ChatGPT Codex limits in 2026 are estimate ranges, not one fixed message cap. OpenAI's current table covers the GPT-5.6 family: Sol for deeper reasoning, Terra as the everyday default, and Luna for faster, higher-volume work. Check Codex Settings > Usage, or run /status in an active Codex CLI session, for your actual remaining allowance.
The practical version: Plus supports a few focused coding sessions each week, Pro $100 gives 5x the Plus usage, and Pro $200 gives 20x. Business and Enterprise are mainly workspace decisions. If limits repeatedly interrupt real work, wait for the reset, buy credits if eligible, or move up one tier.
Quick answer
- Plus GPT-5.6 ranges are 15-90 for Sol, 20-110 for Terra, and 50-280 for Luna per five hours.
- Pro $100 is the 5x tier. Pro $200 is the 20x tier.
- The five-hour limit is shared across local messages and cloud tasks; additional weekly limits may apply.
- ChatGPT Work and Codex share the same agentic usage and credit pool.
Official GPT-5.6 Codex limit estimates
OpenAI's Codex pricing page lists these local-message planning ranges per five-hour window. Checked July 12, 2026.
| Model | Plus / Business | Pro 5x | Pro 20x |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.6 Sol | 15-90 / 5h | 75-450 / 5h | 300-1,800 / 5h |
| GPT-5.6 Terra | 20-110 / 5h | 100-550 / 5h | 400-2,200 / 5h |
| GPT-5.6 Luna | 50-280 / 5h | 250-1,400 / 5h | 1,000-5,600 / 5h |
Business has the same published ranges as Plus. Enterprise and Edu without flexible pricing have the same per-seat limits as Plus for most features. Enterprise and Edu workspaces with flexible pricing have no fixed rate limits; usage scales with credits.
GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.4 limits
OpenAI still publishes these ranges for the older models:
| Model | Plus / Business | Pro 5x | Pro 20x |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.5 | 15-80 / 5h | 75-400 / 5h | 300-1,600 / 5h |
| GPT-5.4 | 20-100 / 5h | 100-500 / 5h | 400-2,000 / 5h |
| GPT-5.4 mini | 60-350 / 5h | 300-1,750 / 5h | 1,200-7,000 / 5h |
What about cloud tasks and code reviews?
OpenAI's current usage-limit table marks cloud tasks and code reviews as Not available for the listed GPT-5.6, GPT-5.5, and GPT-5.4 model rows. Do not use the older numeric cloud-task or code-review ranges for current planning.
This does not mean the Plus plan lacks cloud integrations. OpenAI's plan card still lists automatic code review and other cloud-based integrations, while the current rate card says code review uses GPT-5.3-Codex. Availability and credit use therefore depend on the feature and model, not just the local-message table.
Treat every range as a planning estimate. Model choice, large repositories, long prompts, tool use, retrieval, caching, and long outputs can change how quickly you use the allowance.
Which ChatGPT plan should you choose for Codex?
| Plan | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| Free / Go | You only want to test Codex. |
| Plus | You use Codex for small fixes, scripts, and occasional coding help. |
| Pro $100 | Plus limits interrupt real work a few times a week. |
| Pro $200 | You use Codex heavily every day or across multiple projects. |
| Business / Enterprise | You need team billing, admin controls, SSO, compliance, or workspace credits. |
| API key | You need automation, CI, or scripted local jobs. |
For broader plan differences, see our ChatGPT Plus vs Pro vs Business guide.
What counts against Codex limits?
Codex counts toward agentic usage. The exact drain depends on the work, not just the number of prompts.
- Model: larger models usually consume more allowance or credits.
- Context: large repos, long chats, and big AGENTS.md files cost more.
- Surface: Codex, ChatGPT Work, and supported agentic features can draw from the same usage and credit pool.
- Output: long edits, long explanations, and multi-file changes use more.
What happens when you hit the Codex limit?
| Plan | Next step |
|---|---|
| Free / Go | Upgrade to Plus. |
| Plus / Pro | Buy credits if eligible, wait for reset, or upgrade. |
| Business / Edu / Enterprise | Use workspace credits and admin controls. |
| API key | Usage is billed separately at API rates. |
How do Codex credits work in 2026?
