OpenClaw vs Manus: open-source agent vs cloud sandbox
OpenClaw is a free, open-source agent you self-host with real integrations and persistent memory. Manus is a proprietary cloud-sandbox agent: polished and zero-setup, but solo, credit-priced, and without integrations.
These two tools answer the same wish, an AI that does things for you, from opposite ends. OpenClaw is open and yours to run; Manus is closed and run for you. The right choice turns on whether you want control and integrations, or zero setup for self-contained tasks.
Neither is “better” in the abstract. They are built for different people.
How it works
OpenClaw is a free, MIT-licensed personal AI agent with 15,000+ GitHub stars and 200+ contributors. You self-host it via Docker or Node in about 15 minutes, or a Railway one-click template in about 5. It is LLM-agnostic (Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek), runs a persistent agent loop with memory, and connects to Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, Discord, Signal and iMessage. You configure its behaviour in plain-text files like SOUL.md and HEARTBEAT.md. Ongoing maintenance is roughly 1–3 hours a month.
Manus, built by Butterfly Effect and acquired by Meta in December 2025, runs in a hosted cloud sandbox with a “My Computer” feature. There is nothing to install. It is solo and invite-gated, has no persistent workspace and no integrations, and is priced on credits: a free tier with limited daily credits, then Pro at $20–200/month, with complex tasks consuming 500–900 credits.
Worked example
| Dimension | OpenClaw | Manus |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | MIT, open-source | Proprietary |
| Setup | ~5–15 min self-host | None, hosted |
| Integrations | Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail/Calendar via OAuth | None |
| Memory/persistence | Persistent across sessions | Sandbox, task-scoped |
| Pricing | Infra + LLM, under $100/mo | Credits, $20–200/mo |
| Ops | ~1–3 hrs/month | None |
Pick OpenClaw for control, persistence and real account access. Pick Manus for zero-setup, one-off autonomous jobs.
Common questions
Is OpenClaw free and Manus paid?
OpenClaw is free and MIT-licensed; you pay for hosting and LLM usage. Manus has a limited free tier and paid Pro plans. See is OpenClaw free?.
Does Manus integrate with Gmail?
No. Manus has no integrations. OpenClaw connects to Gmail and Calendar via OAuth when you wire it up.
Which is easier to start?
Manus, since there is nothing to install. OpenClaw needs a 5–15 minute deploy and some configuration.
Can I get OpenClaw without self-hosting?
Yes, via managed hosting. OpenClaw hosting covers the options, including Liv.
Does Manus remember past tasks?
Not as a persistent workspace; it operates per-task in a sandbox. OpenClaw keeps persistent memory.
Is Liv affiliated with either?
No. Liv is an independent managed service built on OpenClaw, not affiliated with or endorsed by OpenClaw or Manus.