Side-by-Side Comparison · 2026

Manus vs Operator (OpenAI): Full Comparison (2026)

Manus is autonomous ai agent that executes multi-step tasks, acquired by meta. Operator (OpenAI) is discontinued — openai's web agent, now folded into chatgpt work. Use the breakdown below to find the right fit for your needs.

Manus

Manus (Meta)

Paid
vs

Operator (OpenAI)

OpenAI

Paid
This page presents factual information sourced from publicly available vendor documentation and product pages. AIHub does not endorse either product. The right tool depends on your specific use case, team, and requirements — we recommend evaluating both tools directly before making a decision.

Side-by-Side Overview

Pricing Model
Manus: PaidOperator (OpenAI): Paid
API Access
Manus: Not availableOperator (OpenAI): Available
Platforms
Manus: Web (invite only)Operator (OpenAI): Web (chatgpt.com/operator), API (via Responses API with computer-use tool)
Integrations
Manus: 4 integrationsOperator (OpenAI): 6 integrations
Vendor
Manus: Manus (Meta)Operator (OpenAI): OpenAI
Category
Manus: Autonomous AgentsOperator (OpenAI): Autonomous Agents
Launch
Manus: Mar 2025Operator (OpenAI): Jan 23, 2025
Models
Manus: Claude 3.5 Sonnet, DeepSeek V3Operator (OpenAI): CUA (Computer-Using Agent), GPT-4o

About Manus

Manus is a fully autonomous AI agent that can independently browse the web, write and execute code, manage files, and complete complex multi-step tasks without human intervention. It demonstrated capabilities such as conducting full research projects, building websites, and executing business workflows end-to-end. Meta announced its acquisition of Manus on 29 December 2025; Meta did not disclose the terms, and press estimates of the price are not confirmed by Meta. Meta said it intends to keep operating the service.

Designed For

  • Autonomous research
  • Website building
  • Data collection
  • Business workflows
Full Manus details

About Operator (OpenAI)

DISCONTINUED. Operator was OpenAI's autonomous web-browsing agent, powered by the Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model. The standalone product was shut down on 31 August 2025 and its capabilities were absorbed into ChatGPT agent. OpenAI then removed ChatGPT agent mode in August 2026, directing users to ChatGPT Work for multi-step tasks and to the cloud browser for browser workflows. The underlying CUA capability remains available to developers through the OpenAI Agents SDK. Listed here because the name is still widely searched.

Designed For

  • Online shopping
  • Form filling
  • Restaurant booking
  • Job applications
Full Operator (OpenAI) details

Strengths & Limitations

Manus

Strengths

  • Truly autonomous end-to-end
  • Web browsing + code execution
  • Multi-step complex tasks
  • Demo showed impressive results

Limitations

  • Invite-only access
  • Ownership changed: acquired by Meta (announced December 2025), so data terms may differ from earlier ones
  • Reliability in production
  • Expensive

Operator (OpenAI)

Strengths

  • Pioneered mainstream computer-use agents
  • CUA capability lives on via the OpenAI Agents SDK

Limitations

  • Standalone product shut down 31 August 2025
  • Successor ChatGPT agent mode also removed in August 2026
  • No direct one-to-one replacement surface

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Manus and Operator (OpenAI)?

Manus is autonomous ai agent that executes multi-step tasks, acquired by meta, while Operator (OpenAI) is discontinued — openai's web agent, now folded into chatgpt work. Manus is designed for Researchers, Business analysts; Operator (OpenAI) is designed for Power users wanting task automation, Researchers. The right fit depends on your specific requirements.

How do the pricing models compare?

Manus is available under a Paid model. Operator (OpenAI) is available under a Paid model. Manus's entry tier starts at Waitlist. Operator (OpenAI)'s entry tier starts at $20/mo. Always verify pricing on each vendor's official website as it may change.

What integrations does each tool support?

Manus integrates with Web browser, Code execution, File system, APIs. Operator (OpenAI) integrates with Instacart, OpenTable, DoorDash, Uber Eats. Check each vendor's documentation for the full and current list.

How do I choose between Manus and Operator (OpenAI)?

Consider your team's technical requirements, budget, existing tooling, and use case before deciding. We recommend signing up for free trials or demos of both tools where available, and consulting each vendor's documentation. AIHub provides this comparison for informational purposes only.