Hermes vs Manus comes down to who runs the agent: Hermes Agent is Nous Research's free, MIT-licensed agent that you install on your own machines and point at any model, while Manus is a managed agent from Manus AI that plans every step in its own cloud, even when it works on your computer. Both changed a lot this autumn. Manus shipped Manus 2.0 on 28 September 2026, and Hermes shipped v0.23.0, "The Hearth Release", on 5 November 2026.
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For the cost-and-control basics, our earlier Manus vs Hermes breakdown is still a useful starting point. Several of its points have changed since May.
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What changed in Hermes vs Manus this autumn
Hermes v0.23.0, The Hearth Release
Nous Research's release notes list these headline changes:
- Webapp. Your full Desktop workspace now opens in a browser tab, served by your own gateway. It is off by default.
- One gateway owns every conversation. The CLI, TUI, Desktop, code editors, messaging bots and cron jobs all attach to the same gateway. A chat you open anywhere is the same chat.
- Group Chats that run themselves. In Bot Mode rooms, a lead bot or an automatic router picks who answers. Scheduled jobs can post into a room, and a hop cap stops bots pinging each other forever.
- Rewind. Type /rewind or press Esc twice to edit an earlier message, resend it, or fork a new session.
- Plugins. The catalog grew from about 600 to over 1,050 entries, with a new Verified tier and an opt-in auto-update switch. New official plugins include a bubblewrap sandbox for terminal and code commands on Linux.
- Spend limits for paid tools. Paid MCP tools can declare what a call costs. Hermes shows a running total and asks before a chat goes over its limit.
- Skill lock and cron control. hermes curator lock stops the agent rewriting a skill you curated, and hermes cron cancel stops a running job.
Two upgrade notes matter. The old browser tools are gone, so browser automation now runs through browser_exec only. Desktop now needs macOS 13 or later, or 64-bit Windows.
Manus 2.0, Manus Flex and Manus Studio
Manus's own blog lists these changes:
- Cascade. A new in-house agent harness. Manus says that in one tested configuration it used 23.2% fewer tokens and finished tasks in 28.2% less time than its previous system.
- Automations. Work can now start when something happens, not only at a set time. Examples are a new email, a calendar event, a Slack message, a Notion update or a new GitHub pull request.
- Manus Studio. The desktop app was renamed from Manus Desktop. Its My Computer feature lets Manus read and edit files in a folder you choose, run terminal tools such as Python, Node.js and Git, and use your apps.
- Cloud Computer. A dedicated cloud machine you subscribe to, for bots and automations that must run around the clock. Our Manus Cloud Computer guide covers it in detail.
- Video Editor and Game Dev. These are professional workspaces inside Studio, with a multi-track timeline for video.
- Manus Flex (29 September 2026). You can bring your own API key from providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI Studio, xAI and OpenRouter. Manus labels Flex a beta and says third-party model performance may vary.
The company changed too. Manus announced it was joining Meta on 29 December 2025. On 1 September 2026, it said it had formally resumed independent operations. During that move, some users had to back up and restore their data.
Hermes vs Manus side by side
| Point | Hermes Agent | Manus |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Nous Research, open source under MIT | Manus AI, closed managed service |
| Where the agent's brain runs | On your machine, server or chosen backend | In the Manus cloud. Studio runs the commands on your computer, but planning stays in the cloud |
| Where the work happens | Local, Docker, SSH, Modal, Daytona or Vercel Sandbox backends | Cloud sandbox (default), My Computer in Studio, or a dedicated Cloud Computer |
| Models | Any provider or your own endpoint. Switch with hermes model | Manus modes by default. Flex (beta) adds your own key from supported providers |
| Triggers | Built-in cron, webhooks and messaging platforms | Schedules, triggered tasks and Advanced automation (beta) |
| Teams of agents | Subagents, delegation plugins and Bot Mode Group Chats | Parallel Tasks, Wide Research and Projects |
| Approvals | Approval gate on risky commands, plus spend limits on paid tools | Studio modes: Ask for approval, Approve for me (default), Full access |
| Chat surfaces | Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal and more from one gateway | Web and apps, Telegram via Manus Agents, Slack, and Mail Manus |
| Operating systems | Linux, macOS, WSL2, native Windows, Android via Termux | Web, iOS and Android. Studio on Apple Silicon Macs and Windows 10 or 11. No Linux for Studio |
| Latest big release | v0.23.0, 5 November 2026 | Manus 2.0, 28 September 2026 |
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Hermes vs Manus for a small business: how to choose
Answer these five questions in order.
