Manus is independent again after China blocked its sale to Meta, and some users lost data in the split. If you are looking for a replacement, here are 9 alternatives with prices read on each vendor page, who each one fits, and one honest limit for each.
Checked October 22, 2026. Prices were read on each vendor's own pricing or help page that day; some pages (Manus, Genspark, ChatGPT) load prices behind JavaScript or a login, so we used that morning's read. Prices change: re-check before you buy. Dooza Crew is our product; we list it last and say where others fit better.
For a hosted all-rounder like Manus, try Genspark. If you already pay $20 a month for ChatGPT or Claude, use ChatGPT Work or Claude Cowork first. To self-host for free, use OpenClaw or Hermes Agent. For a small business that wants a team of agents working next to its staff, with approvals and a spending cap, try Dooza Crew.
So Manus is not going away. People are looking around because of the turmoil, the lost data, and credit bills that are hard to predict.
| Tool | Best for | Cheapest paid plan (checked Oct 22, 2026) | Runs a browser or computer for you | Hosted or self-host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manus (for reference) | General tasks: research, slides, websites | $20/mo for 4,000 credits | Yes, cloud computer and browser | Hosted |
| Genspark | Research, slides and docs in one workspace | Plus $24.99/mo ($19.99 billed yearly), from 10,000 credits | Yes (Claw, a dedicated cloud computer) | Hosted |
| ChatGPT Work | People already paying for ChatGPT | Included in Plus, $20/mo (limited usage) | Yes, a cloud browser | Hosted |
| Claude Cowork | Work on files on your own computer | Included in Pro, $20/mo ($17 billed yearly) | Your own computer and Chrome | Hosted model, runs on your machine |
| Perplexity (Computer, Comet) | Research-heavy work and an AI browser | Pro $17/mo billed yearly | Yes: Comet drives your browser, Computer runs in the cloud | Hosted |
| Lindy | Recurring workflows across your apps | Team $49.99/mo per user, 5,000 credits | Yes, when no integration exists | Hosted |
| Meta Muse | Consumers in the US and Canada | Free to start, paid plans available | Yes, a secure virtual machine | Hosted |
| Kortix | Technical teams that want to own the stack | Free 500 credits/mo; $200/mo for 20,000 credits | Yes, cloud sandbox with a browser | Both |
| OpenClaw | Tinkerers who want an assistant in their chat apps | Free (MIT); you pay hosting and the model | Acts on your own hardware | Self-host |
| Hermes Agent | Developers who want an always-on agent with memory | Free (MIT); you pay hosting and the model | Runs on your server | Self-host |
| Dooza Crew (ours) | Small businesses that want a team of agents with their staff | $49/mo with $20 of AI usage, 7 days free | Yes, each agent has its own computer and browser | Hosted |
Genspark's Super Agent does research, slides, docs and sheets, and can even place phone calls for you. Its "Claw" is an always-on AI employee that runs on "a dedicated cloud computer provisioned just for you".
More detail: Genspark vs Manus.
ChatGPT Work replaced ChatGPT agent (OpenAI help). It handles longer jobs, research, documents, spreadsheets and presentations, with its own browser on a computer in the cloud.
Cowork is Claude's agent mode. It works on files on your Mac or Windows computer and uses your own logged-in Chrome, and scheduled tasks can run in the cloud (Anthropic help).
More detail: Manus vs Claude Cowork.
Comet is Perplexity's AI browser for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android (Comet). Perplexity Computer is a cloud agent that turns research into finished work.
Lindy is an AI employee that connects to 1,500+ apps and can be reached from Slack, iMessage, email or a Chrome extension (Lindy).
Muse is "a personal AI agent" Meta launched in September 2026, with its own computer and web browser. It checks with you before it sends email or buys anything.
Kortix calls itself "the open-source AI Operating System". Agents run on cloud sandbox computers with any model you choose.
OpenClaw runs on your own computer and answers in WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage and more. It is MIT-licensed with "no paid tier, hosted service, or token".
Hermes Agent from Nous Research is a "self-improving AI agent" with memory, skills and a scheduler, reachable from Telegram, Discord, Slack or WhatsApp.
Dooza Crew is a hosted team of AI agents for small businesses. You brief a lead agent in plain words from the web or your phone; it splits the job across helper agents. Each agent has its own computer and a real browser, and saves work to your files. Invite your staff into the same chat. Nothing is sent until a person approves it, and AI spend has a hard cap.
Try Dooza Crew free for 7 days, or read Dooza Crew vs Manus.
If Manus does your work well and you have exported what you need, there is no urgent reason to move: it has fresh funding and shipped Manus 2.0 in October 2026. Switch when a test like the one above shows another tool doing your hardest task better or cheaper.
Comparing more agents? See Genspark vs Manus, Manus vs Claude Cowork and Dooza Crew vs ChatGPT Work.
It depends on the job. For research, slides and docs in one hosted tool, Genspark is the closest match. If you already pay for ChatGPT or Claude, their agent modes (ChatGPT Work, Claude Cowork) cost nothing extra at $20 a month. For self-hosting, OpenClaw or Hermes Agent are free and MIT-licensed. For a small business that wants a team of agents working with its staff, Dooza Crew is $49 a month with $20 of AI usage included.
No. Meta agreed to buy Manus in December 2025, China blocked the deal in April 2026, and Meta cut Manus off from its systems in June 2026. Manus went independent again in August 2026 and announced a funding round of more than $500 million on October 8, 2026, according to TechCrunch.
We found no shutdown date. Manus launched Manus 2.0 in October 2026 and raised new funding. It did say it had to delete some user data as part of the split from Meta, so export anything you need to keep.
Yes. OpenClaw and Hermes Agent are free, MIT-licensed open-source agents you run yourself; you pay for hosting and the AI model. Kortix has a free plan with 500 credits a month. Meta says Muse is free for most of what people need.
On October 22, 2026, Manus plans were $20 a month for 4,000 credits, $40 for 8,000 and $200 for 40,000, or $17, $34 and $167 a month billed yearly, plus 300 refresh credits a day.
If you want to build automations, Lindy (from $49.99 per user a month) connects to 1,500+ apps. If you want a ready team of agents you brief in chat, with approvals and a hard cap on AI spend, Dooza Crew is free for 7 days and then $49 a month with $20 of AI usage included.
Automate your business with AI employees that work 24/7. Start with a refundable pilot: 100% refund within 14 days.
Manus and Claude Cowork are both AI agents you hand longer tasks to, and both start at $20 a month. Manus runs each task in its own virtual computer with a cloud browser and bills in credits; Cowork works on your files and your own browser through the Claude Desktop app. Here is how they compare.
Genspark and Manus are both general AI agents you give tasks to, and both bill in credits. Genspark adds AI phone calls and Claw, an AI employee with its own cloud computer; Manus gives every task a virtual computer with a cloud browser. Here is how they compare.
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Start with a refundable pilot — 100% refund within 14 days. A Dooza engineer scopes it with you on a free 30-minute call. Pricing depends on the product; see pricing.
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Dooza builds AI products and services for small businesses. Custom Dooza agents start with a refundable pilot: 100% refund within 14 days.
Or start now: Dooza Managed, an admin assistant checked by a real person, first 7 days free, then $200/month. See pricing.