Last verified Nov 8, 2026
Claude Code vs Codex for beginners
Both Claude Code (by Anthropic) and Codex (by OpenAI) are coding agents that read your project, run commands with your permission, and follow a global instructions file (`~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` vs `~/.codex/AGENTS.md`).
| Criterion | Claude Code | Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Global instructions file | ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md | ~/.codex/AGENTS.md (reads 32 KiB by default; our guide is ≤ 24 KB) |
| Desktop app for beginners | Claude desktop app with a visual Code tab and folder picker. | Codex app / CLI and ChatGPT integration. |
| Permission controls | Manual mode asks before editing files or running terminal commands. | Approval modes ask before running commands or writing outside the workspace. |
| Account needed | Paid Claude plan (Pro or higher). | Paid ChatGPT plan or OpenAI API key. |
When to choose Claude Code
- You want the exact screens and menus used as the default in our Path.
- You already have a paid Claude subscription.
When to choose Codex
- You already pay for ChatGPT Plus/Pro and don't want a second AI subscription to start learning.
- You want an agent that uses the open
AGENTS.mdstandard natively.
Copy for your agent
Read your global instructions, confirm which version of the Agentic Makers Guide you follow, and tell me where my project is on the 6-stage Path.
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