Codex alternative
Buildful vs OpenAI Codex
Codex is OpenAI's coding agent, included with ChatGPT plans. It runs on your computer or in OpenAI's cloud, where it can open a pull request. Buildful takes a described change and hands you a tested pull request; UI changes come with a recording.
1,000 tasks for $10 a month.About a cent a task.
Your first 3 tasks are free. No card needed.
Stay with OpenAI Codex if
- You already pay for ChatGPT and use it for more than code.
- You like steering an agent step by step, in your own terminal or editor.
- You want OpenAI's models in OpenAI's own tools.
Switch to Buildful if
- You'd rather the agent worked in its own cloud machine than on your computer.
- You want your tests run on every change, and every UI change tried in a real browser and recorded.
- You want a set monthly price: 1,000 tasks for $10.
At a glance
How OpenAI Codex and Buildful compare
| Compared on | OpenAI Codex | Buildful |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included with ChatGPT. Plus is $20 a month, with limits per 5-hour window and weekly limits too. Pro from $100. | Pro is $10 a month for 1,000 tasks. Team is $40 for 3,000. Free to try with 3 tasks. |
| Where it runs | On your computer, or in OpenAI's cloud on Plus and up. | In a private cloud sandbox, one per task, deleted when the task ends. Nothing runs on your computer. |
| To get started | Install the app or CLI, or connect GitHub to Codex in the cloud. | Sign up and connect a GitHub repo. |
| Models | OpenAI's GPT models. | Buildful picks the right open-weight model for each task. On Pro and Team, pick a frontier model yourself, like Claude or GPT, with prepaid credit or your own API key. |
| What you get back | Changes in your local files, or a pull request from a cloud task. | A pull request on your GitHub repo, ready to review and merge. |
| Testing | Runs the checks you ask for. The desktop app can click through your app in a browser. | Runs your repo's checks, then tests UI changes in a real browser and records it. |
Try it on your repoYour first 3 tasks are free. No card needed. |
Compare Buildful with other tools
Why we built Buildful
Great software shouldn't depend on who can afford a $200 subscription.
- A model chosen for each taskBuildful picks the right open-weight model for each one. Frontier models, whenever you choose.
- Your repos, your pull requestsEvery change is a pull request on your GitHub. One task can change several repos, one PR each. Nothing reaches main without you.
- Tested before you mergeYour checks run, and every UI change is tested in a real browser and recorded.
Tasks can also start from Slack or Linear
Switching from OpenAI Codex
Frequently asked questions
Can Buildful use GPT?
Yes, on Pro and Team: pick GPT yourself with prepaid credit, or bring your own OpenAI key. The tasks included in your plan run on the open-weight model Buildful picks for each one.
Can I use Buildful and Codex together?
Yes. Both work on your GitHub repo. Keep Codex for work you want to steer yourself and hand the rest to Buildful.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Buildful runs every task in a private cloud sandbox. You need a browser and a GitHub repo.
What happens to my repo?
Buildful works on a new branch and opens a pull request. Nothing reaches your main branch until you review the change and merge it.
Your first 3 tasks are free. No card needed.