OpenAI Adjusts Pricing Strategy for Its Coding Assistant, Targeting High-Volume Users

OpenAI introduced a new subscription option for its Codex programming tool on Wednesday, a move that positions it more directly against rival Anthropic's Claude Code. The $100-per-month "Pro" tier grants users five times the Codex capacity of the existing $20 Plus plan, designed for extended development sessions.

In a statement on social media, the company framed the Plus plan as sufficient for regular daily work, while the new tier serves as a "more accessible upgrade path" for developers with heavier demands. This brings OpenAI's personal subscription count to five, including Free, Go, Plus, and two Pro levels—the other being a $200-per-month option.

The adjustment mirrors the structure of Anthropic's service, which also offers multiple paid tiers. Anthropic's high-end plans, priced at $100 and $200 monthly, provide greater Claude Code limits than its mid-level Pro subscription. Both tools, which help automate coding tasks and corrections, have seen significant adoption.

According to earlier reports, Claude Code's annual revenue exceeded $2.5 billion in February, more than doubling since the start of the year. OpenAI's Codex, released broadly last fall, now reports three million weekly users. CEO Sam Altman stated the company will incrementally raise system limits as it works toward a goal of ten million users.

This pricing shift occurs as competition for developer loyalty intensifies. OpenAI recently released a dedicated Codex application for Mac computers, seeking to capture more of the growing market for AI-assisted software development.

Source: CNBC