OpenAI Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop — Feature Comparison
Quick answer: OpenAI Codex CLI supports 17 of 18 tracked features; Devin Desktop supports 18 of 18. Matrix last updated November 13, 2026.
OpenAI Codex CLI (by OpenAI) vs Devin Desktop (by Cognition): a side-by-side comparison of tracked features, release cadence, and the latest releases of each tool. Data as of November 14, 2026, refreshed daily.
Verdict: Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop
Devin Desktop is the better choice for most developers, but OpenAI Codex CLI is the stronger pick for terminal-centric and scripting-heavy workflows. Devin Desktop achieves a perfect score on tracked features, including JetBrains IDE integration that Codex CLI lacks, making it the more complete solution for developers who work across multiple editors and environments. Its release history, while somewhat less frequent in recent months, still reflects a mature and actively maintained product. OpenAI Codex CLI, on the other hand, demonstrates a notably higher release cadence — more than twice as many releases in the recent 90-day window — signaling aggressive iteration and a development team that is shipping fixes and improvements at a rapid pace. This velocity can be a genuine advantage for early adopters who want to stay on the cutting edge and are comfortable with more frequent updates. Codex CLI's terminal-first design is a natural fit for developers who prefer to stay in the command line, automate tasks through scripts, or work in environments where a full desktop application is impractical. The one functional gap — JetBrains support — is a meaningful differentiator only for teams embedded in the JetBrains ecosystem; for everyone else, both tools are comparably capable. Ultimately, the decision hinges on workflow: Devin Desktop offers broader IDE reach and full feature parity, while Codex CLI offers a leaner, faster-moving tool built for the terminal.
Choose OpenAI Codex CLI if: Choose OpenAI Codex CLI if you live primarily in the terminal, favor a fast-moving release cycle with frequent improvements, or work in environments where a full desktop GUI is unnecessary or impractical.
Choose Devin Desktop if: Choose Devin Desktop if you want the broadest editor coverage — including JetBrains IDEs — and prefer a full-featured desktop experience with complete support across all tracked capabilities.
Key differences
- Release cadence: Codex CLI shipped more than twice as many releases in the recent 90-day window, signaling faster iteration
- JetBrains support: Devin Desktop covers JetBrains IDEs; Codex CLI does not
- Feature completeness: Devin Desktop hits 18/18 tracked features vs. Codex CLI's 17/18
- Workflow fit: Codex CLI is terminal-native; Devin Desktop is a full desktop application suited to GUI-driven development
- Total release history: Codex CLI has a larger cumulative release count, reflecting a longer or more prolific tracked development history
At a glance
| Tool | Latest version | Release date | Releases tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI Codex CLI | rust-v0.169.0 | November 13, 2026 | 184 |
| Devin Desktop | v3.12.57 | November 12, 2026 | 153 |
Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop: key feature differences
OpenAI Codex CLI supports 17 of 18 tracked features; Devin Desktop supports 18 of 18. Both support 17 features.
What Codex CLI has that Devin Desktop doesn't
None in the tracked matrix.
What Devin Desktop has that Codex CLI doesn't
- JetBrains
Release cadence: Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop
Codex CLI ships more often: 40 releases in the last 90 days versus 21 for Devin Desktop. Counts are as of November 14, 2026.
| Metric | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Releases in the last 30 days | 9 | 13 |
| Releases in the last 90 days | 40 | 21 |
| Median gap between recent releases | 1.2 days | 2 days |
| Releases tracked | 184 | 153 |
| First tracked release | June 30, 2025 | November 13, 2024 |
What's new in Codex CLI and Devin Desktop
Latest OpenAI Codex CLI releases
- OpenAI Codex CLI rust-v0.169.0 (November 13, 2026) — Codex CLI rust-v0.169.0 is here: multiple side-chat tabs, searchable past tasks, collapsible turn details, and in-terminal provider setup. Want to see what else changed?
