Agentic AI Comparison:
Adept AI vs Manus
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Introduction
This report provides a comparative analysis between Adept AI (https://www.adept.ai) and Manus (https://manus.im), focusing on five key metrics: autonomy, ease of use, flexibility, cost, and popularity. Manus, launched in early 2025, is described as a breakthrough in autonomous agent technology. Adept AI, while not directly referenced in the provided results for 2025, is a well-known agent platform focused on practical utility and workflow automation. The following analysis summarizes available insights based on recent reports and public discussions.
Overview
Adept AI
Adept AI is known for providing tools that help users automate workflows and interact with software through natural language commands. Adept’s agents are designed to support productivity, handle a broad range of complex tasks, and integrate deeply with existing enterprise software. The platform emphasizes practical application and user control, often requiring some degree of user supervision and instruction.
Manus
Manus is a new-generation autonomous AI agent launched in 2025. It operates as a multi-agent system, enabling it to think, plan, and execute tasks independently, often with little to no human oversight. Manus can handle complex, real-world objectives from conception to deployment, integrating with various tools and platforms. It is positioned as a digital employee capable of asynchronous operation and full-cycle automation, but it is still evolving in terms of enterprise reliability and robustness.
Metrics Comparison
autonomy
Adept AI: 6
Adept AI provides agents with considerable flexibility, but most workflows require periodic user input or supervision. Its agents excel at following structured instructions but typically do not exhibit the level of self-directed decision-making found in fully autonomous systems.
Manus: 9
Manus distinguishes itself with high autonomy, exhibiting the ability to interpret broad objectives, reason through complex tasks, and complete them asynchronously without ongoing user involvement. Its multi-agent infrastructure supports independent planning and execution, a significant step beyond traditional AI assistants.
Manus offers a higher degree of autonomy than Adept AI, reflecting recent advances in multi-agent orchestration and asynchronous operation.
ease of use
Adept AI: 8
Adept AI is designed with user accessibility in mind, offering intuitive interfaces and workflow automations that minimize friction. Its natural language capabilities make it usable for a broad audience with minimal technical training.
Manus: 7
Manus provides powerful autonomous features, but the underlying complexity of multi-agent systems and the breadth of integrations may present a steeper learning curve for some users. Nonetheless, its hands-off operation can be simpler for users who wish to delegate entire tasks.
Adept AI is slightly ahead in ease of use due to its established user-centric design, though Manus’s autonomous capabilities may offset the complexity for users seeking full delegation.
flexibility
Adept AI: 7
Adept AI supports a wide variety of workflows and can be customized to interact with numerous enterprise tools, making it adaptable to diverse business processes.
Manus: 8
Manus’s architecture allows integration with web browsers, code editors, databases, and deployment services. Its ability to coordinate multiple specialized agents gives it a high degree of adaptability in handling new and complex objectives.
Both agents are highly flexible, but Manus’s adaptive multi-agent approach gives it a slight edge in tackling open-ended or cross-domain tasks.
cost
Adept AI: 6
Adept AI pricing is competitive for enterprise and productivity users, but as a traditional AI platform, its cost per automated task is typically higher than that of novel, highly autonomous systems.
Manus: 9
Manus is specifically noted for being highly cost-effective, with reports indicating an average task cost of approximately $2, or about one-tenth the cost of comparable offerings. This affordability is a core differentiator, especially for startups and resource-conscious users.
Manus stands out as the more cost-effective option, dramatically reducing the price of autonomous task execution.
popularity
Adept AI: 7
Adept AI enjoys significant recognition in enterprise and developer communities, with widespread adoption and a mature ecosystem. However, its visibility has been somewhat eclipsed by newer entrants in 2025.
Manus: 8
Since its 2025 launch, Manus has generated extraordinary interest and buzz, drawing attention as a major leap in general agent autonomy. Its rapid uptake is particularly notable among startups and AI practitioners exploring digital employee use cases.
Manus has surged in popularity due to its innovative approach and breakthrough capabilities, challenging the established presence of Adept AI.
Conclusions
Manus represents a significant leap forward in autonomous agent technology, particularly in the areas of autonomy, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Adept AI continues to offer a strong, user-friendly platform with wide applicability and robust integrations, but it is oriented toward guided automation rather than full autonomy. For users prioritizing seamless delegation of complex, end-to-end tasks with minimal intervention and lower costs, Manus is the standout choice. Adept AI remains a solid option for those seeking reliable, accessible workflow automation within enterprise environments.