Short answer
As of October 2026, Manus is a general-purpose cloud agent you give tasks to, billed in credits. OpenAI's Dots, launched September 29, 2026, are always-on agents inside ChatGPT, each with its own cloud computer. Manus suits one-off projects; Dots suit goals that run between conversations, for ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium users.
Task agent or standing agent
Both Manus and Dots are marketed as autonomous: you describe an outcome and software does the clicking. The practical difference is how long the work lives.
Manus runs tasks in the cloud: research, slides, websites, images. You hand it a job and collect the result. Dots are described by OpenAI as always-on. Each dot has its own cloud computer and browser, keeps working toward goals between conversations, learns preferences from feedback and comes back with results or decisions.
Head-to-head, October 2026
| Manus | OpenAI Dots | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Manus (independent company again since September 1, 2026) | OpenAI |
| Launch | Launch date not covered in our sources | September 29, 2026 at OpenAI DevDay |
| Style | Cloud task agent | Always-on agent with its own cloud computer and browser |
| Where you use it | Web, desktop and mobile apps, Slack integration, API | ChatGPT desktop, web, mobile; Slack; Microsoft Teams |
| Texting | Not confirmed | Coming soon |
| App reach | Not stated in our sources | 4,000+ apps through ChatGPT plugins |
| Pricing | Credit-based with a free tier; exact prices not confirmed | First dot included with ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium ($125/user/month, $100 annual billing) |
| More capacity | Plan dependent | More dots per user planned at undisclosed prices |
| Phone | Not confirmed | Voice-chat with your dot inside ChatGPT; calling or answering a business line not confirmed |
| Team/admin | Team plan with SSO per its site | Enterprise, Edu, Healthcare get admin-enabled beta (off by default) |
| Regions | Not confirmed | Business Premium: all supported ChatGPT regions; Pro excludes EEA, Switzerland, UK |
Where Manus is the better pick
- You are not already paying for ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium. Manus has a free tier, while Dots currently come bundled with those plans.
- You want a defined deliverable. Slides, a researched report or a draft website, handed over when done.
- You are outside the plan or region limits. Dots on Pro exclude the EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Manus's regional list is not confirmed, so verify before you rely on it.
One note on trust: Manus was in the news this year. A planned Meta acquisition announced in December 2025 was ordered unwound by China in April 2026, and Manus is operating independently again. That is background, not a defect, but some buyers will want to see how things settle.
Where Dots are the better pick
- You already live in ChatGPT. The first dot is included with Pro and Business Premium seats, so there is no separate purchase.
- You need continuing work. A dot can keep chasing a goal while you are offline, then report back.
- You want guardrails documented. OpenAI describes read-only app access for idle-time research, an auto-review step for actions that could affect accounts, a monitor that can pause a dot, and sensitive tasks staying with you. It also says dots can still make mistakes.
- You need business data handled conservatively. For ChatGPT Business, Enterprise and Edu, OpenAI does not train on business data by default.
For more on dots specifically, see Is OpenAI Dots good for business?
What neither one is built to be
Read the Phone row again. Neither vendor confirms that its agent will answer your business phone line, and neither lists WhatsApp as a customer channel in the sources we reviewed. Dots can be texted soon, but that is you texting your agent, not your customers reaching your business.
Customer-facing work, such as answering calls, replying to leads and chasing no-shows, is a different job from personal productivity. Specialist dots for companies, with their own identity for one job, are limited to enterprise pilots with OpenAI engineers.
Where Oraculo fits in this comparison
Oraculo is a managed AI employee, and the contrast with both of these is intentional. An engineer connects your tools with you over four 1-hour Zoom sessions ($499 one time). Then the agent answers and places calls 24/7 on your business line, replies on WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack, Telegram and email, and follows up with every lead in minutes.
You pay by the hour of work: Starter is $12/hour with a 6-hour weekly minimum ($312/month), Business is $8/hour with a 43-hour minimum ($1,500/month), phone calls are $0.19/minute, and a 30-day money-back guarantee applies. Book a 20-minute demo to compare it with your current setup.
For a broader scan of the field, our comparison of the major AI agents covers Grok Bot, Muse, Dots, Gemini Spark and Claude Cowork.
A quick decision guide
- Already paying for ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium? Try the included dot first.
- Need a research, slide or website project now and no ChatGPT plan? Try Manus's free tier.
- Need calls answered and leads chased? Neither is published for that; look at a managed employee.
- Handling regulated data? Read each vendor's current data terms. Do not assume.
See also Manus alternatives for the wider shortlist.
Key takeaway
Manus fits project work on a free tier; Dots fit ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium users who want agents working between conversations. For phone and WhatsApp customer work, look at a managed employee.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for a small business, Manus or Dots?
It depends on your plan and task. Dots suit ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium users who want work to continue between conversations. Manus suits one-off projects and has a free tier. Neither is published as a customer-facing phone agent.
Are Dots free?
No. As of October 2026 the first dot is included at no extra cost with ChatGPT Pro and ChatGPT Business Premium seats. Business Premium seats cost $125 per user per month or $100 annually. They are not on Free, Go or Plus.
Can I text a dot?
OpenAI lists texting as coming soon, so not today. Dots currently run in ChatGPT on desktop, web and mobile, plus Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Does Manus work in Slack?
Manus lists a Slack integration, along with web, desktop and mobile apps, an API and a team plan with SSO, according to its site navigation. Check manus.im for current details.
Can either answer my business phone?
Neither has confirmed it as of October 2026. Dots let you voice-chat with your own dot inside ChatGPT, which is different from answering a business line. For that, consider a call-first tool or Oraculo.