For most Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu, Health, and Gov customers, Codex credits are now token-based. OpenAI moved Plus, Pro, Business, and new Enterprise customers to this model on April 2, 2026, followed by existing Enterprise and related plans on April 23. A small subset of Enterprise customers may still use the legacy rate card.
Bigger context, more tools, longer output, and fast mode usually mean higher credit usage. The current rates for the main models are:
| Model | Input | Cached input | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.6 Sol | 125 credits / 1M | 12.50 credits / 1M | 750 credits / 1M |
| GPT-5.6 Terra | 62.50 credits / 1M | 6.25 credits / 1M | 375 credits / 1M |
| GPT-5.6 Luna | 25 credits / 1M | 2.50 credits / 1M | 150 credits / 1M |
| GPT-5.5 | 125 credits / 1M | 12.50 credits / 1M | 750 credits / 1M |
| GPT-5.4 | 62.50 credits / 1M | 6.25 credits / 1M | 375 credits / 1M |
| GPT-5.4 mini | 18.75 credits / 1M | 1.875 credits / 1M | 113 credits / 1M |
OpenAI notes that a typical GPT-5.5 Codex task may use roughly 5-45 credits, but actual use depends on the input, cached input, output, tools, and mode used.
How to make Codex limits last longer
- Narrow the task: ask for one clear change at a time.
- Trim context: remove old logs, repeated instructions, and irrelevant files.
- Keep AGENTS.md focused: long instructions are injected often.
- Disable unused MCP servers: extra tools add overhead.
- Use smaller models when suitable: only if they are available in your Codex picker.
- Watch usage: check Codex Settings > Usage or /status in the CLI.
Bottom line
Use Plus for a few focused Codex sessions each week. Move to Pro $100 if Plus repeatedly interrupts real work, and use Pro $200 for heavy daily usage. Choose Business or Enterprise for team controls, and use API billing for automation. Remember that ChatGPT Work and Codex share usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ChatGPT Plus include Codex?
Yes. OpenAI says Codex is included across Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans. Plus is designed for a few focused coding sessions each week.
What is the ChatGPT Plus Codex limit?
OpenAI gives estimate ranges, not one fixed cap. For Plus, GPT-5.6 Sol is estimated at 15-90 local messages per five hours, Terra at 20-110, and Luna at 50-280. Additional weekly limits may apply.
What is the difference between Pro $100 and Pro $200 for Codex?
Pro $100 is the 5x tier, with GPT-5.6 ranges from 75-450 for Sol to 250-1,400 for Luna per five hours. Pro $200 is the 20x tier, ranging from 300-1,800 for Sol to 1,000-5,600 for Luna.
Can I buy more Codex usage after I hit the limit?
Eligible Plus and Pro users can buy ChatGPT credits. Business, Edu, and Enterprise workspaces may use workspace credits, depending on their pricing setup.
Are GPT-5.6 cloud tasks and code reviews available?
OpenAI's current usage-limit table marks cloud tasks and code reviews as not available for the listed GPT-5.6 model rows. This is separate from plan-level cloud integrations: OpenAI says Plus includes features such as automatic code review, and its rate card says code review uses GPT-5.3-Codex.
Do API key Codex tasks use my ChatGPT Codex limit?
No. API key usage is billed separately at API rates and is better for CI, automation, and scripted workflows.
Where can I see my remaining Codex usage?
Use Codex Settings > Usage. In an active Codex CLI session, OpenAI also says you can use /status.
What if the docs mention a model that is not in my Codex picker?
Use your Codex picker and usage dashboard as the practical source of truth. Availability can vary by plan, workspace, region, or rollout.
Sources
Sources checked on July 12, 2026. The five-hour ranges and plan descriptions come from OpenAI's current Codex pricing page; token rates come from the current Codex rate card.
- OpenAI Codex pricing and usage limits: https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing
- Using Codex with your ChatGPT plan: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11369540-using-codex-with-your-chatgpt-plan
- About ChatGPT Pro plans: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9793128-about-chatgpt-pro-plans
- Using credits for flexible usage in ChatGPT: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12642688-using-credits-for-flexible-usage-in-chatgpt-freegopluspro
- Codex rate card: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001106-codex-rate-card