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Claude Cowork vs Manus
Both take a goal and work through it on their own. Claude Cowork is included with paid Claude plans and works in your own files and tools; Manus is a stand-alone agent with free credits and strong slide, design and media tools.
At a glance
| Fact | Claude Cowork | Manus |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anthropic | Manus |
| What it is | Anthropic's agent mode in Claude: give it a goal and it works across your files, tools and browser, then hands back finished work. | A general AI agent that carries out tasks end to end. |
| Price | Paid from $17/month | Free credits; paid plans for more |
| Runs on | macOS, Web, iOS, Android | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Open source | No | No |
| Models | Not stated | Not stated |
| Last verified | October 14, 2026 | October 14, 2026 |
| Official site | claude.com/product/cowork | manus.im |
Where they differ
- Price: Cowork needs Claude Pro (from $17/month); Manus has free credits and paid plans.
- Strengths: Cowork works across your folders and tools and keeps going when you close your laptop; Manus lists slides, design, games, images and music.
- Apps: Cowork on Mac, web and phones; Manus on web, Mac, Windows and phones.
Which to pick
Choose Claude Cowork if you already use Claude and want it to work in your files and tools.
Choose Manus if you want a stand-alone agent to try free, with creative output.
Keep looking
- Claude Cowork listing
- Manus listing
- Manus alternatives
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- Claude Code vs Claude Cowork
- Genspark vs Manus
- Manus vs OpenClaw
Facts from each maker's official pages, last verified October 14, 2026. How we verify.