Overview
GPT-5.2-Codex represents OpenAI's most advanced agentic coding model, released on December 18, 2025. This model builds upon GPT-5.2 with specialized optimizations for complex software engineering tasks, large-scale refactoring, and defensive cybersecurity workflows. Available to paid ChatGPT users across all Codex surfaces including web, CLI, and IDE extensions, GPT-5.2-Codex delivers state-of-the-art performance on real-world coding benchmarks while maintaining coherence across extended development sessions.
The model introduces native context compaction technology, enabling it to handle project-scale tasks spanning multiple hours and millions of tokens. With enhanced Windows environment compatibility and stronger vision capabilities for interpreting technical diagrams and screenshots, GPT-5.2-Codex serves as a comprehensive tool for professional software engineers and security researchers working on production-grade codebases.
What's New
Context Compaction for Long-Horizon Tasks
GPT-5.2-Codex implements advanced context compaction mechanisms that allow the model to maintain coherence across extended coding sessions. This enables developers to tackle large-scale refactoring projects, complex migrations, and multi-step debugging workflows without losing contextual understanding. The model can work coherently over millions of tokens, supporting tasks that span multiple hours while preserving key information from earlier in the conversation.
State-of-the-Art Benchmark Performance
The model achieves 56.4% accuracy on SWE-Bench Pro, demonstrating exceptional capability in resolving real-world GitHub issues within large, unfamiliar software environments. On Terminal-Bench 2.0, GPT-5.2-Codex scores 64.0%, showcasing proficiency in navigating live terminal environments, compiling code, and managing server configurations in real-time. These benchmarks reflect substantial improvements over previous models in handling authentic software engineering scenarios.
Enhanced Windows Environment Support
GPT-5.2-Codex delivers significantly improved performance in native Windows development environments. The model exhibits better understanding of Windows-specific toolchains, build systems, and environment configurations, reducing failures and improving task completion rates for developers working on Windows platforms or targeting Windows deployment.
Advanced Cybersecurity Capabilities
This release includes substantially stronger defensive cybersecurity features. GPT-5.2-Codex can assist in identifying vulnerabilities, analyzing security risks, and supporting defensive security workflows. OpenAI has implemented a phased rollout with an invite-only trusted access program for vetted professionals and organizations focused on defensive cybersecurity work, balancing accessibility with responsible deployment.
Vision Understanding for Code Generation
The model can now interpret screenshots, technical diagrams, charts, and UI surfaces more accurately. Developers can provide design mockups or error screenshots as input, and GPT-5.2-Codex will translate visual information into functional code or debugging insights. This capability shortens the development cycle for frontend implementations and visual debugging tasks.
Availability & Access
GPT-5.2-Codex is available to paid ChatGPT users (Plus and Pro subscribers) across all Codex platforms including web interface, CLI, IDE extensions, and iOS app. API access is planned to roll out in the following weeks after the initial release.
For users focused on defensive cybersecurity work, OpenAI offers an invite-only trusted access program. This program provides vetted professionals and organizations with early access to advanced security-focused features while ensuring responsible usage through additional safeguards and monitoring.
The model requires an active ChatGPT subscription and is not available to free-tier users. Users who reach usage limits on the Plus plan can purchase additional ChatGPT credits to continue using GPT-5.2-Codex without upgrading to the Pro plan.
Pricing & Plans
Plus Plan
$20 per month provides access to GPT-5.2-Codex across all Codex surfaces including web, CLI, IDE extension, and iOS. This plan includes cloud-based integrations such as automatic code review and Slack integration, with flexibility to extend usage using ChatGPT credits. Usage limits allow approximately 45-225 local messages and 10-60 cloud tasks per 5-hour window. Additional ChatGPT features are included with the subscription.
Pro Plan
$200 per month includes all Plus Plan features with priority request processing. Users receive 6x higher usage limits for local and cloud tasks, and 10x more cloud-based code reviews. This plan is designed for professional developers and teams with intensive usage requirements. Priority processing ensures faster response times during peak periods.
