OpenClaw vs Manus AI: Open-Source vs Cloud Agent in 2026
OpenClaw and Manus AI are the two biggest names in autonomous AI agents - but they take opposite approaches. OpenClaw is open-source, runs on your machine, and costs nothing except API credits. Manus is closed-source, runs in the cloud, and charges $39-$199/month with unpredictable credit consumption.
One gives you full control. The other gives you convenience. Here's how to decide - and how to run the winner for free with credits from AI Perks.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
What Is Manus AI?
Manus AI is a cloud-based autonomous agent originally built by Butterfly Effect, the team behind Monica.im. It launched in March 2025 and quickly accumulated 2 million waitlist users and an estimated $100 million ARR within 8 months.
In January 2026, Meta acquired Manus for approximately $2 billion - making it Meta's third-largest acquisition. The 100-person team joined Meta, with operations relocating from China to Singapore.
Manus uses a multi-agent architecture that orchestrates specialized agents for browsing, data analysis, and code execution. It handles tasks autonomously in the background - you submit a request, and Manus delivers finished results minutes or hours later.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
What Is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is the open-source AI agent with 180,000+ GitHub stars created by Peter Steinberger. It runs locally on your device and connects to LLMs like Claude, GPT-4, and DeepSeek to execute real-world tasks through messaging platforms.
Unlike Manus, OpenClaw's code is fully auditable. Your data stays on your machine. And the software costs nothing - you only pay for the API credits it consumes, which you can get free through AI Perks.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Feature Comparison: OpenClaw vs Manus AI
| Feature | OpenClaw | Manus AI |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Open-source (MIT) | Closed-source (Meta-owned) |
| Runs where | Your local machine | Manus cloud servers |
| Data privacy | Local - your control | Cloud - Meta's servers |
| Pricing model | Free + API credits | $0-$199/mo subscription + credits |
| Credit transparency | Pay-per-token (visible) | Opaque credit system |
| Customization | Full (3,000+ skills) | Limited |
| Messaging integration | WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Signal | Web dashboard only |
| Background execution | 24/7 persistent daemon | Yes, cloud-based |
| Concurrent tasks | Unlimited (hardware-limited) | 1-10 (plan-limited) |
| Community | 180K+ GitHub stars | Proprietary |
| With AI Perks credits | $0/month | Still $39-$199/mo |
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
The Privacy Trade-Off: Local vs Cloud
This is the defining difference. Every task you give Manus runs on cloud servers now owned by Meta. Your emails, documents, browsing data, and business information pass through third-party infrastructure.
With OpenClaw, your data stays on your machine. API calls go to your chosen LLM provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.), but the processing, storage, and skill execution happen locally.
What this means in practice:
- Manus: Cannot audit what happens to your data. Cannot verify data isn't retained. Users are explicitly warned never to log into banking or primary email through Manus.
- OpenClaw: Full visibility into every API call, every file access, every network request. The code is open-source and auditable by anyone.
For personal tasks, the difference may not matter. For business data, sensitive documents, or anything involving credentials - local execution is significantly safer.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
The Cost Problem: Manus's Unpredictable Credits
Manus uses a credit-based system where costs are nearly impossible to predict before running a task. Here's the reality:
| Manus Plan | Monthly Price | Credits | Real-World Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 300 daily + 1,000 starter | 1-2 simple tasks/day |
| Plus | $39/mo | 3,900/month | ~4-5 complex tasks/month |
| Max | $199/mo | 19,900/month | ~20-25 complex tasks/month |
The problem: a single complex task can burn 900+ credits. Users report watching their entire daily allowance disappear on what they expected to be a simple request. If credits run out mid-task, Manus stops cold - leaving work unfinished with no way to recover wasted credits.
There is no cost estimation tool. You cannot preview credit consumption before starting. One user described it as "playing credit roulette."
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Open Source vs Closed Source: Why It Matters
OpenClaw has 180,000+ developers reviewing its code. Every update is public. Every security vulnerability is visible and patchable. The community has already identified and patched critical issues like CVE-2026-25253.
Manus is a black box. You cannot inspect the code, audit data handling, or verify security claims. One user attempting to export their Manus workflows for independent use found the system "was not built for people like me to leave."
