Brandwave

Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Claude Code had more branded searches than OpenAI Codex among AI coding assistants worldwide. Claude Code had about 3.1 million branded searches, while OpenAI Codex had 992,000. Claude Code made up 43.7% of all AI coding assistant searches we track, and OpenAI Codex accounted for 13.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI coding assistants, Claude Code appeared in all five answers and OpenAI Codex in three. Claude Code was mentioned before OpenAI Codex in four out of five answers.

Among AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Claude Code, about 3 searches for every 1 for OpenAI Codex

Claude Code 3.1M searchesOpenAI Codex 992K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Claude Code, mentioned in every answer we collected

Claude Code in 5 of 5OpenAI Codex in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Claude Code, named ahead of OpenAI Codex in 4 of 5 answers

Claude Code first in 4OpenAI Codex first in 1

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Top AI coding assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Claude Code appeared in all five answers. OpenAI Codex was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Claude Code was listed before OpenAI Codex in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Cursor1st
  2. Claude Code2nd
  3. GitHub Copilot3rd
  4. OpenAI Codex4th
  5. Replit5th
  6. Windsurf6th
  7. Lovable7th
  8. Bolt8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Claude Code5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cursor5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GitHub Copilot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenAI Codex3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Windsurf2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Replit1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bolt1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lovable1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI coding assistants

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Claude Code or OpenAI Codex more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Claude Code and OpenAI Codex by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI coding assistants we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Claude Code and OpenAI Codex among AI coding assistants worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Claude Code, OpenAI Codex. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthClaude CodeReplitOpenAI CodexCursorGitHub CopilotBoltLovableWindsurf
Oct 202524.9%25.2%7.9%17.7%17.1%2.3%1.9%3.1%
Nov 202528%22.9%6.5%19.5%15.6%2%2%3.4%
Dec 202531.4%26.8%5.3%15.6%14.7%1.6%2%2.7%
Jan 202650.9%19.9%4.1%11.7%9.3%0.97%1.4%1.6%
Feb 202650.2%16.2%11.5%9.6%9.1%0.79%1.2%1.5%
Mar 202656.8%14.8%7%8.7%10%0.59%0.88%1.3%
Apr 202655%14.3%8%8.1%11.6%0.57%1.3%1.2%
May 202648.7%15.6%14.5%7.6%10.2%0.76%1.4%1.2%
Jun 202649.2%15.7%11%10.9%9.1%1.1%1.4%1.6%
Jul 202646.2%18.3%14.6%9%7.1%1.6%2%1.3%
Aug 202643.2%20.9%13.1%10.1%7.9%1.8%1.8%1.1%
Sep 202643.7%21.4%13.9%8.6%8.2%1.5%1.5%1.2%

How has the Claude Code and OpenAI Codex comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, OpenAI Codex gained share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide, from 13.1% to 13.9%.

  2. In September 2026, Claude Code gained share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide, from 43.2% to 43.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

45 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Claude Code’s and OpenAI Codex’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Claude Code

22 branded search terms

  • anthropic claude code
  • Claude Code
  • claude code agents
  • claude code ai
  • claude code anthropic
  • claude code app
  • claude code cli
  • claude code desktop
  • claude code docs
  • claude code extension
  • claude code github
  • claude code mac
  • claude code mcp
  • claude code plugins
  • claude code skills
  • claude code vscode
  • claude code web
  • claude code windows
  • claude codes
  • claude coding
  • claude-code
  • claudecode

OpenAI Codex

23 branded search terms

  • ai codex
  • chatgpt codex
  • codex agent
  • codex ai
  • codex ai coding
  • codex app
  • codex chatgpt
  • codex cli
  • codex coding
  • codex desktop
  • codex extension
  • codex github
  • codex ide
  • codex mac
  • codex open ai
  • codex openai
  • codex vscode
  • open ai codex
  • openai codex
  • openai codex cli
  • openai codex github
  • openai's codex
  • openaicodex

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI coding assistants

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