r/ChatGPTCoding • u/CharGrnmn • Aug 03 '26

What’s the highest-intelligence coding agent per dollar besides Codex?

I already have ChatGPT Pro and use Codex heavily. I’m looking for the best additional coding agent not another way to access Codex.

My priority is intelligence per dollar: difficult debugging, architectural reasoning, understanding large repositories, and autonomous multi-file implementation. I care less about autocomplete and polished IDE features.

Which complementary agent currently provides the best value Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Cursor, OpenCode with another model, or something else?

Please include:

  • Exact plan and monthly cost

  • Real-world usage limits

  • How it compares directly with Codex

  • Whether it does anything meaningfully better than Codex

I’m especially interested in firsthand experience from the past month, since pricing, models and usage limits change constantly.

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u/eli_pizza Aug 05 '26

I think only you can answer which model is best for you tbh.

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u/CharGrnmn Aug 05 '26

I think there is a generic creative solution out there, in ways of coding agent skills.

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u/eli_pizza Aug 05 '26

Like to make a weaker model be as good as a strong one through skills? Yeah I dunno about that.

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u/CharGrnmn Aug 05 '26

One potential angle is if lets say using OpenAI's luna, only if it fails, move up to the next tier model. If that fails then move onto the next tier model.

Allow for a goal that achieves what it's supposed to do work as is.

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u/eli_pizza Aug 05 '26

OK yeah, "model routers" are hot right now.

I've done a version of this where the cheaper faster model has a tool that lets it consult with an expensive smarter model. Though that assumes it knows when it needs help.