Codex Design vs v0.
v0 and Codex Design both start from a description of a UI, but they aim at different moments. v0 is Vercel’s agent for building and deploying a working app. Codex Design adds a canvas to Codex for exploring and comparing designs before you build them in your own project.
Updated November 6, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer
If you want a running Next.js app on Vercel as fast as possible, use v0. It writes the code, lets you tweak the UI visually, and deploys with a click. If you work in Codex and want to explore several design directions before committing to one, use Codex Design, then let Codex build the winner in whatever stack your project already uses.
- Choose v0 if your stack is Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui, you want hosting handled for you, or you want to go from a screenshot or Figma design straight to a working app.
- Choose Codex Design if you already use Codex, want to compare directions side by side before building, or your project isn’t a Next.js app on Vercel.
What each tool is
v0 is Vercel’s AI agent for creating real code and full-stack apps. You describe what you want, or upload screenshots, mockups, or Figma designs, and v0 builds it with Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui. Its Design Mode lets you select any element in the live preview and adjust typography, color, layout, and more, and v0 writes the changes back to the source code. Projects sync with GitHub, and Publish puts the app live on Vercel.
Codex Design is our independent plugin for Codex. It adds a local canvas where Codex places the screens it designs as live HTML pages, next to mockup images and your references. Select an element to change its font, color, or spacing in a sidebar, or keep refining by asking Codex. Your canvas projects are stored on your computer.
Side by side
| v0 | Codex Design | |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | Working web apps, full-stack apps, and agents | Website and app mockups as live HTML pages, plus mockup images |
| Where it runs | In the browser at v0.app; apps deploy to Vercel | Inside Codex, with the canvas on your computer (macOS and Linux) |
| Output and code | Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui; GitHub sync; export to work locally or elsewhere | HTML pages and images in a local project; Codex can then build the chosen design in your code |
| Pricing | Free with a 7-message daily limit; Plus is $30 per user a month with $30 of monthly credits | Free for one canvas project; Pro is $5 a month for unlimited projects. Codex usage is separate |
| Best for | Shipping a React and Next.js app to Vercel quickly | Codex users who want to compare and refine UI directions before they build |
v0 also has a Business plan at $100 per user a month and custom Enterprise pricing. This comparison reflects both products’ official sites and docs as of November 6, 2026.
When to choose v0
v0 is the better pick in these cases:
- You want a running app, not just a design. v0 builds full-stack apps and deploys them to Vercel without any setup on your side.
- Your stack matches its stack. v0 is built around Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui, so its output drops straight into that kind of project.
- You start from a picture. Upload a screenshot, a mockup, or a Figma design, and v0 turns it into a working application.
- You like adjusting the real thing. Design Mode edits typography, color, layout, borders, and shadows on the live preview and writes the result into your source code.
- You want a GitHub workflow. Connect a repository, and v0 works on branches and opens pull requests for review.
When to choose Codex Design
- You’re still deciding what to build. Codex Design is made for exploring: several directions side by side on one canvas, next to your references and mockup images Codex generates.
- Your project isn’t a Next.js app on Vercel. Codex works in your existing repository, so the design you pick can be built in whatever framework and hosting you already use.
- You already build with Codex. The canvas sits inside the agent that writes your code, so there is no export step between design and build.
- You want your work on your own machine. Canvas projects are stored locally. Codex still processes whatever context you share with it.
- You want a flat price for the canvas. There is no credit balance in Codex Design. One canvas project is free, and Pro is $5 a month for unlimited projects; Codex usage counts against your Codex plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codex Design a v0 alternative?
For the design stage, yes, if you use Codex. v0 goes from prompt to deployed app; Codex Design focuses on exploring and refining the UI first, with Codex building the result in your own project. If you want v0’s hosted, one-click path to a Next.js app, v0 is the better fit.
Can I use v0 and Codex Design together?
Yes. v0 accepts screenshots and mockups as a starting point, so you can explore directions on the Codex Design canvas, pick one, and give v0 an image of it to build from.
Does Codex Design deploy apps?
No. Codex Design is a local design canvas, not a hosting service. How you deploy what Codex builds is up to your own setup.