I compared OpenAI Codex and Claude Code's usage limits — and there's a catch with both $20 plans
Codex vs. Claude Code: I compared their $20 plans, usage limits and hidden catches to find out which AI coding assistant gives you more for your money.
OpenAI and Anthropic have introduced coding assistants called Codex and Claude Code, respectively, which are available on their respective subscription plans. While both assistants provide access to the same AI-powered coding tools, the way their $20 monthly plans handle usage may surprise some users.
For ChatGPT Plus, paying $20 a month grants users access to Codex, along with regular ChatGPT functionality. Claude Pro, which also costs $20 monthly, includes Claude Code alongside Claude's chatbot. Both subscriptions come with a 5-hour usage limit and a weekly allowance. The catch lies in how these limits work and how transparent users are about their remaining usage.
OpenAI provides estimated message ranges for Codex models, giving users a clearer idea of how many coding tasks they can complete within the 5-hour window. These ranges vary depending on the model selected, with GPT-6 Luna offering up to 3,000 messages. However, Anthropic doesn't provide a similar table of guaranteed coding tasks for Claude Code, making it challenging to predict how far the $20 subscription will take users.
Another crucial factor to consider is token consumption. A comparison between Codex and Claude Code found that Claude Code used significantly more tokens – approximately 6.2 million tokens compared to Codex's 1.5 million tokens – in a Figma-to-code task. This difference in token usage can impact the overall value for money, as lower token consumption doesn't always equate to better value if the output requires more work afterward.
Additionally, both platforms share usage across their different interfaces. For Claude Pro users, activities like research, document analysis, or lengthy conversations in Claude's chatbot can reduce the allowance available for coding tasks. In contrast, ChatGPT Plus users won't consume their allowance for instant chat.
As of December 2026, OpenAI will introduce a shared ChatGPT and Codex usage allowance for Plus, Pro, and Business subscriptions, measured in tokens based on the model and task complexity. This change may affect how users manage their coding tasks under the new $20 plan.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
