codex included	Worktree, Docker or Apple container, SSH host, cloud VM	Free; closed source	Mac only
ChatGPT desktop app (Codex)	Codex-only work, first-party	macOS, Windows, Linux preview	Codex	Local, worktree, or cloud per chat; SSH hosts	Every ChatGPT plan, including Free	Codex only
Conductor	A focused Mac loop from task to PR	macOS	Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode	Worktree per workspace	Free locally; Pro $50/month	Mac only; four agents
Superset	Scripting the orchestration layer	macOS; Linux (experimental)	Any CLI agent	Worktree per task	Free tier; Pro $20/seat/month; Elastic License 2.0	No Windows
Orca	A free workspace on any desktop OS	macOS, Windows, Linux; iOS and Android	Any CLI agent	Worktree per agent, local or SSH	Free; MIT	Fills in permission-bypass flags by default
T3 Code	An open control surface with web and phone apps	macOS, Windows, Linux, web, iOS, Android	Codex, Claude, Cursor, Grok Build, OpenCode, Antigravity	Worktree per thread	Free; MIT	Early release; expect bugs
Nimbalyst	Docs, mockups, and diagrams beside sessions	macOS, Windows, Linux; iOS app	Codex, Claude Code, OpenCode, Copilot	Optional worktree per session	Free for individuals; MIT	Worktrees need Developer Mode
Paseo	Driving agents from any device	macOS, Windows, Linux, web, iOS, Android	Codex, Claude Code, and 30+ more	Worktree per workspace	Free; Apache 2.0	Client and daemon architecture
Codex IDE extension	Codex inside VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf	Wherever those editors run	Codex	Your open checkout; can hand tasks to the cloud	ChatGPT Plus or higher, or an API key	Not a multi-session dashboard
Zed	Codex as an external agent in a fast editor	macOS, Linux, Windows	Codex, Claude Agent, other ACP agents	Optional worktree per thread	Free; open source	You decide isolation per thread
Codex Cloud	Tasks that keep running while your computer sleeps	Web, mobile, desktop app	Codex	Isolated cloud workspace per task	ChatGPT Plus or higher	Needs a published environment

What happened to the Codex app?#

On July 9, 2026, OpenAI merged the standalone Codex app into the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS and Windows (what's new). Codex kept its own view and its own chat history beside ChatGPT's Chat and Work modes: open the app, pick Codex in the product selector, and you get the developer interface with diffs, review panes, and Git controls. Codex can also be set as the default view, and the app icon can switch to the Codex logo. Existing Codex app users updated in place, and the app is available on every ChatGPT plan, including Free.

Two other changes matter if you searched for a Codex app on your platform:

• Linux: the ChatGPT desktop app has been in preview on Linux since August 2026, with packages for Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04, Debian 13, Fedora 43 and 44, and Arch Linux, on x64 and ARM64. Computer Use isn't available in the preview yet (Linux guide).
• Windows: the app runs natively with PowerShell and a Windows sandbox, or inside WSL2 (Windows guide).

The documentation moved as well. Codex docs now live on learn.chatgpt.com, and the old developers.openai.com/codex links redirect there.

Codex app vs CLI: when the terminal is enough#

The app and the CLI run the same agent and can use the same ChatGPT sign-in. The Codex CLI is open source, installs on macOS, Linux, and Windows, and is the better tool for:

• Scripts and CI, through codex exec.
• Remote servers you reach over SSH.
• One focused task in a terminal you already like.

The app adds the parts that get hard once several chats run at once: managed worktrees with Handoff between your local checkout and a worktree, a diff pane where you can comment, stage or revert chunks, commit, push, and open a pull request, an integrated terminal with saved actions, cloud tasks, and control from the ChatGPT phone app. Per-project setup scripts for new worktrees are an app-only feature (local environments). For a longer comparison, see Codex app vs CLI.

1. Agentastic: best for Codex beside other agents on a Mac#

Agentastic runs the real Codex CLI with your ChatGPT sign-in or API key, in a native terminal or as a native Chat. Chat speaks Codex's App Server protocol, so approvals arrive as cards with Codex's own options, plans pin beside the transcript, sub-agents get their own panel, and you can steer a turn while it runs.