Business Plan
$30 per user per month offers access to Codex in CLI, SDK, or IDE extension with pay-as-you-go API pricing. This plan excludes cloud-based features like GitHub code review and Slack integration. New model releases like GPT-5.2-Codex may have delayed availability compared to Plus and Pro plans. Pricing is based on token usage at API rates.
Credit Pricing
Users can purchase ChatGPT credits to extend usage beyond plan limits. Using GPT-5.2-Codex for local tasks typically costs approximately 5 credits per message. Credits are consumed based on the specific models and features utilized during each request.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Long-horizon task handling — Native context compaction enables multi-hour development sessions with coherent understanding across millions of tokens
- Industry-leading benchmarks — Achieves 56.4% on SWE-Bench Pro and 64.0% on Terminal-Bench 2.0, demonstrating strong performance on real-world coding tasks
- Enhanced vision capabilities — Accurately interprets design mockups, technical diagrams, and error screenshots to generate functional code
- Improved Windows support — Better compatibility with Windows development environments and toolchains reduces platform-specific failures
- Defensive cybersecurity features — Strengthened capability for vulnerability identification and security workflow support
- Cross-platform availability — Accessible through web, CLI, IDE extensions, and iOS app with consistent experience
Cons
- Subscription required — GPT-5.2-Codex is not available to free-tier users, requiring minimum $20/month Plus subscription
- Usage limits on lower tiers — Plus plan restrictions may require credit purchases for intensive daily usage
- Cybersecurity features gated — Advanced security capabilities require invite-only trusted access program participation
- API access delayed — Initial release limited to Codex surfaces, with API access rolling out weeks later
- Higher cost for credits — Approximately 5 credits per message adds up quickly for users exceeding plan limits
Best For
- Software engineers working on large-scale refactoring projects or complex codebase migrations requiring sustained context over multiple hours
- Development teams needing reliable agentic coding assistance for real-world GitHub issue resolution in unfamiliar codebases
- Windows developers requiring better toolchain compatibility and environment-specific optimization compared to previous models
- Security professionals conducting defensive cybersecurity work including vulnerability analysis and security workflow automation
- Frontend developers who frequently translate design mockups and technical diagrams into functional code implementations
- Teams with intensive usage needs who can benefit from Pro plan's 6x higher limits and priority processing
FAQ
How does GPT-5.2-Codex compare to GPT-5.1-Codex-Max?
GPT-5.2-Codex advances beyond GPT-5.1-Codex-Max with improved benchmark performance, particularly on SWE-Bench Pro and Terminal-Bench 2.0. It offers enhanced context compaction for longer tasks, stronger vision capabilities for interpreting visual inputs, and significantly better cybersecurity features. Windows environment support is also markedly improved, though GPT-5.1-Codex-Max previously claimed 30% fewer thinking tokens in certain scenarios.
What usage limits apply to GPT-5.2-Codex on the Plus plan?
Plus plan subscribers receive approximately 45-225 local messages and 10-60 cloud tasks per 5-hour window. Usage limits refresh on a rolling basis. Users who exceed these limits can purchase ChatGPT credits to continue using GPT-5.2-Codex without upgrading, at approximately 5 credits per local message. Pro plan users receive 6x higher limits across all task types.
Can I use GPT-5.2-Codex through the API?
API access for GPT-5.2-Codex was planned to roll out in the weeks following the December 18, 2025 release. Initially, the model was available only through Codex surfaces including web interface, CLI, IDE extensions, and iOS app. Business plan subscribers can access API-based usage once availability expands, with pricing based on token consumption at published API rates.
What are the cybersecurity capabilities and access restrictions?
GPT-5.2-Codex demonstrates significantly stronger defensive cybersecurity capabilities compared to previous models, including vulnerability identification and security workflow support. Advanced security features are accessible through an invite-only trusted access program for vetted professionals and organizations. This phased rollout ensures responsible deployment while providing powerful tools for legitimate defensive security work.
Does GPT-5.2-Codex support vision inputs for code generation?
Yes, GPT-5.2-Codex includes enhanced vision understanding capabilities. The model can interpret screenshots, technical diagrams, UI mockups, and charts to generate functional code or provide debugging insights. This feature is particularly useful for frontend development where design specifications are provided visually, and for troubleshooting when error messages appear in screenshots rather than text format.
