OpenAI Codex is OpenAI's coding agent, available as a command-line tool, an IDE extension and a cloud service. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is an AI code editor from Cognition. It was renamed in 2026, and its old website now redirects to Devin's site. Both help you change code with plain-English instructions.
The short version
| OpenAI Codex | Devin Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Coding agent: CLI, IDE extension, cloud | AI code editor |
| Where you work | Terminal first, plus IDE and cloud | Its own editor |
| Free plan | Unclear. OpenAI lists a Free ChatGPT plan for trying Codex, but check what it includes. Full use needs a paid plan or API credits | Yes (unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, light agent quota) |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| MCP support | Yes | Yes (stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE) |
| Project instructions | AGENTS.md | Reads AGENTS.md and imports older .windsurf/rules files |
Pricing changes. See OpenAI's Codex page and Devin's pricing.
What they have in common
- Plain-English changes across files. Both are agents, not just autocomplete.
AGENTS.md. Both read it, so one instructions file can serve either tool.- MCP. Both can connect to MCP servers (a standard way to plug extra tools into an AI).
Key differences
The interface. Codex is terminal-first. The CLI installs with npm install -g @openai/codex, and there is also an IDE extension and a cloud service. Devin Desktop is an editor, so you see files and code with AI built in. That's a gentler start if the terminal is unfamiliar, though a full editor has its own learning curve.
Cost to try. Devin Desktop's free plan includes unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, with only a light quota for agents. OpenAI lists a Free ChatGPT plan for exploring Codex, but it isn't clear what it includes, so check before relying on it. For regular use, OpenAI points to a paid ChatGPT plan (such as Plus, Pro, Business, Edu or Enterprise), and you can also use an API key.
The rename. The product was renamed in 2026, so older guides use the old name. Devin's site says this is a rename and that only the name and branding are changing. Even so, older tutorials may not match what you see, and docs and pricing now live on Devin's sites. Codex doesn't have this problem, though check OpenAI's docs, which have moved to a new address.
Openness. Codex is open source. Devin Desktop is not.
Where the agent runs. Devin's page talks about managing agents locally or in the cloud from one place. Codex also has a cloud option. Look at each vendor's docs for the details of how that works, because we haven't compared them.
Do they work together?
Yes. Because both read AGENTS.md, you can keep one set of project instructions and use either tool on the same repository. Some people use an editor for day-to-day work and a terminal agent for bigger jobs.
Who should pick what
- You want a free, visual place to try AI coding: Devin Desktop.
- You like inline completions in an editor: Devin Desktop's free plan includes them.
- You live in a terminal or want an open-source agent: Codex.
- You already pay for ChatGPT: Codex fits naturally.
- You dislike product churn: The product was renamed in 2026, so older guides use the old name.
Our verdict
Devin Desktop is the easier way in and has a free plan. Codex is the better fit for terminal-first, open-source-minded users on ChatGPT. For a similar editor-versus-terminal comparison, see Claude Code vs Cursor.