AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
codex-pooler logo
codex-pooler
★ 233
vs
tunnel-client logo
tunnel-client
★ 589

codex-pooler vs tunnel-client

codex-pooler: Codex Pooler is a self-hosted gateway designed to aggregate and share Codex account capacity across various agents, tools, and teams. It routes requests intelligently based on account availability, model support, and session state, providing stable API keys and a unified management dashboard for operators.; tunnel-client: `tunnel-client` is a customer-run agent that securely connects private or localhost Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to OpenAI products like ChatGPT and Codex through an OpenAI-hosted tunnel. It enables secure access for AI models without exposing the MCP server to the public internet, simplifying deployments in restricted network environments.

01

TL;DR

codex-pooler logo
codex-poolerLLM Infra · ★ 233

Centralized management and distribution of Codex API access for development teams.

Read codex-pooler full review →
tunnel-client logo
tunnel-clientLLM Infra · ★ 589

Connecting a private or localhost MCP server to OpenAI-hosted products like ChatGPT when public internet access is restricted.

Read tunnel-client full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
codex-pooler logocodex-pooler
tunnel-client logotunnel-client
Category
LLM Infra
LLM Infra
Stars
★ 233
★ 589
License
NOASSERTION
Apache-2.0
Install Command
git clone https://github.com/icoretech/codex-pooler.git && cd codex-pooler && scripts/self-host/generate-env.sh && docker compose pull && docker compose up -d
make admin-ui && go build -o bin/tunnel-client ./cmd/client
Updated
1d ago
1d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
API Gateway, LLM Proxy, Load Balancing
Secure Tunnel, API Proxy, LLM Connectivity
03

Features

codex-pooler logocodex-pooler
01One stable API key for multiple Codex accounts and dynamic capacity pooling.
02Intelligent request routing based on model support, limits, and session continuity.
03Compatibility with both Codex backend and OpenAI-style SDK clients.
04Comprehensive operator dashboard for account, key, and policy management with privacy-focused observability.
05Self-hostable with Docker Compose or Kubernetes for fault-tolerant, scalable deployment.
tunnel-client logotunnel-client
01Securely connects private or localhost MCP servers to OpenAI products like ChatGPT and Codex.
02Operates as a daemon with health checks, metrics, and an administrative UI for operational visibility.
03Supports flexible MCP server integration via Streamable HTTP, stdio, or in-memory transports.
04Offers an embeddable Go SDK for direct integration into Go applications.
04

Use Cases

codex-pooler logocodex-pooler
↳Centralized management and distribution of Codex API access for development teams.
↳Deploying LLM agents that require stable API keys and benefit from pooled backend capacity.
↳Integrating with various AI development tools (e.g., Aider, Continue, Hermes Agent) through a unified OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
↳Operators needing a single dashboard for monitoring usage, audit logs, and account health across multiple Codex subscriptions without exposing raw secrets.
tunnel-client logotunnel-client
↳Connecting a private or localhost MCP server to OpenAI-hosted products like ChatGPT when public internet access is restricted.
↳Deploying an operator-visible daemon for an MCP server before connecting it to external APIs, ensuring readiness and observability.
↳Integrating directly into a Go application using the Go SDK to bridge an in-memory MCP server with OpenAI tunnels.
05

Best For

codex-pooler logocodex-pooler
—
tunnel-client logotunnel-client
Hidden Gem
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between codex-pooler and tunnel-client?
Both codex-pooler and tunnel-client are in the LLM Infra category. codex-pooler has 233 stars, while tunnel-client has 589 stars.
Which is better, codex-pooler or tunnel-client?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose codex-pooler if Centralized management and distribution of Codex API access for development teams., and tunnel-client if Connecting a private or localhost MCP server to OpenAI-hosted products like ChatGPT when public internet access is restricted..
Is codex-pooler free or open source?
Yes, codex-pooler is open source on GitHub (NOASSERTION).
Is tunnel-client free or open source?
Yes, tunnel-client is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0).
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Related

Alternatives to codex-pooler →Alternatives to tunnel-client →codex-pooler details →tunnel-client details →