What Is OpenAI Codex CLI? A Coding Agent in the Terminal: Which ChatGPT Plan You Need, Pricing, Sandbox and Training Data

You install Codex CLI, sign in with your ChatGPT account or an API key, and give it tasks in a project folder in the terminal; the agent reads code, changes it and runs commands. It's OpenAI's open-source coding agent (GitHub openai/codex); in the default sandbox, network access is off and writes are limited to the working folder. The README lists the Plus, Pro, Business, Edu and Enterprise plans for the CLI; whether the CLI is on Free and Go is contradictory across sources (the Help Center says it's included, while the pricing page only mentions the desktop app). On Free, Plus and Pro, content may be used for training unless you turn off the ChatGPT data setting.

What it does: OpenAI coding agent that writes code in the terminal
Free: CLI on Free/Go unclear
Sandbox: Default: network off, writes limited to the workspace
Training: On Free/Plus/Pro, may be used unless turned off
Price: Plus $20 · Go $8 · Pro $100/$200/$500

What Is Codex CLI For?

Codex CLI is an agent you start in a project folder: it reads code, edits files and runs commands; it either asks what to do or proceeds automatically. The same agent is also in the ChatGPT desktop app and the IDE extension; Codex Cloud (background tasks, GitHub reviews) is a separate route. The current stable release is rust-v0.162.1 (October 9, 2026).

Coding agent in the terminalWhat you get: Code changesNeeds a separate setup Limiting the agent's permissionsWhat you get: Restricted agentBuilt into the app

Who it's for: developers who want to work with an AI agent in the terminal; people who want to use their ChatGPT subscription for coding as well.

How to Install Codex CLI

The official installation methods are the standard installer (install.sh or install.ps1), Homebrew and GitHub Releases; npm isn't the only way. After installing, you start it with the codex command and sign in with your ChatGPT account or an API key. Operating system and Node version requirements aren't clear in the official sources.

GitHub has a high-severity security advisory dated September 19, 2025 (GHSA-w5fx-fh39-j5rw) that affects 0.38.0 and earlier and is patched in 0.39.0. Use the current version. Also, approval_policy="untrusted" hasn't been supported since CLI 0.149.0.

Can Codex Delete My Files? Sandbox and Training Data

Default security

By default, the agent runs with network access off. In a Git folder it uses Auto mode (workspace write + approval requests); in a non-Git folder, read-only. --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox (--yolo): no sandbox and no approvals; not recommended.

Training data

On Free, Plus and Pro, content may be used for training; turning it off in the ChatGPT data settings also covers Codex tasks. Codex has a separate “Include environments” setting, and changing the ChatGPT setting doesn't change it. On Business, Enterprise, Edu and the API, content isn't used by default.

Other

Replies, interface and voice in Turkish are not stated in the official documentation (Turkey is on the ChatGPT and API country lists).

Which ChatGPT Plan Includes Codex? Pricing and API

Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, EnterpriseYes	The README lists these plans for the CLI.
Free and GoUnclear	The Help Center says “Codex is included in all plans, including Free and Go”; the pricing page lists Free/Go only as “desktop app, gradual rollout,” and the feature matrix has no Free/Go column. Codex Cloud isn't available on Free and Go.
API keyPartly	The CLI works, but cloud features (GitHub reviews, Slack) aren't available.

ChatGPT prices are in dollars: Go $8, Plus $20, Pro $100/$200/$500, Business $20 per user (annual) or $25 (monthly). Codex has no separate price in Turkish lira. Pricing in Turkish lira and VAT for purchases on the web aren't clear in the official sources.

Official pricing page last checked on October 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is OpenAI Codex CLI and what is it for?

An open-source AI coding agent that runs in the terminal; it reads code, edits it and runs commands.

Is Codex CLI free?

The CLI itself is open source, but you need a ChatGPT plan or an API key. Whether the CLI is on Free and Go is contradictory across sources; it definitely works with Plus at $20/month.

Which ChatGPT plans include Codex CLI?

The README lists Plus, Pro, Business, Edu and Enterprise. For Free and Go, the Help Center says it's included, while the pricing page only mentions the desktop app.

Can Codex delete my files?

In the default sandbox, network access is off, writes are limited to the working folder, and commands require approval. --yolo turns these protections off and isn't recommended.

Does Codex use my code for training?

On Free, Plus and Pro it may be used unless you turn it off; on Business, Enterprise, Edu and the API it isn't used by default.

Tasks and setup kits that use OpenAI Codex CLI

Getting started with Claude Code

Related guides

Sources

Not clear in the official sources: CLI sign-in on Free and Go · replies, interface and voice in Turkish · Turkish lira pricing and VAT for purchases on the web · commercial use rights to output · age and phone requirements · cancellation, refunds, account deletion · operating system and Node version requirements · OpenAI's retention period. Each is covered in its section, along with what you can do.