• Platforms: macOS 14 or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel.
• Agents: 55 built-in definitions, including Codex, Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and Cursor, plus any terminal command as a custom agent.
• Isolation: a git worktree per task by default; Docker or Apple containers, where the agentastic/cloud-base image ships with Codex preinstalled; SSH hosts; and cloud VMs on Modal, Fly.io, or Vercel Sandbox.
• Price: free. Closed source.

Two extras matter for Codex users. Code review can run codex review over another agent's diff, or Claude over Codex's, so the reviewer starts with fresh context. The Usage panel shows the remaining quota for every Codex login, with separate CODEX_HOME profiles for work and personal accounts. How to run multiple Codex agents in parallel walks through the workflow.

The tradeoffs: Agentastic is Mac only and closed source, and OpenAI's own app has first-party features Agentastic doesn't reproduce, such as Codex Cloud environments and Computer Use. If Codex is the only agent you run, start with OpenAI's app. See Agentastic vs Codex app.

2. Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app: best official Codex GUI#

The ChatGPT desktop app is where OpenAI's Codex app lives now. Select Codex, and each chat runs in one of three places: Local in your project folder, Worktree in an isolated checkout, or Cloud in a hosted workspace (environments).

• Platforms: macOS, Windows, and a Linux preview.
• Agents: Codex, alongside ChatGPT's Chat and Work modes.
• Isolation: Codex-managed worktrees in $CODEX_HOME/worktrees, created in detached HEAD so they don't clutter your branches; permanent worktrees for long-lived work; Handoff to move a chat between a worktree and your local checkout; and .worktreeinclude to copy ignored files such as .env. Codex keeps your 15 most recent managed worktrees by default and snapshots the work before deleting one (worktrees). Chats can also run on SSH hosts.
• Price: available on every ChatGPT plan, including Free, where Codex uses GPT-6 Luna as it rolls out. Plus is $20 a month and Pro starts at $100. Codex draws on the same usage limits as ChatGPT Work (pricing).

The Git tools cover the full loop: comment inline on the diff, stage or revert individual chunks, commit, push, and open a pull request from inside the app. With Remote, the ChatGPT app on iOS or Android can start, approve, and review chats on a connected Mac or Windows PC.

This is the right answer when Codex is your only agent, when you work on Windows or Linux, or when you want Codex Cloud and phone control in the same app. Its limit is the obvious one: it runs Codex, so Claude Code or Gemini sessions need another tool.

3. Conductor: best focused Mac workspace#

Conductor gives each task a workspace on its own git worktree, then takes it through setup scripts, a diff viewer, checks, checkpoints, and a pull request. Its guide to parallel Codex sessions shows the model.

• Platforms: macOS only.
• Agents: Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, and OpenCode.
• Isolation: a worktree per workspace, with gitignored files copied in through .worktreeinclude or its Files to copy setting. Pro adds cloud workspaces in Linux sandboxes.
• Price: free for local workspaces. Pro is $50 a month and Teams $60 per user a month (pricing).

Pick Conductor if its four agents cover your stack and you want a narrow, polished loop. Pick Agentastic for a larger agent catalog, containers, SSH hosts, cloud runs on your own accounts, and an editor, all in the free app. See Agentastic vs Conductor.

4. Superset: best for scripting the orchestration layer#

Superset runs any CLI agent, Codex included, with one worktree and branch per task. A CLI, a TypeScript SDK, and an MCP server let scripts or other agents create workspaces and launch runs.

• Platforms: macOS and an experimental Linux AppImage; no Windows yet.
• Agents: any CLI agent, including Codex, Claude Code, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, Copilot, and Cursor Agent.
• Isolation: a worktree per task, which separates files but not processes.
• Price: free tier. Pro at $20 per seat a month unlocks scheduled automations and the iPhone app. The code is source-available under the Elastic License 2.0.

Choose Superset if programmatic control of the workspace matters most. Agentastic is a native Swift app rather than Electron, and adds container and cloud isolation. See Agentastic vs Superset.

5. Orca: best free multi-agent app on Windows and Linux#

Orca is a free, MIT-licensed workspace for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Codex is one of its most deeply integrated agents, with usage tracking and account hot-swapping (Codex in Orca), and the mobile companion can even spend a Codex rate-limit reset credit from your phone.