- OpenAI Codex CLI rust-v0.168.0 (November 13, 2026) — Codex CLI rust-v0.168.0 is here: pick a default model provider, split your chat with a side-conversation pane, attach audio recordings, and generate animated GIFs. Plus a batch of fixes. Ready to…
- OpenAI Codex CLI rust-v0.167.2 (November 11, 2026) — Codex CLI rust-v0.167.2 is here: tool updates now stream incrementally by default on Google Cloud Vertex AI. Want the old behavior back? One config flag does it. Curious what else changed under the…
Latest Devin Desktop releases
- Devin Desktop v3.12.57 (November 12, 2026) — Devin Desktop 3.12.57 is here: Electron 43.8.8 security upgrades, a responsive model picker, safer file handling, and smarter image sizing for GPT and Gemini. Curious what else changed?
- Devin Desktop v3.12.59 (November 12, 2026) — Terminal text looking tiny and spaced out with GPU acceleration on? Devin Desktop 3.12.59 fixes that. Download it and see the difference.
- Devin Desktop v3.12.43 (November 9, 2026) — Devin Desktop 3.12.43 is here: Devin Local keeps going after output limits, drag files straight into the panel, and Mermaid diagrams finally draw in collapsed sections. What else did this release…
Core Editing
Multi-file editing, streaming, undo capabilities
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file Editing — Edit multiple files in a single operation | ✓ (Codex CLI is a coding agent that edits files; multi-file editing is a core capability implied by the agent command cente) | ✓ since 3.11.231 |
| Streaming Output — Real-time streaming of AI responses | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.10.23 |
| Undo/Redo — Ability to undo and redo changes | ✓ since rust-v0.164.0 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
| Diff View — Visual comparison of changes | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.12.59 |
Terminal Integration
Shell and command execution support
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Command Execution — Run shell commands | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.12.57 |
| Shell Integration — Integration with user shell environment | ✓ since rust-v0.164.0 | ✓ since 1.13.3 |
| Background Tasks — Run tasks in background | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.12.57 |
MCP Support
Model Context Protocol server and client capabilities
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Client — Connect to MCP servers | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.12.32 |
| MCP Server — Expose as MCP server | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.12.32 |
| Custom Tools — Define and use custom tools | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
IDE Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, and other editor support
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code — Visual Studio Code integration | ✓ since rust-v0.136.0 | ✓ since 3.12.32 |
| JetBrains — IntelliJ/WebStorm integration | — | ✓ since 1.11.0 |
| Vim/Neovim — Vim or Neovim integration | ✓ since rust-v0.166.0 | ✓ since 1.12.31 |
| Web UI — Browser-based interface | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.11.231 |
Agentic Features
Planning, tool use, and autonomous capabilities
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Mode — Plan before executing changes | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.12.57 |
| Autonomous Mode — Extended autonomous operation | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.11.212 |
| Task Decomposition — Break complex tasks into steps | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 2.2.17 |
| Context Management — Manage context across conversations | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 | ✓ since 3.11.234 |
Feature timeline: who shipped first
First release where Codex CLI and Devin Desktop each shipped a notable feature, and which tool led.
| Feature | Codex CLI | Devin Desktop | Who led |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills / Plugins | December 10, 2025 | January 12, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 32d ahead |
| Sandboxing / Permission Modes | August 7, 2025 | June 16, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 312d ahead |
| Subagents / Parallel Agents | January 25, 2026 | October 16, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 102d ahead |
| Background Tasks | September 9, 2026 | April 15, 2026 | Devin Desktop first, 148d ahead |
| Extended Thinking | July 9, 2025 | February 25, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 134d ahead |
| Hooks | May 8, 2026 | December 10, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 150d ahead |
| Image / Vision Input | December 2, 2025 | November 27, 2024 | Devin Desktop first, 371d ahead |
| MCP Support | July 23, 2025 | February 13, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 160d ahead |
| Voice Input | February 25, 2026 | July 17, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 224d ahead |
| Web Search / Fetch | June 9, 2026 | January 17, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 509d ahead |
| Headless / Non-interactive Mode | July 19, 2025 | April 28, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 283d ahead |
| Checkpoints / Rewind | December 15, 2025 | — | only Codex CLI |
| Custom Slash Commands | August 20, 2025 | May 6, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 106d ahead |
| Project Memory Files | February 12, 2026 | December 11, 2024 | Devin Desktop first, 429d ahead |
| Git / PR Integration | May 7, 2026 | April 2, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 401d ahead |
| Planning Mode | January 25, 2026 | June 10, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 230d ahead |
| Todo / Task List | May 21, 2026 | — | only Codex CLI |
| JetBrains Support | — | November 13, 2024 | only Devin Desktop |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, OpenAI Codex CLI or Devin Desktop?
