Short answer

  • Want to try an agent free? Manus: 300 daily credits on its free plan.
  • Already pay for ChatGPT? ChatGPT Work, OpenAI's agent mode, is the easiest start.
  • Want “teammates” for repeat work tasks? Grok Bot, if you already have SuperGrok or a paid Cursor plan. It's in beta.

A note on names: OpenAI now calls its agent mode ChatGPT Work (ChatGPT is split into Chat and Work). Many people still call it “ChatGPT agent”.

ManusChatGPT WorkGrok Bot
MakerManusOpenAISpaceXAI (xAI)
Best atHanding off a whole research report or slide deckAll-round tasks: research, documents, browsing for youRepeat work like outreach, ops or bug fixes, with several bots in parallel
Free optionYes: 300 daily credits, 1 task at a timeLimited (desktop app only)None listed
PaidPro from $20/monthPlus $20/month; Pro $100–$500/monthIncluded with SuperGrok plans and paid Cursor plans, with its own usage
Watch out forCredit-based, so heavy tasks use credits fastCloud browser needs Plus or higherBeta; needs cloud storage, so Cursor's Legacy Privacy Mode isn't supported
WhereWebChatGPT desktop app (Work)Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux) and phone apps

Research-based from each company's official pages, last checked Oct 15, 2026. We haven't tested these agents hands-on yet. Before you let any agent act for you, read our 8 safety rules or grab the free checklist (PDF).

More agents: Best AI agent tools for beginners · Most popular AI agents · Grok Bot vs OpenAI dots · Grok Bot vs Meta Muse

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Sources

Prices and plans change often. Always confirm on the official site before you buy.