# An open-source alternative to Manus

> Manus is a capable agent that runs in a cloud you do not control. Kortix is the open-source AI Operating System: your agents, skills, memory and connectors live in one git repo you own, and every change reaches main through a review.

URL: https://manus-alternative.com/

The open-source answer to Manus

**The open-source AI Operating System**

`company-as-repo`

```
project (git repo + kortix.yaml)
└─ session ──> cloud computer: an isolated sandbox on a branch named after the session
└─ the OpenCode agent works
└─ change request ──> you review & merge ──> main
```

Source: https://github.com/kortix-ai/suna

One isolated sandbox per session. Each session has its own isolated machine and branch.

[Try Kortix](https://kortix.com) · [Compare the alternatives](https://manus-alternative.com/#comparison)

Open source · Any model, your keys · Self-host, VPC, or on-prem

## Manus and the open-source alternatives, side by side

Pick the platform that keeps your agents, memory and connectors on your side. Kortix is open source and our recommendation.

| | Kortix (recommended) | Manus | OpenHands | OpenClaw | Hermes | n8n |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Open source. Read it, fork it, audit it. | No. A hosted product you sign in to. | Yes. Runs the open source OpenHands agent. | Yes. An open-source assistant you run yourself. | Yes. Open source on your own server. | Source on GitHub; commercial use is restricted by its terms. |
| Self-hosting | Run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on-prem. | No self-host; the web, desktop and mobile apps. | Run locally, in Docker, on a VM, or in your cloud. | One Gateway on your own computer. | Seven backends: local, Docker, SSH, Modal, Daytona. | Docker on your own infrastructure, or n8n Cloud. |
| Model choice | Any model provider with your own keys. | The model Manus runs. | Bring your own model; use with any LLM. | Models are plugins you swap, hosted or local. | Any provider: Nous Portal, OpenRouter, OpenAI, your endpoint. | Connect any model, cloud or offline. |
| Company memory | Agents, skills, company memory and connectors in one git repo. | Your tasks and output live in the Manus app. | Conversation history and workspace files on your host. | State, memory and credentials on your hardware. | Persistent memory and skills on your server. | Workflow data stays in your n8n instance. |
| Review of agent work | Session work reaches main through a change request. | The finished result returns in the app. | Automations open a pull request on GitHub. | You approve pairing; tools run on the host. | Command approval, no review gate. | Human-in-the-loop steps in a workflow. |
| Unit of work | One agent run on its own machine and branch. | A task you start in the app or Slack. | A conversation against a project workspace. | A message in the chat apps you use. | A conversation from the terminal or a chat app. | A visual workflow of fixed steps. |

Rival rows come from those projects' own sites and repositories, checked October 2026. Kortix rows quote Kortix's own documentation. Verify each option before you buy.

## How Kortix works

Five layers, each one a file or a command you can read.

### 1. Agents, skills and memory as files

Your agents, their skills, your company memory and every connector live in one git repo you own.

`kortix.yaml`

```yaml
kortix_version: 2
default_agent: kortix
agents:
  kortix:
    file: agents/kortix.md
    connectors: all
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/project/manifest

### 2. Governed access to 3,000+ apps

3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTP.

`kortix.yaml`

```yaml
connectors:
  - slug: gmail
    name: Gmail
    provider: composio
    app: gmail
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/connect/connectors

### 3. Bring your own keys or subscription

Any model provider with your own keys. Or the ChatGPT plan you already pay for.

`terminal`

```sh
$ kortix providers set anthropic
$ kortix models default <model-id>
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/project/models

### 4. A cloud computer per session

One isolated sandbox per session. Each session has its own isolated machine and branch.

`terminal`

```sh
$ kortix sessions new --prompt "Summarize this week's commits and open a change request"
```

Source: https://github.com/kortix-ai/suna

### 5. Work reaches main through a change request

Session work reaches main through a change request. Merge is default-deny for agents.

`terminal`

```sh
$ git checkout -b tighten-triage
$ git commit -am "Tighten the triage prompt"
$ git push origin tighten-triage
$ kortix cr open --head tighten-triage --title "Tighten the triage prompt"
```

Source: https://kortix.com/docs/git

**20,000+** GitHub stars

## Open source. Read it, fork it, audit it.

[Read the source](https://github.com/kortix-ai/suna) · [Kortix docs](https://kortix.com/docs)

## Questions people ask before they switch

### Is Manus open source?

No. Manus is a hosted product you sign in to, and no version of it is published for you to run. Kortix is the open-source option here.

### What is the open-source alternative to Manus?

Kortix, the open-source AI Operating System. Your agents, skills, memory and connectors live in one git repo you own, and each session runs on its own cloud computer. Our guide to [open-source Manus alternatives](https://kortix.com/blog/open-source-manus-alternatives) weighs each option.

### Can I run the alternative myself?

Yes. Run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network. Self-host is free.

### Which models can I use?

Any model provider with your own keys. Or the ChatGPT plan you already pay for. Or sign in with your OpenCode Console account for OpenCode Zen and Go.

### How is an agent's work reviewed?

Session work reaches main through a change request. Merge is default-deny for agents, so a person reads the diff before it lands.

### What does it cost to start?

Free is $0 with 200 credits per month and 1 project. The team plan is $40 per seat per month with 2,500 credits per month per seat, pooled. Self-host is free.

### How do I choose between the open-source agent platforms?

Start with the job and with what your team must own. Our companion guide, [how to choose an open-source AI agent platform](https://kortix.com/blog/open-source-ai-agent-platform), walks the choice through.

## Run your whole company from one repo you own.

Start with one job and grow from there.

[Try Kortix](https://kortix.com) · [Compare the alternatives](https://manus-alternative.com/#comparison)

Open source · Any model, your keys · Self-host, VPC, or on-prem