Productivity and organisation
Manus: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Manus supports people conducting research, analyzing data, or preparing presentations. It also allows users to create websites and applications and carry out tasks on a remote computer. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $20 per month. Access and transparency score: 71/100, #7 of 22 in its category.
| Access | 30/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 10/30 | |
| Trust | 31/40 |
What is Manus?
Manus supports people conducting research, analyzing data, or preparing presentations. It also allows users to create websites and applications and carry out tasks on a remote computer.
According to its documentation, Manus lets you:
- conduct research across multiple sources
- analyze data and prepare results
- create websites and applications
- prepare presentations
- execute tasks on a remote computer
We file it under Productivity and organisation, the category of tools to save time every day, and it also overlaps with workflow automation and aI app builders. The category lists 22 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Butterfly Effect Pte. Ltd., based in Singapore. The service launched in 2025.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: small business owners, project managers, data analysts, and freelancers. The need it covers is simple to state: save time every day.
Manus is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does Manus cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $20 per month (Entry-level Pro plan, monthly billing), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is more expensive than the category median ($15.5 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in several regions depending on the plan.
No export feature is documented: keep a copy of your content elsewhere.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Manus runs on: web browser, Windows, macOS, iPhone and iPad, Android, and API.
The interface is available in 22 languages.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 71/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 30/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 10/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 31/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Manus against other tools in the productivity and organisation category:
| Tool | Free | Entry price | API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manus | Yes | $20 per month | Yes | 71 |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Yes | $9.99 per month | Yes | 83 |
| forms.app | Yes | $19 per month | Yes | 83 |
| Pieces | Yes | $18.99 per month | Yes | 78 |
| Tally | Yes | $24 per month | Yes | 78 |
| RescueTime | Yes | $84 per year | Yes | 73 |
| Todoist | Yes | $60 per year | Yes | 73 |
| Scribe | Yes | $23 per month | Yes | 68 |
Verdict
Manus is a decent option; compare its price and terms with the category leaders.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
- Available on many platforms
Limitations
- More expensive than its category median
- Data export not documented
Avoid if…
- You need to easily retrieve your full history
Alternatives
- Microsoft 365 Copilotfree tier
- forms.appfree tier
- Piecesfree tier
- Tallyfree tier
- RescueTimefree tier
- Todoistfree tier
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Manus free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $20 per month.
Where is Manus data stored?
According to the publisher, in several regions depending on the plan.
Does Manus have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Manus?
In the same category: Microsoft 365 Copilot, forms.app, Pieces, and Tally.
Manus or Microsoft 365 Copilot: which one to choose?
Manus starts at $20 per month, Microsoft 365 Copilot at $9.99 per month and our score is 71/100 for Manus and 83/100 for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score