Open source agent platform OpenClaw is pushing Meta’s Manus AI to copy its messaging-first design, as Telegram-based control brings cloud agents closer to local, privacy-first alternatives.
The rise of OpenClaw is reshaping the AI agent market, compelling closed platforms to mirror features first popularised in the open-source community. The latest example: Manus AI has introduced Telegram-based mobile control, a capability long central to OpenClaw’s messaging-first approach.
The update allows users to operate “Manus Agents” through Telegram, issuing chat commands to run research, manage inboxes, automate workflows, build apps and spawn sub-agents. The move signals how open-source experimentation is increasingly guiding commercial roadmaps.
The contrast between the two remains sharp. OpenClaw runs locally, is open-source and free, and offers greater privacy and user control. Manus AI is cloud-based, closed and subscription-led, requiring customers to trust Meta Platforms with their data.
Pricing widens the gap. Manus plans start at $40 per month for 8,000 credits and scale to $200 for 40,000, with credits draining quickly during heavy tasks.
OpenClaw carries no licence cost, with users supplying their own compute.
Both platforms can deploy agents, automate tasks, organise email, browse the web and generate apps from prompts. Yet OpenClaw supports multiple social channels, while Manus currently offers only Telegram.
Meta acquired Manus in December 2025 and plans deeper integrations across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Meanwhile, OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger has joined OpenAI, underscoring the growing influence of open-source talent.
