Manus AI alternative: options that add integrations and predictable pricing
Manus is a sandboxed, solo, credit-priced autonomous agent with no integrations. If you want real Gmail and Calendar access and flat pricing, alternatives include self-hosting OpenClaw or a managed service like Liv.
Manus, built by Butterfly Effect and acquired by Meta in December 2025, is a polished cloud-sandbox agent with a “My Computer” feature that lets it work autonomously inside its own environment. It is general-purpose and capable, but it is also solo, invite-gated, and priced on credits. There is no team collaboration, no persistent workspace that follows you, and no integrations into the accounts where your work actually lives.
That last point is usually what sends people looking. If you want an agent that reads your inbox, manages your calendar, and acts in your real tools rather than a sandbox, you have two broad routes: run an open-source agent yourself, or use a managed service that does the running for you.
How it works
Manus operates in a hosted sandbox. You give it a task, it spins up a virtual computer, completes the work, and returns a result. Complex tasks can burn 500–900 credits, and Pro plans run $20–200/month, so spend is hard to forecast.
The integration-first alternatives work differently. OpenClaw is a free, MIT-licensed personal AI agent you self-host. It runs a persistent agent loop, keeps memory across conversations, and connects to Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack and more. Because you host it, you wire it directly into Gmail and Calendar via OAuth. The cost is ongoing operations: roughly 1–3 hours a month for token renewal, updates and debugging.
Liv sits between the two. It is OpenClaw’s agent loop and real integrations wrapped in managed infrastructure, so you get persistent email and calendar handling without carrying the ops yourself.
Worked example
| Dimension | Manus | Self-hosted OpenClaw | Liv (managed OpenClaw) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Sandbox, solo | Self-hosted, persistent | Managed, persistent |
| Integrations | None | Gmail/Calendar via OAuth (you wire it) | Gmail/Calendar built in |
| Pricing | Credit-based, $20–200/mo | Infra + LLM, under $100/mo | Pro $79/mo, Max $149/mo |
| Ops burden | None | ~1–3 hrs/month | Managed for you |
| Security | Vendor sandbox | Your responsibility | CASA Tier 2, encrypted vaults |
If your priority is zero setup for one-off autonomous tasks, Manus is a reasonable fit. If you want a standing assistant inside your accounts, the OpenClaw routes win on integrations.
Try this in Liv
Liv is reached through Telegram and triages email, manages your calendar, books things, and sends daily briefings.
- Start a 14-day free trial at app.liv4all.com, no credit card needed.
- Message Liv on Telegram, the default and required channel.
- Connect Gmail and Calendar via Google OAuth, revocable at any time.
- Optionally link WhatsApp (invite-only, needs a dedicated eSIM).
Onboarding is currently early access and batched, so you may join a queue.
Common questions
Is Manus open-source?
No. Manus is a proprietary hosted product. If you want open-source, look at OpenClaw, which is MIT-licensed.
Does Manus connect to my email?
No. Manus works inside its own sandbox and has no Gmail or Calendar integrations. For that you need a self-hosted or managed agent.
Which alternative is cheapest?
Self-hosting OpenClaw is cheapest on paper, typically under $100/month, but you pay in ops time. See the cost comparison.
Why is Manus pricing hard to predict?
It is credit-based, and complex tasks can consume 500–900 credits, so monthly spend varies with usage. Flat-rate services like Liv are easier to budget.
What’s the closest like-for-like Manus alternative?
That depends on what you valued in Manus. Our best Manus alternative page maps options to use cases.
Is Liv affiliated with Manus or OpenClaw?
No. Liv is an independent managed service built on OpenClaw, not affiliated with or endorsed by Manus or the OpenClaw project.