Rift

Rift vs OpenAI Agents API

The Agents API gives each session its own hosted workspace. Rift gives every session the same files.

OpenAI Agents API

Youlaptop
work
api
billing
runs
.env
OpenAI
It stores your files and can read them.
work
api
billing
runs
.env
a project role
OpenClawOpenClawanother company's agent
uses a project API key
work
api
billing
runs
.env

Rift

Youlaptop
work
api
billing
runs
.env
Rift Cloud
It cannot read your files. It holds only ciphertext.
Fv+a8LdicjU6ce
efFPD/W3GEGTbB
FFu91EY6OfuOIc
j3iz+iV3W5kvab
1hZDb7nJAxjHmy
one folder, read
OpenClawOpenClawanother company's agent
holds its own key
apiread

What OpenAI Agents API is

The OpenAI Agents API runs the Codex agent for developers, with a hosted Linux sandbox for each session. Files an agent writes to its outputs folder are published as artifacts, which stay downloadable after the sandbox expires. A self-hosted mode lets the agent work on files on your own machine. It has been in public beta since September 2026.

How they differ

Each hosted session has a separate workspace, so the sandbox is not a shared store. Rift is one set of files that every session and every machine sees.

OpenAI Agents APIRift
IdentityOpenAI Agents APIThe agent has none. It uses an OpenAI API key that belongs to a project.RiftA key that each machine and agent makes for itself. No account.
Smallest shareOpenAI Agents APIA project role or an API key permission, inside one OpenAI organization.RiftA folder, a subfolder or one file, as read or write.
Who checks accessOpenAI Agents APIOpenAI.RiftEach machine that receives a file checks the grant itself.
Who can read your filesOpenAI Agents APIOpenAI stores session state and artifacts on its servers. Enterprise customers can have stored content encrypted with a key they manage in their own cloud.RiftOnly the machines you shared with. Rift Cloud holds ciphertext.
When your machines are offOpenAI Agents APIPublished artifacts stay available. A hosted sandbox can be deleted after an hour without activity.RiftFiles stored in Rift Cloud stay available.

Which to choose

Choose OpenAI Agents API when

  • Your agents run on OpenAI's platform.
  • You want a managed workspace for each session.
  • Downloading the finished artifacts is enough.

Choose Rift when

  • Sessions should share files while they work.
  • The same files have to be on several machines as they are written.
  • Another company's agent needs some of the files.

Based on OpenAI's documentation, read in October 2026. Sources: Agents API, files, hosted sandbox, self-hosted, access control, your data.

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