Do I need ChatGPT Plus or an API key?
Either works for the interactive side - a ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, or Enterprise plan, or an API key billed per use. The unattended overnight builder is the exception: it runs headless, so it specifically needs an API key with credit on the account, stored as a secret.
Can I use Claude Code instead?
Yes - Claude Code is fully supported too, including the unattended builder, and it runs on the subscription you already pay for instead of a metered key. See
DispatchSEO for Claude Code.
Does Codex have slash commands like /seo-research?
No - slash commands are a Claude Code file convention Codex doesn't share. You name the get_instructions tool and the workflow directly in a prompt instead; same tools underneath, just spelled out rather than shortcut.
Will DispatchSEO bill me for my Codex usage?
No. OpenAI bills your account directly, per run - DispatchSEO doesn't add a markup or a separate charge.
Does Codex get every tool the dashboard has?
Yes - the full set, verified against the actual tool count Codex resolves. Nothing is held back for one agent over the other.
Is it safe to leave the overnight builder unattended?
Mostly, with one thing to set up first: Claude Code's builder caps itself at 150 turns per run, and Codex has no equivalent ceiling - only the job's own timeout. Set a monthly spend limit on your OpenAI account before you turn it on, and check what your first few runs actually cost.