Manus AI vs
computer agents
Manus proved AI agents are a massive market — then sold to Meta for $3 billion. Computer Agents is the independent, developer-first alternative with transparent pricing, persistent workspaces, and open-source SDKs.
Manus AI
by Meta Platforms (acquired Dec 2025)
- Autonomous task execution in cloud VMs
- Agent Skills system (SKILL.md)
- WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger (Meta platforms)
- $100M ARR — proven market demand
- Owned by Meta — data flows to Facebook ecosystem
- No cost transparency — credits consumed blindly
- Credits expire monthly (unused = lost)
- Ephemeral VMs — workspace lost after each task
- No multi-agent orchestration or scheduling
- No TypeScript SDK, no open-source SDKs
$20–200/mo · Credits expire monthly · No rollover
Computer Agents
Independent agent platform
- Independent — not owned by Big Tech
- Persistent workspaces that survive across sessions
- Multi-agent orchestration (4 strategies)
- Webhook triggers for GitHub, Slack, custom sources
- Transparent per-token pricing with budget caps
- Official TypeScript + Python SDKs (open-source)
- Scheduled cron execution — agents run 24/7
- Web, iOS, Telegram, Discord, API
- Balance never expires — pay for what you use
Free tier available · Pro from $19/mo · Balance rolls over
Why developers choose Computer Agents
Six capabilities that Manus can't match — and that matter for production use.
Independent Platform
We're not owned by Meta, Google, or any big tech company. Your agents, your data, your infrastructure. No ecosystem lock-in, no data flowing to social media companies.
Cost Transparency
See exactly what every execution costs — per token, per model, in real time. Budget caps prevent surprises. With Manus, you start a task and have no idea how many credits it'll burn.
Multi-Agent Orchestration
Coordinate multiple agents in workflows — sequential, parallel, conditional, or map-reduce. Manus runs one agent per task. We let you build entire agent teams.
Webhook Triggers
Fire agents automatically from GitHub pushes, Slack messages, or any webhook source. Each trigger gets HMAC signature verification. Manus has no event-driven execution.
Dual SDKs, Open Source
Official TypeScript (npm) and Python (PyPI) SDKs, both open-source on GitHub. Build AI agent features into your products with first-class developer tooling.
Persistent Workspaces
Your agent's files, context, and progress persist across every session. Manus uses ephemeral VMs — when the task ends, the workspace is gone. We keep everything.
Feature-by-feature comparison
A detailed look at what each platform offers across every category.
Pricing comparison
Manus uses opaque credits that expire monthly. Computer Agents uses transparent per-token billing that rolls over.
Manus AI
Credits expire monthly — unused credits are lost.
No cost estimate before starting a task.
Typical task: 150 credits (~$1.50). Complex tasks: 500-900.
Computer Agents
Per-token pricing — see cost breakdown for every execution.
Budget caps prevent surprise charges.
Choose your model: Haiku (fast), Sonnet (balanced), Opus (powerful).
Why independence matters
Manus was acquired by Meta in December 2025. Here's what that means for users.
Your data goes to Meta
Every task you run on Manus, every file you upload, every agent you create — it all lives inside Meta's infrastructure. Meta's privacy track record speaks for itself.
Platform risk
Meta acquires companies to integrate them. Character.AI → Google. Inflection → Microsoft. Manus → Meta. The standalone product's future is uncertain. If Meta pivots Manus into a WhatsApp feature, your API integration breaks.
Developer ecosystem at risk
Manus's API documentation and SDK support may change post-acquisition. Enterprise customers are already expressing concerns. Building on an independent platform means your integration is stable.
When to use which
Manus might work if you...
- Primarily use WhatsApp or Instagram
- Want consumer-grade simplicity
- Run one-off tasks that don't need persistence
- Don't need scheduling or automation
- Are comfortable with Meta owning your data
Choose Computer Agents if you...
- Want an independent platform you can trust
- Need persistent workspaces across sessions
- Build AI features into your own products
- Want multi-agent orchestration
- Need scheduled automation and webhook triggers
- Want transparent, predictable pricing
- Need TypeScript and Python SDKs
Frequently asked questions
Can I migrate from Manus to Computer Agents?
Yes. Sign up for a free account and start building. Since Manus uses ephemeral VMs (files don't persist between tasks), there's no workspace data to migrate. You'll actually gain persistence — your workspaces on Computer Agents survive across sessions.
Does Computer Agents use the same AI models as Manus?
Computer Agents runs Claude Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.5, and Haiku 4.5 — Anthropic's most capable models. Manus uses a mix of Claude and Qwen models, but doesn't let you choose which model runs your task. With Computer Agents, you pick the model per agent.
Is Computer Agents cheaper than Manus?
It depends on usage, but Computer Agents is more predictable. Manus credits expire monthly and you can't estimate task cost before running. Computer Agents shows per-token pricing, your balance never expires, and budget caps prevent surprises. For developers, the transparency alone is worth it.
Why did Meta acquire Manus?
Meta acquired Manus in December 2025 for approximately $2-3 billion. The goal is to integrate AI agents into WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger. Some Manus customers have expressed concern about this direction, particularly around data privacy and API continuity.
Does Manus have multi-agent orchestration?
No. Manus runs one agent per task. Computer Agents offers full multi-agent orchestration with four strategies: sequential, parallel, conditional, and map-reduce. Each agent in an orchestration gets its own thread and workspace.
Does Manus have a TypeScript SDK?
No. Manus offers a Python SDK and REST API, but no TypeScript SDK. Computer Agents provides official, open-source SDKs for both TypeScript (npm) and Python (PyPI), plus a full REST API with SSE streaming.
Can I use both Manus and Computer Agents?
Yes. Some users use Manus for quick consumer tasks via Telegram and Computer Agents for developer workflows, scheduled automation, and production integrations. They serve different audiences.
Your agents should work
for you — not for Meta.
Start with the free tier. No credit card required. Your data stays yours.