Codex (OpenAI) vs Perplexity Comet
Which one should you pick? Here's the full breakdown.
Codex (OpenAI)
OpenAI's cloud-based coding agent -- runs parallel tasks, proposes PRs, and lives inside ChatGPT
Powered by GPT-5.3-Codex / GPT-5.4
Perplexity Comet
Perplexity's agentic AI browser -- FREE on all platforms as of 2026-03-18 (previously $200/mo Max-only). iOS, Android, Windows, Mac. Browses the web, executes multi-step tasks, and summarizes pages in-line. Comet Plus ($5/mo) adds premium publisher content
| Category | Codex (OpenAI) | Perplexity Comet |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Output Quality | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Value | 8.0 | 9.5 |
| Features | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.3 | 8.4 |
Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Codex (OpenAI) | Perplexity Comet |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starting Price | $0 | $0 |
Benchmark Head-to-Head
GPT-5.3-Codex benchmarks — Perplexity Comet has no published benchmarks
| Benchmark | Description | Score |
|---|---|---|
| SWE-bench | Real GitHub issue fixing | 72% |
| HumanEval | Python code generation | 95% |
Which Should You Pick?
Pick Codex (OpenAI) if...
- ✓More features (9 vs 8)
Developers already paying for ChatGPT Plus who want a coding agent at no extra cost. Especially good for parallel task execution -- assign multiple bug fixes or feature branches and let Codex work them simultaneously.
Visit Codex (OpenAI)Pick Perplexity Comet if...
- ✓Better value for money (9.5/10)
Users who already use Perplexity for search and want an agent browser that can complete multi-step tasks (booking, research, shopping, document summarization) across tabs. Also a strong introduction to the AI-browser category for anyone curious but unwilling to pay $200/mo for a preview -- the 2026-03-18 free rollout makes evaluation risk-free.
Visit Perplexity CometOur Verdict
Codex (OpenAI) and Perplexity Comet are extremely close overall. Your choice comes down to specific needs -- Codex (OpenAI) is better for developers already paying for chatgpt plus who want a coding agent at no extra cost, while Perplexity Comet works best for users who already use perplexity for search and want an agent browser that can complete multi-step tasks (booking, research, shopping, document summarization) across tabs.