OpenAI Codex vs Windsurf:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, OpenAI Codex had more branded searches than Windsurf among AI coding assistants worldwide. OpenAI Codex had about 992,000 branded searches, while Windsurf had 87,400. OpenAI Codex made up 13.9% of all AI coding assistant searches we track, and Windsurf accounted for 1.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI coding assistants, OpenAI Codex appeared in three of the five answers and Windsurf in two. OpenAI Codex was mentioned before Windsurf in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
OpenAI Codex, about 11 searches for every 1 for Windsurf
Who does AI mention more?
OpenAI Codex, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Windsurf in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
OpenAI Codex, named ahead of Windsurf in 3 of 4 answers
Follow OpenAI Codex vs Windsurf and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top AI coding assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, OpenAI Codex was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Windsurf was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. OpenAI Codex was listed before Windsurf in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Cursor1st
Claude Code2nd
GitHub Copilot3rd- OpenAI Codex4th
Replit5th
Windsurf6th
Lovable7th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which AI coding assistant should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best AI coding assistants?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best AI coding assistant for help coding?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai coding assistant”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“programming ai assistant”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is OpenAI Codex or Windsurf more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for OpenAI Codex and Windsurf 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.
Share of searches by month for OpenAI Codex, Windsurf. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Claude Code | Replit | OpenAI Codex | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Bolt | Lovable | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.9% | 25.2% | 7.9% | 17.7% | 17.1% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 3.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 28% | 22.9% | 6.5% | 19.5% | 15.6% | 2% | 2% | 3.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 31.4% | 26.8% | 5.3% | 15.6% | 14.7% | 1.6% | 2% | 2.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 50.9% | 19.9% | 4.1% | 11.7% | 9.3% | 0.97% | 1.4% | 1.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.2% | 16.2% | 11.5% | 9.6% | 9.1% | 0.79% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 56.8% | 14.8% | 7% | 8.7% | 10% | 0.59% | 0.88% | 1.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 55% | 14.3% | 8% | 8.1% | 11.6% | 0.57% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 48.7% | 15.6% | 14.5% | 7.6% | 10.2% | 0.76% | 1.4% | 1.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 49.2% | 15.7% | 11% | 10.9% | 9.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.2% | 18.3% | 14.6% | 9% | 7.1% | 1.6% | 2% | 1.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 43.2% | 20.9% | 13.1% | 10.1% | 7.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 43.7% | 21.4% | 13.9% | 8.6% | 8.2% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.2% |
How has the OpenAI Codex and Windsurf comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- OpenAI Codex was ahead of Windsurf in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OpenAI Codex’s share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide moved from 7.9% to 13.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 386K to 992K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Windsurf’s share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide moved from 3.1% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 152K to 87.4K.
How did search popularity change for AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, OpenAI Codex gained share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide, from 13.1% to 13.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Windsurf worldwide fell 42.4% over 12 measured months, from 152K to 87.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
37 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using OpenAI Codex’s and Windsurf’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.
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
Windsurf
14 branded search terms
- codeium
- codeium ai
- codeium windsurf
- windsurf ai
- windsurf ai coding
- windsurf ai ide
- windsurf app
- windsurf cascade
- windsurf code
- windsurf code editor
- windsurf codeium
- windsurf coding
- windsurf editor
- windsurf ide
Other head-to-heads among AI coding assistants
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.