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, with a recording.
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 newest models as soon as they ship.
Switch to Buildful if
- You want every change tested and recorded without setting anything up.
- You want every change tested in a real browser, with a recording to watch.
- You want a set monthly price: 1,000 tasks for $10.
Side by side
Same task, two ways of working.
| OpenAI Codex | Buildful | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | OpenAI CodexIncluded with ChatGPT. Plus is $20 a month, with usage limits that reset every 5 hours. Pro from $100. | BuildfulPro is $10 a month for 1,000 tasks. Max is $30 for 3,000. |
| Where it runs | OpenAI CodexOn your computer, or in OpenAI's cloud on Plus and up. | BuildfulIn a private cloud sandbox. Nothing runs on your computer. |
| To get started | OpenAI CodexInstall the app or CLI, or connect GitHub to Codex in the cloud. | BuildfulSign up and connect a GitHub repo. |
| Models | OpenAI CodexOpenAI's GPT models. | BuildfulBuildful picks the model for each task. On Max, pick any frontier model yourself, like Claude or GPT, pay as you go. |
| What you get back | OpenAI CodexChanges in your local files, or a pull request from a cloud task. | BuildfulA pull request on your GitHub repo, ready to review and merge. |
| Testing | OpenAI CodexRuns the checks you ask for. The desktop app can click through your app in a browser. | BuildfulRuns your repo's checks, then tests UI changes in a real browser and records it. |
Switching from OpenAI Codex
Questions, answered.
Can Buildful use GPT?
On Max, yes: pick GPT yourself, pay as you go, or bring your own OpenAI key. On the $10 plan, Buildful picks the model for every task.
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.