Codex CLI is an open-source artificial intelligence coding agent developed by OpenAI. It operates through a command-line interface and can read and modify files, execute commands, and perform software development tasks on a user's local computer.
Codex CLI is part of OpenAI's broader Codex software-development platform, alongside Codex extensions for integrated development environments, desktop applications, and cloud-based development.
OpenAI released Codex CLI on April 16, 2025, alongside the introduction of its o3 and o4-mini reasoning models. The software was introduced as a lightweight coding agent designed to connect OpenAI models with source code and computing tasks through a user's terminal.
Codex CLI works directly with the files and directories of a software project, allowing it to create and modify source code without requiring an integrated development environment. Through its command-line interface, it can also execute shell commands, use web search, and run build tools, application frameworks, web frameworks, tests, and other development tools used by the project.
What is Codex CLI?
Codex CLI is an open-source ai assistants & llm program for Windows from OpenAI, Inc.. It ranks 2nd by popularity among ai assistants & llms in this catalogue. It is written in Rust.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and ARM64 as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.161.0, released on October 7, 2026. 138 versions are listed since August 20, 2025, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 122 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 16,554 times. The source code on GitHub (openai/codex) has 130,408 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 2 of our languages. Similar programs include Claude Code, ChatGPT and GPT4All.
Project description on GitHub: “Lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Frequent updates (about 122 a year)
- Large user base
In short: Codex CLI is an open-source ai assistants & llm tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is Codex CLI safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
A7493348634867C905F7298211923C57EB01DFE45400207A423C5453B190B11A· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the openai/codex repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Security policy10
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- Licence declared10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Published packages10
- Pinned dependencies9
- Signed releases8
- Branch protection4
- Code review0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Restricted token permissions0
- Fuzzing0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 138 versions ›138 versions over 1 year · about 122 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.161.0Latest | October 7, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 0.160.1 | October 5, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 0.160.0 | October 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 0.159.3 | September 30, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 0.159.2 | September 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 0.159.1 | September 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 0.159.0 | September 29, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 0.158.0 | September 28, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id OpenAI.Codex -echoco install codex -yscoop install main/codexProgram files (.exe): codex.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- OpenAI, Inc.
- Category
- AI assistants & LLMs
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/openai/codex
- Written in
- Rust
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 0.161.0
- Released
- October 7, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- August 26, 2025
- Versions listed
- 138
- Updates / year
- 122
- Chocolatey downloads
- 16,554
- GitHub stars
- 130,408
- GitHub forks
- 20,567
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- OpenAI.Codex
- Chocolatey package
- codex
- Scoop package
- main/codex
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Codex CLI
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Claude Code2.1.302Unleash Claude’s raw power directly in your terminal. Search million-line codebases instantly. Turn hours-long workflows into a single command. Your tools. Your workflow. Your codebase, evolving at thought speed.Proprietary67.1K ↓ -
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oh-my-pi18.12.6⌥ AI Coding agent for the terminal — hash-anchored edits, optimized tool harness, LSP, Python, browser, subagents, and moreOpen source654 ↓ -
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LobeHub2.2.20An open-source, modern-design AI chat framework. Supports Multi AI Providers (OpenAI / Claude 4 / Gemini / Ollama / DeepSeek / Qwen), Knowledge Base (file upload / knowledge management / RAG), Multi-Modals (Plugins/Artifacts) and Thinking.Open source150 ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is Codex CLI free?
Yes. Codex CLI is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is Codex CLI safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Codex CLI with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does Codex CLI run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Codex CLI?
The versions page lists all 138 versions with links to their official installer files, back to August 20, 2025.
Can I use Codex CLI without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to Codex CLI?
Claude Code, ChatGPT, GPT4All, oh-my-pi and T3 Code. The alternatives page compares them.
