Manus AI, a Chinese-developed autonomous AI agent, has transitioned from an invite-only platform to offering free public access. This move follows a successful $75 million funding round led by Benchmark Capital, valuing the company at $500 million.
What Is Manus AI?
Launched in March 2025 by the Chinese startup Monica (also known as Butterfly Effect AI), Manus AI is designed to autonomously execute complex digital tasks. Unlike traditional AI models that generate text responses, Manus can perform actions such as:
- Creating websites
- Managing emails
- Analyzing stock data
- Automating workflows
It operates asynchronously in the cloud, allowing tasks to proceed without constant user supervision.
Why the Sudden Popularity?
Manus AI gained significant attention shortly after its launch, with a waitlist reportedly reaching two million users within a week. Invite codes were even resold for up to RMB 100,000 ($13,900) amid high demand.
The platform’s ability to handle complex tasks with minimal human input has positioned it as a strong competitor in the AI agent space, drawing comparisons to other Chinese AI models like DeepSeek.
New User Incentives
To attract new users, Manus AI now offers:
- A one-time bonus of 1,000 credits upon registration
- An additional 300 credits daily for free users
These credits can be used to execute various tasks on the platform.
Subscription Plans
While the platform offers free access, Manus AI has introduced subscription plans for users requiring more extensive capabilities:
- Starter Plan: $39/month
- Pro Plan: $199/month
These plans are comparable to offerings from other AI services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro.
Performance and Benchmarks
Manus AI claims to have achieved a score of approximately 86.5% on the General AI Assistants (GAIA) benchmark, potentially outperforming models like OpenAI’s DeepResearch.
However, some users have reported issues such as system instability and task failures under high demand. Additionally, concerns have been raised about data privacy, given that the platform is developed by a Chinese company. Wikipedia
