Compare
Claude Code vs Codex CLI
Side-by-side comparison of Claude Code and Codex CLI for SKILL.md agent skills — install model, shell access, native support, skill count and best use cases.
Comparison
At a glance
| Dimension | Claude Code | Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Anthropic | OpenAI |
| Native SKILL.md support | Yes | Yes |
| Verified skills indexed | 189 | 51 |
| Install model | Local folder | Local folder |
| Shell / Bash access | Yes | Yes |
| Tagline | Anthropic's terminal CLI for coding agents. Filesystem skills, plugin marketplace, subagents. | OpenAI's coding agent CLI. Adopted the SKILL.md spec verbatim in Dec 2025. |
Vendor
- Claude Code
- Anthropic
- Codex
- OpenAI
Native SKILL.md support
- Claude Code
- Yes
- Codex
- Yes
Verified skills indexed
- Claude Code
- 189
- Codex
- 51
Install model
- Claude Code
- Local folder
- Codex
- Local folder
Shell / Bash access
- Claude Code
- Yes
- Codex
- Yes
Tagline
- Claude Code
- Anthropic's terminal CLI for coding agents. Filesystem skills, plugin marketplace, subagents.
- Codex
- OpenAI's coding agent CLI. Adopted the SKILL.md spec verbatim in Dec 2025.
Both
49
Skills verified to work on both Claude Code and Codex.
Only Claude Code
140
Indexed for Claude Code but not yet verified on Codex CLI.
Only Codex
2
Indexed for Codex CLI but not yet verified on Claude Code.
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Both support SKILL.md natively, so the choice is about ecosystem fit. Pick Claude Code for Anthropic integrations and the workflows it makes easiest; pick Codex CLI for OpenAI integrations and its specific surface.
Many teams use both — Skills with the SKILL.md spec are portable, and 49 of the skills indexed here are verified on both agents. Browse the per-agent rankings to see which Skills lead on each platform: Skills for Claude Code · Skills for Codex CLI.
FAQ
Common questions
Which is better for SKILL.md skills, Claude Code or Codex CLI?
Both support SKILL.md natively. Claude Code has 189 verified skills indexed here; Codex CLI has 51. 49 skills work on both.
Can I use the same Skill on Claude Code and Codex CLI?
49 of the skills indexed here work on both. The SKILL.md spec is shared, so most skills run cleanly on both — the exceptions are skills that depend on agent-specific tools (Bash, Workflows, MCP patterns).
How do I install a Skill on Claude Code?
Drop the Skill folder into `~/.claude/skills/` (user-wide) or `.claude/skills/` (project-scoped), or run the plugin install command. The agent picks up new Skills on next session start.
How do I install a Skill on Codex CLI?
Drop the Skill folder under `~/.codex/skills/` for user-wide or `.codex/skills/` for project-scoped. Codex loads SKILL.md the same way Claude Code does.
Which agent should I pick for cross-platform skill use?
Both support skills natively. Pick by ecosystem fit: Claude Code for Anthropic customers, Codex CLI for OpenAI customers.
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