| Manus | ChatGPT | Claude | OpenAI Operator | Devin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Autonomous agent (full task execution) | Conversational AI assistant | Conversational AI assistant | Web browsing agent | AI software engineer |
| Autonomy level | High (end to end) | Low (per message) | Low (per message) | Medium (web tasks) | High (coding tasks) |
| Web browsing | Yes (real Chromium) | Limited (browsing plugin) | Yes (Computer Use) | Yes (isolated browser) | Limited |
| Code execution | Yes (sandboxed VM) | Yes (Code Interpreter) | Yes (artifacts) | Yes (full IDE) | |
| Background tasks | Yes (async cloud) | ||||
| Output format | Files, websites, apps, reports | Text responses | Text responses | Task completion | Code / pull requests |
| Starting price | Free (300 daily credits) | Free (limited) | Free (limited) | $20/mo (ChatGPT Plus) | $500/mo |
| Best for | Complex knowledge work, research, prototyping | Daily AI assistance, writing, analysis | Writing, reasoning, coding conversations | Shopping, booking, web tasks | Software engineering |
When to use Manus vs a chatbot
Use Manus when you need a finished deliverable (a report, a website, a spreadsheet) and are willing to wait for the agent to work autonomously. Use ChatGPT or Claude when you need interactive conversation, immediate answers, or want to collaborate step by step on a task. Manus shines on tasks that would take you hours of manual research and formatting; chatbots shine on tasks where real time interaction matters.