- Who will maintain it? Hermes is software you install, update and keep running. Manus handles hosting, updates and the harness for you. If nobody on your team will touch a terminal, start with Manus.
- Where must your data live? Hermes can run fully on hardware you control, including local models. Manus's docs say the planning always happens in the Manus cloud, and any file content Manus reads becomes part of the task.
- Do you already pay for models? Hermes works with any provider or endpoint. Manus Flex now lets you bring a key too. Manus still bills its own services and infrastructure inside each task.
- Where does your team talk? If your team works in WhatsApp, Signal or Discord, Hermes covers those from one gateway. If you live in Slack, both agents work there.
- What do you need built? Manus 2.0 ships a website builder, Video Editor and Game Dev out of the box. Hermes gets there through skills, plugins and the model you pick.
Whichever you choose, the model matters as much as the agent. Julian's own model tests are in Goldie Bench.
📺 Watch: New Manus 2.0 is CRAZY GOOD!
Who should pick which: the Hermes vs Manus verdict
Pick Hermes if you want an agent you own and can run all day across many models, without lock-in. Also pick it if your team chats in messaging apps, or if you want several bots working together in Group Chats. The Agent OS guide shows how to wrap Hermes in a full working system.
Pick Manus if you want a finished product with zero maintenance, plus built-in tools for websites, slides and video. It also suits work that should run around the clock on a Cloud Computer without you managing a server.
Use both if you want Manus for client-facing deliverables like sites and videos, and Hermes for always-on internal agents in your own chat apps.
Three small-business examples for Hermes vs Manus
These are illustrations of fit, not customer stories.
A two-person bookkeeping practice
Client files are sensitive, and the owners want them on their own machine. Hermes on a local box, with a local or chosen model, keeps both the agent and the files in-house. A nightly cron job can tidy folders and post a summary to the partners' Telegram group. Manus Studio could do the file work too, but its planning would still run in the Manus cloud.
A café launching a new menu
The owner needs a refreshed website, a short promo video and a launch email by Friday, and has no technical help. Manus 2.0 covers all three in one Project, using the website builder and Video Editor.
A small marketing agency
The team wants a research bot, a writer bot and a reviewer bot that hand work to each other in one room, inside the Slack they already use. Hermes v0.23.0 Group Chats, with a lead bot picking who answers, fit that pattern. For one-off client decks, the same agency could run Manus Parallel Tasks inside a client Project.
Hermes vs Manus vs other cloud agents
If you are weighing a third option, Grok Bot vs Manus compares Manus with xAI's cloud teammate. That is useful if you want a hosted agent that works inside Slack and on X. For hands-on help choosing between Hermes, Manus and the rest, grab a free AI strategy session.
If you want to see these agents running real business tasks, the AI Profit Boardroom has the workflows, plus live calls where you can ask about your own setup.
Hermes vs Manus FAQ
Is Hermes still free in v0.23.0?
Yes. Hermes Agent is free and open source under the MIT license. You pay only for the model provider you choose, and local models cost nothing to run.
Can Manus now run on my own computer?
Yes, through Manus Studio on Apple Silicon Macs and Windows 10 or 11. Commands and file changes run on your machine, and Manus plans each step in its cloud. Studio is not available on Linux.
Can I use my own model with Manus?
Yes. Manus Flex, launched on 29 September 2026, accepts your own API key from supported providers. The provider bills the inference, and Manus says Flex is still in beta.
Which is easier for a non-technical owner?
Manus, because there is nothing to install or maintain for cloud tasks. Hermes now has a Desktop app and a Webapp, but you still run it yourself. If you want help either way, book a free AI strategy session and we will map out a setup that fits your business.
