Kempt vs Codex

OpenAI’s coding agent, with a ChatGPT account. Codex can tidy files when you ask, in the cloud. Kempt prepares your papers on its own, on your Mac: nothing uploaded, no account, every move undoable. Sourced and dated.

Kempt teamLast checked

Kempt 20 · Codex 5.5 · features covered, out of 20
KemptCodex
  • Organizing61
  • Finding41
  • Paperwork52
  • Clean Up20.5
  • Privacy and security31
Ahead on 19 of 20

The short answer

Codex is OpenAI’s agent for code: you give it a task, it works through it with OpenAI’s models in the cloud. It can tidy a folder if you describe how, every time. Kempt is built only for your papers, and runs only on your Mac: it names each download as it lands, finds any document by what’s inside, and prepares what a landlord or consulate asks for, with nothing uploaded and no account.

Kempt $27 founding, then $37, one-time · Codex Free tier with limits; Plus $20 a month; Pro from $100 a month

Feature by feature

Kempt vs Codex Yes · Partly · No · Not stated by the maker
FeatureKemptCodex
Organizing
Names files from what’s inside them YesApple’s on-device model, OCR and Vision PartlyWhen you ask, in the app, the CLI or the web
Names new downloads live, in the notch Yes No
Never moves a file it’s unsure about Yes“Needs a look” Not statedNot advertised
Undo any move, with the reason it moved YesPer file, batch or day, each with its reason Not statedNot advertised
Rules written as plain sentences YesEnglish and French PartlyYou write a prompt each time
Learns from your corrections YesSuggests a rule; never applies it alone Not statedNot advertised
Finding
Searches inside PDFs, scans and photos of paper Yes PartlyReads the files you point it at; no index of your Mac
Answers questions, citing the source page YesA figure must appear on the cited page PartlyCan quote a file if asked; nothing checks the figure
Ask out loud, in many languages YesTranscribed and translated on your Mac Not statedNot advertised
Finds what’s said in voice notes and videos YesTranscribed on your Mac NoNot advertised
Paperwork
Turns a landlord’s or bank’s email into a checklist Yes PartlyIf you paste the list and ask
Prepares the papers they asked for: watermarked ID, numbered copies, reply in Mail YesDrop their email on the notch; you check and press Send PartlyOnly if you script it yourself
Ready-made rental, visa and mortgage dossiers Yes No
Monthly pack for your accountant (PDF + CSV) YesTotals read from each document; ⚠ when unsure PartlyIf you ask, every month
Matches bank debits to receipts Yes PartlyIf you ask
Clean Up
Finds installers, duplicates and re-saved copies YesSimilar copies are never pre-ticked PartlyIf you ask
Never deletes: everything goes to the Trash YesWith Undo Not statedDepends on the commands it runs
Privacy and security
Reads your documents on your Mac (no upload) YesNo upload, no analytics NoYour prompts and the files it reads go to OpenAI’s models
No account needed Yes NoChatGPT account
Nothing to set up or host Yes Yes
Price and requirements
Price Yes$27 founding, then $37, one-time YesFree tier with limits; Plus $20 a month; Pro from $100 a month
Runs on PartlymacOS 26, Apple silicon; Apple Intelligence for naming YesWeb, desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, iOS

Proof, not promises

Measured on a real Mac (macOS 26) with about 1,600 real documents. Each test is re-run whenever the app changes.

PrivacyDocument uploads
0Reading, naming, search, answers and voice all run on your Mac with Apple’s on-device model. No analytics, no account.
SafetyFiles deleted by Kempt
0Moves are journaled before they happen and undoable even after a crash; cleanup only uses the Trash.
AccuracyItems read from real published lists
25 / 25Rental, mortgage and visa lists published by a rental site, a bank and an insurer.
AccuracyRight file first
12 / 13Scored search suite run on every change; answers cited from the right document in 0.9–2.2 s.

How we compare: Kempt’s rows come from its own measured tests. Every other app’s row comes from that maker’s public pages on the date shown. When a page is silent or unclear, we say so instead of guessing.

Switching from Codex

Keep Codex for your code. Let Kempt watch Downloads, Desktop and Documents and keep your papers ready, on your Mac, without prompts.

When Codex is the better choice

  • You write code and want an agent that can also handle the odd file chore.
  • You already pay for ChatGPT and are fine with your files being read in the cloud.

Questions people ask

Is Kempt better than Codex?

Codex is OpenAI’s agent for code: you give it a task, it works through it with OpenAI’s models in the cloud. It can tidy a folder if you describe how, every time. Kempt is built only for your papers, and runs only on your Mac: it names each download as it lands, finds any document by what’s inside, and prepares what a landlord or consulate asks for, with nothing uploaded and no account.

Does Codex upload my files?

Codex: Your prompts and the files it reads go to OpenAI’s models. Kempt: No upload, no analytics.

How much do Kempt and Codex cost?

Kempt: $27 founding, then $37, one-time. Codex: Free tier with limits; Plus $20 a month; Pro from $100 a month.

When should I choose Codex instead?

You write code and want an agent that can also handle the odd file chore. You already pay for ChatGPT and are fine with your files being read in the cloud.

Can I use Kempt and Codex together?

Yes. Kempt keeps your files as ordinary files in ordinary Finder folders, so every other app still sees and uses them.

Sources

How we compare: Kempt’s rows come from its own measured tests. Every other app’s row comes from that maker’s public pages on the date shown. When a page is silent or unclear, we say so instead of guessing. $27.

Guides

Other comparisons

Try Kempt free

Names, files and finds your documents with Apple’s on-device model. Nothing leaves your Mac. $27.