Head-to-head · profiles checked Oct 1, 2026
Pick OpenClaw to run a free, open-source assistant yourself through chat apps like Telegram and WhatsApp; pick Manus for a hosted agent that builds sites, slides and research in its own sandbox. OpenClaw's software is free, but you supply and pay for your own AI models. Manus starts at $20/month for 4,000 credits, with Extended at $200/month for 40,000. We could not read the 8,000-credit price or any Manus privacy terms.
We based this comparison on our OpenClaw and Manus profiles, both verified 2026-10-01 from official vendor pages; it uses no third-party benchmarks and no vendor paid for placement.
OpenClaw is free, open-source software that you install and run on your own machine, and you pay your own AI provider for models. Manus is an account-based agent that works in its own sandbox computer, with credit plans starting at $20/month. OpenClaw fits developers and self-hosters who want control over where content is processed; Manus fits people who want to delegate multi-step work without any setup. We could not read the price of Manus's 8,000-credit tier or find its privacy terms.
Based on our OpenClaw and Manus profiles, both verified 2026-10-01 from official vendor pages; the Manus 8,000-credit price and privacy terms could not be confirmed, and no benchmark was run.
Our own captures of each vendor's public pages. Click a frame for the full-size image.
If you only want the answer, this is the table. Everything below is the evidence from the two documented profiles.
| You want to | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Organize an email inbox | OpenClaw | OpenClaw lists inbox organizing from a chat message; you connect mail access yourself |
| Manage a calendar | OpenClaw | OpenClaw lists calendar changes from chat, with model and tool setup needed |
| Build a website or web app without coding | Manus | Manus lists a full-stack website and app builder in its sandbox |
| Create slide decks and designs | Manus | Manus lists AI slides and design tools; OpenClaw lists none |
| Research across many sources | Manus | Manus lists Wide Research, which runs across sources in parallel |
| Produce images, music or video | Manus | Manus lists image, music and video tools; OpenClaw lists none |
| Message an assistant from Telegram or WhatsApp | OpenClaw | OpenClaw bridges one gateway to Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack and more |
| Use it with no installation | Manus | Manus runs from manus.im and its apps; OpenClaw must be installed |
| Inspect or modify the source code | OpenClaw | OpenClaw is open source with public docs |
| Automate tasks across Gmail, Notion and Slack | Manus | Manus lists integrations with Gmail, Notion and Slack |
| Plan | Tool | Price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open source (self-run) | OpenClaw | Free | No hosted tier or subscription; model and API costs are separate |
| Standard (4,000 credits) | Manus | $20/mo | 4,000 credits per month; 20 concurrent tasks; 20 scheduled tasks |
| Customizable (8,000 credits) | Manus | Not confirmed | 8,000 credits per month; 20 concurrent tasks; 20 scheduled tasks |
| Extended (40,000 credits) | Manus | $200/mo | 40,000 credits per month; 20 concurrent tasks; 20 scheduled tasks |
| Team | Manus | Custom | Not viewed |
USD as published on each vendor's pricing page, checked Oct 1, 2026. Manus pricing in full
| OpenClaw | Manus | |
|---|---|---|
| Messages / rate limits | Not stated | 4,000, 8,000 or 40,000 credits per month plus 300 refresh credits every day; 20 concurrent tasks |
| Scheduled tasks | Not stated | 20 scheduled tasks on each tier |
| Context / file size | Not stated | Not stated |
| Seats / team | Sharing an assistant with a team is a listed use case; seat limits not stated | Team plan with SSO; limits not viewed |
| Feature | OpenClaw | Manus |
|---|---|---|
| Image generation | Not stated | Yes |
| Voice | Optional voice and camera input via mobile apps | Not stated |
| File upload | Not stated | Yes |
| Web search | Not stated | Internet access in the sandbox; Wide Research |
| Agents / tools | Agent gateway with skills and plugins | Autonomous agent with a browser operator |
| API | No hosted API; self-hosted gateway | Listed; pricing not viewed |
| Mobile apps | Mobile apps are mentioned for voice and camera input; platforms not listed | Yes (iOS, Android) |
| Open source | Yes | Not stated |
| OpenClaw | Manus | |
|---|---|---|
| Training on your data | Not applicable to the app; depends on your chosen AI provider | Not stated |
| Retention | Depends on your gateway; the policy does not cover it | Not stated |
| Business controls | Permission-based access; no ad or analytics SDKs in mobile or extension builds | Trust center for security certifications; SSO on the Team plan |
Taken from each vendor's published policy pages at the time of our check. Policies change; the source links are at the bottom.
Open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your own machine and is reached through chat apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Free stops at: No hosted tier or subscription per the site, Model and API costs are separate
Pricing US price unconfirmed
Autonomous general AI agent that plans and executes tasks in its own sandboxed computer to deliver finished work.
Free stops at: A Get started button is on every tier; whether a free tier exists was not stated.
Pricing US price unconfirmed
OpenClaw's software is free and open source, with no subscription or hosted tier, but you pay your own AI provider. Manus lists Standard at $20/month for 4,000 credits and Extended at $200/month for 40,000. Whether Manus has a free tier was not stated.
OpenClaw needs installation: a one-line installer, npm, Docker or a desktop app, then openclaw onboard. Manus is used from manus.im or its apps and requires an account; the agent works in its own sandbox computer.
Our profile notes that OpenClaw requires installing and running it yourself, which means setup work. Manus asks for an account and runs tasks in its sandbox. The trade-off with Manus is credits: complex tasks may use up the monthly allowance.
OpenClaw says training use depends on the AI provider you choose, and its current mobile and extension builds have no ad, analytics or crash-reporting SDKs. Manus's privacy and training terms were not found; its page mentions only a Trust center for security certifications.
Only official vendor pages. No third-party benchmarks, forum threads or press were used. How we review.
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