Comparison · under IB-CODE-2026.2
Cline vs OpenAI Codex CLI
| Cline | OpenAI Codex CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Cline (OSS, Apache 2.0) | OpenAI |
| Pricing | Free extension + API tokens; Teams $20/user/mo for central billing; v3.2 auto-routing reduces typical API spend to $8-12/mo | Included in ChatGPT Pro $200/mo; or raw API at GPT-5.5 rates |
| Default model | Model-agnostic with v3.2 auto-routing (picks cheapest capable model per task) | GPT-5.5 (GPT-5.5-mini available for cost-sensitive runs) |
| CLI surface | — | ✓ |
| Eval status | queued | queued |
Comparison pending — neither side evaluated yet
Both Cline and OpenAI Codex CLI are currently unevaluated under IB-CODE-2026.2. This page will update as evaluations land.
Want this comparison sooner? Vendors can commission an evaluation to bump their tool up the queue (with full editorial independence on the verdict). Readers can email hello@indiebench.dev to vote for which comparison ships next.
About each tool
Cline
Cline is the high-adoption VS Code extension for agentic coding. Large user base, Apache 2.0, model-agnostic. v3.2 (March 2026) auto-routing cuts typical monthly API cost by selecting the cheapest capable model per task. Architectural note: Cline has no standalone CLI binary — evaluations under IB-C…
OpenAI Codex CLI
The Codex name has a long history — the original 2021 Codex API (code-davinci-002) was deprecated in March 2023. The current Codex CLI is a complete re-architecture: GPT-5.5 backed, with Goal Mode for multi-hour autonomous runs, native subagents, MCP server support, plugin marketplace, browser verif…