Side-by-Side Comparison · 2026

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) vs OpenAI Codex CLI: Full Comparison (2026)

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is ai-first ide, now devin desktop (renamed from windsurf on 2 june 2026). OpenAI Codex CLI is openai's open-source terminal coding agent powered by its reasoning models. Use the breakdown below to find the right fit for your needs.

Windsurf (formerly Codeium)

Windsurf (Cognition AI)

Freemium
vs

OpenAI Codex CLI

OpenAI

Freemium
This page presents factual information sourced from publicly available vendor documentation and product pages. AIHub does not endorse either product. The right tool depends on your specific use case, team, and requirements — we recommend evaluating both tools directly before making a decision.

Side-by-Side Overview

Pricing Model
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): FreemiumOpenAI Codex CLI: Freemium
API Access
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): Not availableOpenAI Codex CLI: Available
Platforms
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): WebOpenAI Codex CLI: macOS, Linux, Windows (WSL)
Integrations
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): —OpenAI Codex CLI: 5 integrations
Vendor
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): Windsurf (Cognition AI)OpenAI Codex CLI: OpenAI
Category
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): Code AssistanceOpenAI Codex CLI: Code Assistance
Launch
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): —OpenAI Codex CLI: Apr 16, 2025

About Windsurf (formerly Codeium)

Codeium rebranded to Windsurf in late 2024, launching an AI-first IDE (fork of VS Code) with Cascade - an agentic engine that can autonomously plan and execute multi-step coding tasks. Cognition AI (makers of Devin) acquired Windsurf in July 2025, after OpenAI's reported $3B bid lapsed and Google licensed the technology and hired its leadership; Cognition's terms were not publicly disclosed. On 2 June 2026 Cognition renamed Windsurf to Devin Desktop, keeping pricing and the editor the same.

Designed For

  • Code completion
  • Agentic coding
  • Refactoring
  • Multi-file edits
Full Windsurf (formerly Codeium) details

About OpenAI Codex CLI

Codex CLI is OpenAI's open-source command-line coding agent that runs in your terminal and edits code, runs commands, and executes tests in a sandbox on your local machine. Powered by OpenAI's codex-optimized reasoning models, it reads your repository, plans multi-step changes, and applies them with approval controls. It complements the cloud-based Codex agent, giving developers a local, scriptable, terminal-native agentic coding workflow.

Designed For

  • Terminal-based coding
  • Multi-file refactoring
  • Test generation and fixing
  • Scripted automation of code tasks
Full OpenAI Codex CLI details

Strengths & Limitations

Windsurf (formerly Codeium)

Strengths

  • Cascade agentic engine
  • Free tier available
  • 70+ languages
  • VS Code compatible

Limitations

  • New product, less mature than Cursor
  • Cognition acquisition uncertainty

OpenAI Codex CLI

Strengths

  • Open-source (Apache 2.0)
  • Runs locally in the terminal
  • Sandboxed execution with approval modes
  • Included with ChatGPT Plus/Pro/Business plans
  • Scriptable and CI-friendly

Limitations

  • Terminal-first (no rich GUI)
  • Heavy usage can hit plan limits
  • Requires OpenAI account/API
  • Newer than some rivals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Windsurf (formerly Codeium) and OpenAI Codex CLI?

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is ai-first ide, now devin desktop (renamed from windsurf on 2 june 2026), while OpenAI Codex CLI is openai's open-source terminal coding agent powered by its reasoning models. Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is designed for Code Assistance; OpenAI Codex CLI is designed for Professional developers, Terminal power users. The right fit depends on your specific requirements.

How do the pricing models compare?

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is available under a Freemium model. OpenAI Codex CLI is available under a Freemium model. OpenAI Codex CLI's entry tier starts at $20/mo. Always verify pricing on each vendor's official website as it may change.

What integrations does each tool support?

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) integrates with various tools. OpenAI Codex CLI integrates with GitHub, MCP servers, Terminal tools, ChatGPT sign-in. Check each vendor's documentation for the full and current list.

How do I choose between Windsurf (formerly Codeium) and OpenAI Codex CLI?

Consider your team's technical requirements, budget, existing tooling, and use case before deciding. We recommend signing up for free trials or demos of both tools where available, and consulting each vendor's documentation. AIHub provides this comparison for informational purposes only.