ChatGPT agent vs Manus (2026)

What happened to ChatGPT agent?

ChatGPT agent was OpenAI's mode for doing tasks on a virtual computer: browsing, filling forms, running code. Operator was folded into it1. It had monthly caps (40 messages on Plus, 400 on Pro, 40 on Business and Enterprise) and safeguards such as asking for confirmation before high-impact actions, monitoring for prompt injection, a "watch mode" on sensitive sites and a takeover mode for logins1.

Today it's retired. Its successor, ChatGPT Work, researches, works across connected apps and files, and creates documents, spreadsheets, presentations, reports and Sites, asking you to approve important actions2. For work that keeps going on its own, OpenAI added dots: always-on agents with their own cloud computer that keep making progress between conversations2. If you searched for "ChatGPT agent vs Manus", this is what you'd use now.

Side by side

Price: seats vs credits

ChatGPT charges a flat subscription with usage limits; Business workspaces can buy credits beyond the included limits4. Manus runs on credits: Free refreshes 300 a day, Pro gives 4,000 or 8,000 a month, and annual billing is 17% off3. Manus says its older Basic and Plus plans were renamed Pro3. How many credits a typical task uses is unknown: it depends on the job, so run your real tasks during the trial and watch the meter.

For one person, both start around $20 a month. ChatGPT's extra value is that the same subscription also covers chat, writing, Office extensions and email drafting2. Manus's extra value is volume: up to 20 tasks at once on Pro3.

What each is better at

ChatGPT Work: your existing tools

ChatGPT works inside the apps you already use. With Gmail or Outlook connected it drafts email and you choose to send; the Outlook apps also handle shared mailboxes and calendars2. There are extensions for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Google Sheets2. If the job is "go through my inbox and update this spreadsheet", ChatGPT is the better fit.

Manus: finished deliverables, many at once

Manus is built for jobs you hand off and come back to: advanced research, slide decks, deploying a website, and Wide Research for large batches3. If the job is "research 40 competitors and give me a deck", Manus's parallel tasks and credit pricing are appealing. Manus also sells a separate phone-number subscription called Cue3.

Safety and privacy

• Prompt injection applies to both. OpenAI warns that agents working on websites can be tricked by hidden instructions, and that safeguards reduce but don't eliminate the risk1. The same risk applies to any agent that browses, including Manus. Give either one only the logins the task needs.
• Paper trail. Manus publishes SOC 2 Type 1 and 2 and two ISO certifications, plus penetration testing, and says customer data is deleted when you leave7. ChatGPT Business lists SOC 2 Type 2 and doesn't train on workspace data64.
• Admin controls. ChatGPT workspaces can block sites for agent work1. Manus Team adds SSO, access control and a data-training opt-out3.
• Check outputs. ChatGPT's agent outputs included source links1; whatever you use, open the sources before you rely on the result.

Which should you choose?

• You already pay for ChatGPT: try ChatGPT Work first. No new vendor, and it reaches your email and Office files.
• You need lots of research or decks fast: try Manus Pro at $20 and see how far 4,000 credits go3.
• You need an agent running 24/7: ChatGPT dots (Pro or Business Premium)2 or another always-on agent; see Grok Bot vs ChatGPT dots.
• Team with security review: both have certifications; Manus lists ISO 27001 and 27701 as well as SOC 27, ChatGPT Business SOC 2 Type 26.

The full side-by-side tracker is at Manus vs ChatGPT dots; prices for every agent are on /pricing.