OpenHands 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.
Open source · MIT
A self-hosted control panel that runs AI coding agents on your machine, in Docker, or in the cloud.
Open source · MIT
Open-source Python framework for building general-purpose AI agents that run tasks from a prompt.
Our verdict
OpenHands is a self-hosted control panel for running and coordinating AI coding agents, including third-party ones, and it can keep agents working on a server while your laptop is off. OpenManus is a Python framework for building a general-purpose AI agent that runs tasks from a prompt in a terminal, and it requires you to write code and bring your own LLM API key. They serve different purposes: OpenHands is for managing coding agents in a team or server setup, while OpenManus is for developers who want to experiment with or customize an agent themselves.
Pick OpenHands if you want a shared control panel to run coding agents on a server, connect them to Slack or GitHub, and choose your own LLM provider.
Pick OpenManus if you are a developer who wants to learn how LLM agents work or customize a general agent in Python with your own API key.
| Key difference | OpenHands | OpenManus |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Control panel for running and managing coding agents | Python framework for building general-purpose agents |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate; install with a package manager, Docker options need care | Intermediate; clone and build from source, edit config.toml, add API keys |
| Security by default | Quickstart without a sandbox gives the agent full filesystem access | README does not highlight sandboxing; you manage keys and access yourself |
| Maturity | Large community (about 92k stars); code updated in the last day | Smaller community (about 59k stars); README calls it simple and evolving |
| Integrations | Slack, GitHub, Linear automations; works with Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI | Browser use via Browser Use; MCP and multi-agent entry points, multi-agent flow flagged unstable |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose OpenHands if you need…
- Developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off
- Teams that want a shared agent server for tasks like code review or dependency updates
- People who want to connect agents to Slack, GitHub, or Linear through automations
- Users who want to choose their own LLM provider
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
| OpenHands | OpenManus | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | AI model / agent |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 92.5k | 58.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | TypeScript | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
OpenHands
Agent Canvas is a self-hosted control center for AI coding agents. You start conversations with agents and set up automations, such as generating reports that publish to Slack or breaking GitHub issues into tasks. It runs on your own machine by default and can also connect to agents running in Docker, on virtual machines, or on OpenHands Cloud or Enterprise infrastructure. It can run the open source OpenHands agent or third-party agents such as Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI.
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
OpenHands
- Developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off
- Teams that want a shared agent server for tasks like code review or dependency updates
- People who want to connect agents to Slack, GitHub, or Linear through automations
- Users who want to choose their own LLM provider
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
OpenHands
- Self-hosted, so you control where agents run and where your work is stored
- Supports several agents and backends from one frontend
- Released under the MIT license with a large public community (about 92,000 stars)
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
OpenHands
- People who need strong isolation by default: the quickstart without a sandbox gives the agent full access to your filesystem
- Non-technical users who are not comfortable with Node.js, npm, Docker, or the command line
- Anyone who needs a fully hosted service with no setup, since the README centers on self-hosting
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
OpenHands
- Running without a sandbox gives the agent full access to your filesystem, so the Docker options need careful setup
- Multiple features depend on configuring backends, LLM keys, and integrations, which takes effort
- The README is truncated and does not fully document security hardening or every integration; see the linked docs
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
OpenHands
Install globally with npm (no sandbox)
npm install -g @openhands/agent-canvasStart the full local stack
agent-canvasOpenManus
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
Should I use OpenHands or OpenManus?
OpenHands is a self-hosted control panel for running and coordinating AI coding agents, including third-party ones, and it can keep agents working on a server while your laptop is off. OpenManus is a Python framework for building a general-purpose AI agent that runs tasks from a prompt in a terminal, and it requires you to write code and bring your own LLM API key. They serve different purposes: OpenHands is for managing coding agents in a team or server setup, while OpenManus is for developers who want to experiment with or customize an agent themselves. Pick OpenHands if you want a shared control panel to run coding agents on a server, connect them to Slack or GitHub, and choose your own LLM provider. Pick OpenManus if you are a developer who wants to learn how LLM agents work or customize a general agent in Python with your own API key.
What is the difference between OpenHands and OpenManus?
OpenHands: A self-hosted control panel that runs AI coding agents on your machine, in Docker, or in the cloud. OpenManus: Open-source Python framework for building general-purpose AI agents that run tasks from a prompt. OpenHands suits developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off, while OpenManus suits developers who want to experiment with an open-source general ai agent.
Are OpenHands and OpenManus free?
OpenHands: Free and open source. OpenManus: Free and open source.
Is OpenHands or OpenManus more popular?
OpenHands has more GitHub stars (92.5k) than OpenManus (58.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to OpenHands and OpenManus?
Other options people compare them with include One API, LlamaGPT, codex-chatgpt-web, wechat-bot, GitDiagram.
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.