The open-source advantage extends to customization. OpenClaw's 3,000+ ClawHub skills let you build anything. Manus offers a fixed set of capabilities that Meta controls.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Pricing Breakdown: What You Actually Pay
| Usage Level | Manus Cost | OpenClaw API Cost | OpenClaw + AI Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (5-10 tasks/week) | $39/mo (Plus) | $30-60/mo | $0 |
| Medium (20-30 tasks/week) | $199/mo (Max) | $80-200/mo | $0 |
| Heavy (daily automation) | $199/mo + overages | $300-750/mo | $0 |
| Annual cost | $468-$2,388+ | $360-$9,000 | $0 |
Manus charges a subscription regardless of whether free credits exist. OpenClaw's software is free - you only pay for API calls. And those API calls become $0 with credits from AI Perks.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Run OpenClaw for $0 With AI Perks Credits
While Manus charges $39-$199/month with no way to eliminate the subscription, OpenClaw runs entirely on API credits you can get for free.
| Credit Program | Available Credits | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic Claude (Direct) | $1,000 - $25,000 | AI Perks Guide |
| OpenAI (GPT-4) | $500 - $50,000 | AI Perks Guide |
| AWS Activate (Bedrock) | $1,000 - $100,000 | AI Perks Guide |
| Microsoft Founders Hub | $500 - $1,000 | AI Perks Guide |
Total potential: $3,000 - $176,000 in credits
Starter Stack ($2,500+): Anthropic ($1,000) + OpenAI ($500) + Microsoft ($1,000) = 1-2 years of medium usage at $0/month.
Growth Stack ($26,000+): Anthropic ($25,000) + AWS ($1,000) = 1-3 years of heavy automation at $0/month.
Compare that to Manus: even on the cheapest plan, you're paying $468/year minimum with no escape.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
When to Choose Manus AI vs OpenClaw
Choose Manus AI when:
- You want zero setup - just log in and submit tasks
- You need polished research reports and data visualizations
- You don't care about data privacy (no sensitive data involved)
- You prefer a managed, cloud-based experience
- You're OK paying $39-199/month
Choose OpenClaw when:
- Privacy matters - you want data on your own machine
- Cost matters - you want to eliminate subscription fees entirely
- Customization matters - you need skills for your specific workflows
- Messaging integration matters - you want alerts via WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord
- Transparency matters - you want auditable, open-source code
- You're willing to spend 30-60 minutes on initial setup
For most users, OpenClaw's combination of open source, local privacy, and $0 cost with free credits makes it the stronger choice. Manus wins only on convenience - and that convenience costs $468-$2,388+ per year.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manus AI free?
Manus offers a free tier with 300 daily credits and 1,000 starter credits. But complex tasks consume 900+ credits, so the free tier covers only 1-2 simple tasks per day. Paid plans start at $39/month.
Is OpenClaw better than Manus AI?
For privacy, cost control, and customization - yes. OpenClaw is open-source, runs locally, and costs $0 with free credits from AI Perks. Manus is simpler to set up but costs more and gives you less control over your data.
Can Manus AI access my local files?
No. Manus runs entirely in the cloud. It can only work with files uploaded to its platform or data accessed via web browsing. OpenClaw runs locally with full file system access on your machine.
Who owns Manus AI now?
Meta acquired Manus AI for approximately $2 billion in January 2026. The team operates under Meta's COO Javier Olivan. This means your Manus data now flows through Meta's infrastructure.
Can I run OpenClaw for free?
The software is completely free and open-source. API credits normally cost $30-$750/month depending on usage, but you can eliminate this entirely with free credits from AI Perks.
Which is more secure?
OpenClaw is auditable open-source code with 180K+ developers reviewing it. Manus is a closed-source black box. However, OpenClaw requires careful local security configuration. Neither is inherently "more secure" - but OpenClaw gives you the tools to verify and control your security posture.
AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
The Verdict: Transparency Wins
Manus AI is convenient. OpenClaw is transparent. In 2026, when AI agents handle your email, calendar, and personal data, transparency matters more than convenience.
OpenClaw gives you auditable code, local data control, unlimited customization, and $0 operating cost with free credits. Manus gives you a polished cloud experience with opaque pricing and Meta handling your data.
Run the open-source agent. Fund it with free credits from AI Perks. Keep your data on your machine.
Open source beats closed source. Free beats $199/month. Get started at getaiperks.com.
