LimitWatch

Guide · updated Oct 15, 2026

Codex vs Claude Code usage limits

Codex and Claude Code both come bundled with a chat subscription, and both meter you in time windows instead of fixed message counts. The details differ in ways that matter if you run agents for hours. Everything below comes from the vendors' own pages, checked 2026-10-15.

Claude Code (Pro and Max)

Anthropic's Claude Code plan article says Pro and Max both have a five-hour session limit and a weekly limit, shared across Claude and Claude Code. Max also has a separate weekly limit for Fable. Max 5x and 20x multiply Pro's per-session allowance by 5 and 20 (source).

Codex (ChatGPT Plus and Pro)

OpenAI's Codex pricing page says Codex and ChatGPT Work share one usage allowance. Plus has a five-hour window, with OpenAI estimating est. 15-160 local msgs/5h on GPT-6.1 Sol, 5-45 on GPT-6 Astra, 350-3,000 on GPT-6 Luna. Weekly limits may also apply. Pro plans currently have no five-hour limit.

The key differences

  • 5-hour window: Claude Pro and Max have one; Codex on Plus has one; Codex on Pro currently doesn't.
  • Weekly cap size: neither vendor publishes it. Both are unknown.
  • Shared pool: Claude Code shares with Claude chat and apps; Codex shares with ChatGPT Work.
  • Speed modes: on Codex, Fast mode uses included usage at 2.5x and Ultrafast (Pro $500 only) at 8x the Standard rate (source).

When you run out

Claude: wait for the reset, enable usage credits at standard API rates, upgrade, or switch to a Console API account. Anthropic notes that Max's monthly API credits can't be used in Claude Code. Codex: Plus and Pro users can buy credits; OpenAI says Support can't reset limits. Both tools also let you use an API key at API rates, billed separately.

Recent changes

Limits move often. ChatGPT Pro $200's included Codex allowance drops for grandfathered subscribers after Oct 29, 2026 (see the dedicated guide), and Claude's limits changed with the Opus 5.5 launch on Sep 22. The changelog keeps the dated history.

FAQ

Does Codex have a 5-hour limit?

On ChatGPT Plus, yes. OpenAI says Pro plans currently have no five-hour limit in Work and Codex, though they still have an included allowance with reset times.

Does Claude Code have a 5-hour limit?

Yes. Pro and Max both have a five-hour session limit plus a weekly limit, shared with Claude chat.

Which gives more usage, Codex or Claude Code?

Neither vendor publishes weekly caps, so there's no official answer. Third-party measurements exist but vary with model mix.

Can support reset my limits?

OpenAI says Support can't reset ChatGPT or Codex limits. Anthropic occasionally grants limit resets to eligible plans, used from Settings > Usage.