Manus vs OpenManus
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
AI tool · Freemium
A general-purpose AI agent that plans and carries out multi-step tasks such as research, analysis and building web pages.
Open source · MIT
Open-source Python framework for building general-purpose AI agents that run tasks from a prompt.
The short answer
Choose Manus if you need…
- Delegating multi-step research
- Generating reports and simple sites
Choose OpenManus if you need…
- Developers who want to experiment with an open-source general AI agent
- Students learning how LLM agents call tools and browse the web
- Teams wanting to customize agent behavior in Python rather than use a closed product
- People who already have an LLM API key from OpenAI or a compatible provider
Side-by-side
| Manus | OpenManus | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI assistants · AI agents | AI model / agent |
| Price | Freemium | Free and open source |
| Licence | — | MIT |
| GitHub stars | — | 58.9k |
| Setup difficulty | — | Intermediate |
| How you get it | — | Clone and build from source |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | — |
| Works with | — | — |
| Main language | — | Python |
| Last code update | — | 4 days ago |
| Hands-on tested by us | Not yet | — |
| Last checked | 2026-10-29 | — |
What each one is
Manus
A general-purpose AI agent that plans and carries out multi-step tasks such as research, analysis and building web pages. Capable on open-ended tasks. Credit costs are unpredictable and long runs can go off-track without supervision.
OpenManus
OpenManus is a Python project for building AI agents, programs that take a task described in plain language and use a language model to work toward it. The README describes it as an open alternative to the Manus agent that does not require an invite code. You supply your own LLM API key and run the agent from a terminal, and it can also use a browser through Browser Use.
Best for
Manus
- Delegating multi-step research
- Generating reports and simple sites
OpenManus
- Developers who want to experiment with an open-source general AI agent
- Students learning how LLM agents call tools and browse the web
- Teams wanting to customize agent behavior in Python rather than use a closed product
- People who already have an LLM API key from OpenAI or a compatible provider
Strengths
Manus
- Autonomous task execution in a cloud sandbox
- Web browsing
- File and slide outputs
- Scheduled tasks
OpenManus
- MIT licensed, so the code can be used and modified freely
- Supports multiple entry points: a general agent, an MCP version and a multi-agent flow
- Clear configuration through a single config.toml file for model and API settings
Not ideal for
Manus
—
OpenManus
- Non-technical users, since setup requires Python, a config file and API keys
- Anyone needing a polished, supported production product, because the README calls its implementation simple and is still evolving
- Users unwilling to pay for LLM API usage, since the README requires an API key for the models it calls
Trade-offs
Manus
—
OpenManus
- The README calls its multi-agent flow unstable and describes the project as a simple implementation
- Requires paid or self-hosted LLM API access and careful key handling
- Several optional features need extra setup, such as Playwright browsers and chart visualization dependencies
Getting started
OpenManus
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/FoundationAgents/OpenManus.gitCreate and activate a virtual environment with uv
uv venv --python 3.12Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Manus and OpenManus?
Manus: A general-purpose AI agent that plans and carries out multi-step tasks such as research, analysis and building web pages. OpenManus: Open-source Python framework for building general-purpose AI agents that run tasks from a prompt. Manus suits delegating multi-step research, while OpenManus suits developers who want to experiment with an open-source general ai agent.
Are Manus and OpenManus free?
Manus: Freemium. OpenManus: Free and open source.
What are other alternatives to Manus and OpenManus?
Other options people compare them with include Genspark, OpenHands, MetaGPT, SWE-agent.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.