Compare
Codex CLI vs Claude Code
Side-by-side comparison of Codex CLI and Claude Code for SKILL.md agent skills — install model, shell access, native support, skill count and best use cases.
Comparison
At a glance
| Dimension | Codex | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | OpenAI | Anthropic |
| Native SKILL.md support | Yes | Yes |
| Verified skills indexed | 51 | 189 |
| Install model | Local folder | Local folder |
| Shell / Bash access | Yes | Yes |
| Tagline | OpenAI's coding agent CLI. Adopted the SKILL.md spec verbatim in Dec 2025. | Anthropic's terminal CLI for coding agents. Filesystem skills, plugin marketplace, subagents. |
Vendor
- Codex
- OpenAI
- Claude Code
- Anthropic
Native SKILL.md support
- Codex
- Yes
- Claude Code
- Yes
Verified skills indexed
- Codex
- 51
- Claude Code
- 189
Install model
- Codex
- Local folder
- Claude Code
- Local folder
Shell / Bash access
- Codex
- Yes
- Claude Code
- Yes
Tagline
- Codex
- OpenAI's coding agent CLI. Adopted the SKILL.md spec verbatim in Dec 2025.
- Claude Code
- Anthropic's terminal CLI for coding agents. Filesystem skills, plugin marketplace, subagents.
Both
49
Skills verified to work on both Codex and Claude Code.
Only Codex
2
Indexed for Codex CLI but not yet verified on Claude Code.
Only Claude Code
140
Indexed for Claude Code but not yet verified on Codex CLI.
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Both support SKILL.md natively, so the choice is about ecosystem fit. Pick Codex CLI for OpenAI integrations and the workflows it makes easiest; pick Claude Code for Anthropic 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 Codex CLI · Skills for Claude Code.
FAQ
Common questions
Which is better for SKILL.md skills, Codex CLI or Claude Code?
Both support SKILL.md natively. Codex CLI has 51 verified skills indexed here; Claude Code has 189. 49 skills work on both.
Can I use the same Skill on Codex CLI and Claude Code?
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 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.
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.
Which agent should I pick for cross-platform skill use?
Both support skills natively. Pick by ecosystem fit: Codex CLI for OpenAI customers, Claude Code for Anthropic customers.
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