• Platforms: macOS, Windows, and Linux, with an iOS app and an Android APK.
• Agents: any CLI agent.
• Isolation: a worktree per agent, locally or over SSH.
• Price: free and open source.

Note that Orca pre-fills each agent's permission-bypass flag on new launches, which for Codex is --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox. Switch launches to manual in its settings if you want approvals. Choose Orca when you need Windows, Linux, or an Android phone. See Agentastic vs Orca.

6. T3 Code: best open control surface with web and phone apps#

T3 Code describes itself as an "agent harness control surface": a local server plus an Electron desktop app, a web app, and iOS and Android apps that drive the agents already signed in on your machine.

• Platforms: macOS, Windows, and Linux desktop apps; web; iOS and Android.
• Agents: Codex, Claude, Cursor, Grok Build, OpenCode, and Antigravity.
• Isolation: a thread can start in a new worktree, with per-project worktree cleanup settings.
• Price: free; MIT.

Its maintainers say the project is very early, warn users to expect bugs, and mostly aren't accepting contributions yet. Try it if you want an open, remote-ready Codex front end and don't mind rough edges.

7. Nimbalyst: best for visual planning beside Codex#

Nimbalyst pairs Codex and Claude Code sessions with visual editors for markdown, mockups, diagrams, data models, and spreadsheets, plus a task tracker.

• Platforms: macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus an iOS app.
• Agents: Codex, Claude Code, OpenCode, and Copilot.
• Isolation: an optional worktree per session once Developer Mode is on.
• Price: free for individuals; MIT (pricing).

Choose it when your Codex work starts from specs, plans, and mockups you want to edit visually rather than in a terminal. See Agentastic vs Nimbalyst.

8. Paseo: best for running Codex on a server and reaching it anywhere#

Paseo runs a daemon wherever your code lives and connects desktop, web, CLI, and phone clients to it. Its Codex guide uses the official Codex CLI with your existing OpenAI account.

• Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, web, iOS, and Android; the daemon also runs headless or in Docker.
• Agents: Codex, Claude Code, Copilot, OpenCode, and more than 30 others.
• Isolation: worktree-backed workspaces with setup hooks.
• Price: free; Apache 2.0.

Choose Paseo when Codex should run on a Linux box or an always-on machine and you want to reach it from any device through an opt-in, end-to-end-encrypted relay. See Agentastic vs Paseo.

9. Codex IDE extension: best inside VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf#

The Codex IDE extension puts Codex in a sidebar in VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf, while Xcode and JetBrains IDEs reach Codex through their own built-in integrations. You add open files and selections as context, review changes beside the code, and hand longer tasks to Codex Cloud.

• Platforms: wherever those editors run.
• Agents: Codex.
• Isolation: works in your open checkout; delegate to the cloud for longer work.
• Price: included with ChatGPT Plus and higher, or usable with an API key. The extension isn't open source.

Choose it when you make focused edits yourself and want Codex in the same window. It isn't a dashboard for many parallel chats.

10. Zed: best fast editor with Codex threads#

Zed runs Codex as an ACP external agent: install it from the ACP Registry, then start Codex threads from the Agent Panel or the Threads Sidebar, with Codex handling its own sign-in.

• Platforms: macOS, Linux, and Windows.
• Agents: Codex, Claude Agent, OpenCode, Copilot, Cursor, and other ACP agents.
• Isolation: an optional linked worktree per thread (parallel agents).
• Price: a free, open-source editor; Zed doesn't charge for external agents.

Choose Zed if you want a native editor first and Codex as one thread type among several.

11. Codex Cloud: best when work must continue while your computer sleeps#

Codex Cloud runs tasks in hosted workspaces built from a published environment: Codex inspects your GitHub repositories, installs dependencies, tests the setup, and gives every task its own working files. You start and review tasks from the web, the ChatGPT mobile app, or the desktop app, and open a pull request when you are ready.

• Platforms: web, mobile, and the desktop app.
• Agents: Codex.
• Isolation: an isolated workspace per task.
• Price: included with ChatGPT Plus and higher.

