AI tool tier list May 2026 — Codex and Claude Code top, chatbots C

I think cloud the chatbot is really C tier. Let's do an AI tier list for May 2026. First up, we got codex. I'm putting this S tier right up there with cloud code. These are the two best agent to coding agents. For a reason, and if anything, codex is pretty underrated because you can get comparable outputs at a way lower price point than you can with cloud code. And speaking of cloud, let's talk about cloud the chatbot. Lots of people would assume this would be S tier, but I think cloud the chatbot is really C tier. And the reason for that is you're not gonna get enough usage out of it at the $20 a month price point for it to be your daily driver. If you're on the $100 to $200 a month plan, sure, it's S tier, the models are amazing, but for your average user, you don't get video generation, you don't get image generation, and you have usage problems, why would you do that? So if we're talking about what should you pay 20 bucks a month for, I think it's gonna be either chatGPT or Gemini. ChatGPT's been rising for me lately in large part because their new image model is so good. Their new image model is frankly better than NanoBanana Pro. And speaking of NanoBanana Pro, I put that at A tier. The new GPT images too is solid S tier. It does text amazingly well, it's just an amazing product. Then we got Hermes, lots of hype around Hermes, but I would put it C tier. And it's basically just a better open claw. And I think open claw is D tier. These are both productivity theater…