Devin Desktop is the better choice for most developers, but OpenAI Codex CLI is the stronger pick for terminal-centric and scripting-heavy workflows. Devin Desktop achieves a perfect score on tracked features, including JetBrains IDE integration that Codex CLI lacks, making it the more complete solution for developers who work across multiple editors and environments. Its release history, while somewhat less frequent in recent months, still reflects a mature and actively maintained product. OpenAI Codex CLI, on the other hand, demonstrates a notably higher release cadence — more than twice as many releases in the recent 90-day window — signaling aggressive iteration and a development team that is shipping fixes and improvements at a rapid pace. This velocity can be a genuine advantage for early adopters who want to stay on the cutting edge and are comfortable with more frequent updates. Codex CLI's terminal-first design is a natural fit for developers who prefer to stay in the command line, automate tasks through scripts, or work in environments where a full desktop application is impractical. The one functional gap — JetBrains support — is a meaningful differentiator only for teams embedded in the JetBrains ecosystem; for everyone else, both tools are comparably capable. Ultimately, the decision hinges on workflow: Devin Desktop offers broader IDE reach and full feature parity, while Codex CLI offers a leaner, faster-moving tool built for the terminal.
What is the difference between Codex CLI and Devin Desktop?
OpenAI Codex CLI supports 17 of 18 tracked features; Devin Desktop supports 18 of 18. Only Devin Desktop: JetBrains. Both support 17 tracked features.
Which gets updated more often, Codex CLI or Devin Desktop?
OpenAI Codex CLI ships more often. In the 90 days to November 14, 2026, Havoptic tracked 40 Codex CLI releases and 21 Devin Desktop releases (184 and 153 releases tracked in total). Codex CLI's median gap between its last 21 releases is 1.2 days. Devin Desktop's median gap between its last 21 releases is 2 days.
What are the latest versions of Codex CLI and Devin Desktop?
The latest OpenAI Codex CLI release is rust-v0.169.0, released November 13, 2026. The latest Devin Desktop release is v3.12.57, released November 12, 2026.
Do Codex CLI and Devin Desktop support MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
OpenAI Codex CLI supports MCP Client, MCP Server, and Custom Tools. Devin Desktop supports MCP Client, MCP Server, and Custom Tools.
Release velocity
Havoptic tracks 184 Codex CLI releases and 153 Devin Desktop releases. See release frequency charts for side-by-side velocity analysis, or browse the OpenAI Codex CLI changelog and Devin Desktop changelog.
Related comparisons
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- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Gemini CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Kiro CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs GitHub Copilot CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Antigravity CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Grok Build
More Devin Desktop comparisons
- Devin Desktop vs Claude Code
- Devin Desktop vs Cursor
- Devin Desktop vs Gemini CLI
- Devin Desktop vs Kiro CLI
- Devin Desktop vs GitHub Copilot CLI
- Devin Desktop vs Antigravity CLI
- Devin Desktop vs Grok Build
Data source
Feature data is maintained in feature-matrix.json under a CC-BY-4.0 license. Release data comes from releases.json. Both are updated daily. See the methodology page for details on sourcing and human review.