A cloud task can't see your machine: local files, running processes, browser logins, and your VPN all stay behind, so it suits work that only needs the repository and approved network access. If you want any agent on cloud machines from your own accounts, Agentastic's cloud agents run on Modal, Fly.io, or Vercel Sandbox.

How to choose#

Codex is your only agent#

Use Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app. Add the IDE extension if you edit by hand, and Codex Cloud for long tasks.

You use Codex with Claude Code or other agents on a Mac#

Agentastic gives every agent the same worktrees, containers, and review flow, and tracks remaining quota for each Codex and Claude login. Conductor fits if its four agents are enough. For the Claude side of the decision, see the best Claude Code GUI apps.

You work on Windows or Linux#

The ChatGPT desktop app (Linux in preview), Orca, Paseo, T3 Code, Nimbalyst, and Zed all run there, and Superset has an experimental Linux build.

You want to control Codex from your phone#

OpenAI's Remote works through the ChatGPT app with a connected Mac or Windows PC. Orca, Paseo, and T3 Code ship their own phone apps, and Agentastic's iPhone Companion, a TestFlight beta, covers Codex along with every other agent. Claude Code on iPhone compares the security models, and most of it applies to Codex too.

The work has to outlive your laptop#

Use Codex Cloud, or run agents on a machine that stays on: Agentastic's SSH hosts and cloud agents, or a Paseo daemon on a server.

Sources#

Each product claim above was checked against these first-party pages on October 5, 2026:

• OpenAI: ChatGPT desktop app, what's new, Linux, Windows, worktrees, pricing, Remote, IDE extension, Codex Cloud, non-interactive mode, open-source components
• Conductor: documentation, pricing
• Superset: product facts, Superset Mobile
• Orca: install, supported agents, repository
• T3 Code: repository, t3.codes
• Nimbalyst: downloads, repository
• Paseo: getting started, security, repository
• Zed: external agents, parallel agents

Continue the research:

• Claude Code vs Codex
• Agentastic vs Codex
• Track Claude Code and Codex usage on a Mac

Frequently asked questions#

Is there an official Codex desktop app?#

Yes. Since July 9, 2026, OpenAI's Codex app has been part of the ChatGPT desktop app: open it, select Codex, and you get Codex's own chats, worktrees, diff review, and Git tools. It runs on macOS and Windows, with a Linux preview.

Why is the Codex app now ChatGPT?#

OpenAI merged the standalone Codex app into the ChatGPT desktop app on July 9, 2026, so Codex now sits beside ChatGPT's Chat and Work modes in one app. Codex keeps a dedicated view and separate history, you can make it the default view, and existing Codex app users updated in place.

Is the Codex app available on Linux?#

Yes, in preview. The ChatGPT desktop app, which includes Codex, has packages for Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04, Debian 13, Fedora 43 and 44, and Arch Linux on x64 and ARM64. Computer Use isn't in the Linux preview yet, and other distributions aren't formally supported.

Is the Codex app free?#

The ChatGPT desktop app is available on every ChatGPT plan, including Free, where Codex uses GPT-6 Luna as it rolls out. Plus costs $20 a month and Pro starts at $100, adding more models and usage plus Codex on the web, in the CLI, and in the IDE extension. Codex and ChatGPT Work draw on the same usage limits.

Does the Codex app support git worktrees?#

Yes. Choose Worktree under the composer and Codex creates a managed worktree in detached HEAD under $CODEX_HOME/worktrees, copies ignored files listed in .worktreeinclude, and can hand the chat off to your local checkout later. It keeps your 15 most recent managed worktrees by default and snapshots the work before deleting one.

Codex app vs CLI: which should I use?#

Use the CLI for scripts and CI with codex exec, for SSH sessions, or when you prefer a terminal. Use the app when several chats run in parallel and you want managed worktrees, a diff pane with comments and commits, cloud tasks, and control from your phone. Both can use the same ChatGPT sign-in.

What is the best Codex app alternative for Mac?#

If you run Codex next to Claude Code or other agents, Agentastic gives each task its own worktree or container with native terminals, Chat, diff review, and a browser, for free. Conductor is a focused alternative if its four agents are enough, and Orca or Superset suit teams that also want Linux.