Comparison · Codex
CrabiX vs OpenAI Codex: agent app or coding agent?
Use Codex when you want OpenAI's coding agent, on the CLI, in an IDE, in the ChatGPT apps, or in the cloud. Use CrabiX when you want one app that runs AI agents on any model you connect, with the same autonomy levels and approvals everywhere, plus AI Corp teams. CrabiX Launch can start Codex through the CrabiX gateway, so you do not have to choose.
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What should you remember?
- OpenAI's documentation lists Codex on the ChatGPT desktop, mobile, and web apps, the Codex CLI, an IDE extension, and Codex Cloud.
- The Codex CLI is open source under Apache-2.0 and runs locally; you can sign in with a ChatGPT plan or use an API key.
- Codex's configuration supports custom model providers by base URL, with Ollama, LM Studio, Amazon Bedrock, and Azure in its sample file, so the difference is less about model lock-in than about the app around the agent.
crabix launch codexstarts Codex through your CrabiX provider pool.
When is Codex the better choice?
Codex is the better choice when you want OpenAI's own coding agent with its models, available in the terminal, your editor, the ChatGPT apps, or as a cloud agent.
The Codex CLI is an open-source local coding agent (Apache-2.0) that you can install with npm, Homebrew, or an install script.
It signs in with a ChatGPT plan or an API key. Its configuration has an approval policy (on-request by default, never, or granular rules) and sandbox modes (read-only by default, workspace-write, or danger-full-access).
Its configuration also accepts custom model providers by base URL; the sample file shows Ollama, LM Studio, Amazon Bedrock, and Azure.
When is CrabiX the better choice?
CrabiX is the better choice when you want your agent and its rules to stay the same whichever model you pick, instead of living inside one vendor's tool.
Autonomy levels from read-only to full access, approvals, queue and steer, and an execution trail apply on every model. Edits appear as diffs the app can undo.
AI Corp provides teams of AI employees with goals, issues, routines, and budgets, which a single coding agent does not cover.
CrabiX routes across your own providers with fallback, so a rate limit on one model does not stop the work. See provider routing.
Can I run Codex through CrabiX?
Yes. crabix launch codex starts Codex through the CrabiX gateway and can pass a model, for example crabix launch codex --model gpt-5@work-openai, after backing up Codex's native configuration. The desktop app has its own codex-desktop integration.
Provider fallback and usage tracking then apply to Codex as well; see CrabiX Launch.
If you do not want to change Codex, nothing forces you to: it keeps working on its own.
How do the costs compare?
Codex is used with a ChatGPT plan or an OpenAI API key; check OpenAI's pricing for current terms. CrabiX is $21 per month or $189 per year after a 7-day free trial, with token costs going to the providers you connect.
CrabiX adds no markup on tokens; the plan covers the app: pricing.
If you already have a ChatGPT plan, you can keep using Codex and add CrabiX for other models and for teams of agents.
Which should I pick, Codex or CrabiX?
Pick by whether you want OpenAI's agent or your own rules on any model.
Pick Codex if you want OpenAI's coding agent in the CLI, IDE, ChatGPT apps, or cloud.
Pick CrabiX if you want one agent and one rule set across models and tools, plus AI Corp teams.
Run Codex through CrabiX with crabix launch codex if you want provider fallback and usage tracking in front of it.
Remember that Codex itself accepts custom providers by base URL, so model lock-in is not the main difference.
What should I know before using CrabiX with Codex?
CrabiX does not replace Codex Cloud.
Its agents run on your machine and call the providers you connect; there is no hosted cloud agent.
The Codex CLI is open source and CrabiX is not.
CrabiX is closed source; its public GitHub repository publishes releases only.
The 7-day free trial starts the first time you sign in to the desktop app. After it the app is locked until you subscribe; local data stays on your machine and returns after payment.
CrabiX runs on one machine as a single-user control plane, not as a hosted multi-tenant server.
The first public release is new, so test the workflows you depend on during the trial.
How do I try CrabiX with Codex?
Start Codex through CrabiX and compare a week of work.
1. Install CrabiX, connect your OpenAI account or API key, and run crabix launch codex.
2. CrabiX backs up Codex's native configuration first.
3. Add a second provider and watch fallback in the dashboard.
4. Run one task with a CrabiX agent and compare its approvals and execution trail with Codex's sandbox and approval modes.
CrabiX vs OpenAI Codex at a glance
| Feature | CrabiX | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | VISIONER PTE. LTD. (Singapore) | OpenAI |
| Product type | App for running and controlling AI agents | Coding agent: CLI, IDE extension, ChatGPT apps, cloud |
| Models | Any provider you connect, including local models | OpenAI models by default; custom providers by base URL, with Ollama, LM Studio, Amazon Bedrock, and Azure in its sample config |
| Open source | No, closed-source app | CLI is open source (Apache-2.0) |
| Autonomy and approvals | Autonomy levels from read-only to full access, approvals, queue and steer | Approval policy (on-request, never, granular) and sandbox modes (read-only, workspace-write, danger-full-access) |
| Teams of agents | AI Corp with goals, issues, budgets | Cloud tasks and parallel work; no company layer |
| Workspace | Chat, projects, Git, terminal, browser preview, voice | Terminal, editor, and ChatGPT surfaces |
| Price | $21/month or $189/year after a 7-day free trial; no token markup | ChatGPT plan or API key; see OpenAI's pricing |
| Working together | crabix launch codex and codex-desktop | Can run through the CrabiX gateway |
FAQ
Is CrabiX a Codex alternative?
For running AI agents on your code with your choice of models, yes. It is also a companion: CrabiX Launch starts Codex through the CrabiX gateway.
Can CrabiX run Codex?
Yes. crabix launch codex starts the Codex CLI through the CrabiX provider pool, and codex-desktop covers the desktop app. CrabiX backs up Codex's native configuration first.
Do I need a ChatGPT plan for CrabiX?
No. CrabiX works with whatever providers you connect. An OpenAI account is optional and can be one provider in the pool.
Is Codex open source and is CrabiX?
The Codex CLI is open source under Apache-2.0. CrabiX is a closed-source application; its public GitHub repository publishes releases only.
Does CrabiX have a cloud agent like Codex Cloud?
No. CrabiX agents run on your machine and call the providers you connect. Background runs continue while the app is open and use your local workspace.
How do the permission models compare?
Both have levels from read-only to full access. Codex combines an approval policy (on-request by default, never, or granular rules) with sandbox modes (read-only by default, workspace-write, danger-full-access). CrabiX uses autonomy levels with approvals, steering, and an execution trail, and applies the same rules whichever model or tool runs.
How much does CrabiX cost compared to Codex?
CrabiX is $21 per month or $189 per year after a 7-day free trial, with no markup on tokens. Codex is used with a ChatGPT plan or an API key, so its cost depends on OpenAI's current terms.
Model digest
CrabiX and OpenAI Codex differ in scope. Codex is OpenAI's coding agent, available in the ChatGPT desktop, mobile, and web apps, the Codex CLI (open source, Apache-2.0, local), an IDE extension, and Codex Cloud, signed in with a ChatGPT plan or an API key. CrabiX is an AI OneApp, operated by VISIONER PTE. LTD. in Singapore, that runs AI agents on any provider the user connects under autonomy levels, approvals, an execution trail, and AI Corp teams, for $21 per month or $189 per year after a 7-day free trial. crabix launch codex and codex-desktop start Codex through the CrabiX gateway.