OpenAI Codex / Alternatives
Alternatives · Nov 2025 – Nov 2026
Best OpenAI Codex alternatives, according to developers who switched
First come the tools that developers on Hacker News explicitly said they prefer over OpenAI Codex. After that, the best-rated terminal agent tools.
| # | Alternative | Type | Approval | Picked over OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claude Code | Terminal agent | 54% | 62 | Compare |
| 2 | Pi | Terminal agent | 84% | 17 | Compare |
| 3 | OpenCode | Terminal agent | 66% | 7 | Compare |
| 4 | Cursor | AI IDE | 55% | 7 | Compare |
| 5 | Claude Opus 4.5 | Model | 78% | 3 | |
| 6 | GitHub Copilot | IDE extension | 42% | 2 | Compare |
| 7 | Lovable | App builder | 45% | 2 | Compare |
| 8 | Amp | Terminal agent | 90% | 2 | |
| 9 | Claude Fable 5 | Model | 57% | 2 | |
| 10 | Antigravity | AI IDE | 45% | 2 | Compare |
OpenAI Codex itself has 69% approval from 2013 opinions. See what developers say about it →