Manus

Overview

Manus is a general-purpose autonomous AI agent that can research, write code, work with files, and produce deliverables through multi-step tasks. Its cloud environment provides a browser, shell, code interpreter, and file system; in an authorized desktop session, Manus can also work with approved local files and apps.

Launched in March 2025, Manus resumed independent operations in September 2026 under its founding team. Desktop access predates Manus 2.0: My Computer arrived in March 2026, and Cloud Computer in April. The September 2026 release upgrades the desktop app to Manus Studio and adds Remote Control, event-triggered Automations, and dedicated video and game creation environments. Those changes matter most when users need to edit deliverables or coordinate workflows across apps and devices.

The platform operates in two modes: Chat Mode for quick conversational queries, and Agent Mode for autonomous, multi-step task execution that can span hours of work.

Manus also launched Cue as a separate, invitation-based app for personal agents. Cue's identities and group-agent chats are not a mode of the main Manus workspace.

Key Features

• Deep research and report generation — Manus browses multiple sources and compiles structured reports for market, competitive, or other multi-source research; readers should review the cited evidence and conclusions.
• Data analysis and visualization — Upload spreadsheets or raw data and Manus can organize, analyze, and present them as structured tables, charts, and summary reports.
• Slide and presentation creation — Manus Slides integrates Google's Nano Banana Pro image-generation model to turn a brief into a presentation with layout and visuals.
• Website deployment — Manus can build and deploy simple web pages and web apps directly from natural-language instructions, with no manual coding required.
• Wide Research mode — Manus splits suitable large-scale tasks into parallel subtasks handled by general-purpose agents, useful when comparing many companies, programs, or other items.
• Mail Manus and Slack integration — Connected messages and services can feed tasks and workflows; review the permissions for each integration before using it to communicate externally.
• Asynchronous multi-task execution — Manus can continue work while you step away. The March 2026 membership guide lists up to 20 concurrent tasks for Pro, but current plan limits should be checked in the app.
• Event-triggered Automations — Connected-service events, including an incoming email or calendar change, can start a task in addition to a fixed schedule.
• Manus Studio creative editing — The desktop workspace includes a timeline-based Video Editor and a Game Dev environment with direct asset and code editing.
• Authorized desktop Computer Use — In a connected session, Manus can work in approved local files, browser pages, and apps; Cloud Computers are available as a separate purchase for always-on projects.

How to Get Started

1. Create a free account — Visit manus.im and sign up. No credit card is required for the Free plan.
2. Choose your mode — Use Chat Mode for quick Q&A or switch to Agent Mode for autonomous task execution. Agent Mode consumes credits based on task complexity.
3. Start your first task — Type a clear, specific instruction in natural language (e.g., "Research the top 5 AI trends in healthcare for 2026 and create a summary report with citations").
4. Monitor progress — Manus shows its intermediate steps as it works. You can review results, pause tasks, or redirect the agent mid-execution.
5. Manage credits — Check your current balance and the in-app cost and entitlement terms before starting a long task or purchasing a Cloud Computer.

Scope and Trade-offs

Manus's value lies in carrying a project through several kinds of work: research, code, files, slides, websites, and now editable video or games. The breadth is useful when a deliverable needs several steps. The practical trade-off is that credit use, Studio entitlements, and separately purchased Cloud Computers need to be checked for the specific workflow. A single-purpose research or editing tool may be a simpler choice when those broader agent capabilities are unnecessary.

Pricing & Plans

Manus uses credits for agent work. Its official membership guide, last updated in March 2026, lists a Free plan, Pro starting at $20/month, and Team starting at $20 per seat/month. It also says the live pricing page governs actual terms. The guide describes Manus 1.6-era agent access and does not establish which 2.0 Studio environments are included in each plan.

Manus says a Cloud Computer can be purchased separately for always-on projects. Its Cloud Computer billing guide, updated during the week of September 29, lists Standard at $30/month and Advanced at $50/month. Upgrading restarts the virtual machine; stopping payment shuts it down and deletes working files, installed tools, and databases stored there. Delivered chat outputs remain. These rates and lifecycle rules belong to Cloud Computer, not the base Manus subscription. Check the current in-app plan and Studio entitlements before budgeting a video, game, or persistent automation workflow.

Best For

• Researchers and analysts who want to delegate multi-source research while checking citations and conclusions themselves
• Marketing and strategy teams conducting competitive analysis or AI productivity projects at scale
• Content creators who need research, slide decks, and web presence generated from a single brief
• Founders and product managers who need research plus slides, websites, or prototypes in one workflow
• Knowledge workers who regularly delegate information-heavy tasks and want asynchronous results

FAQ