Who this is for
Owners comparing two credit-based agents for multi-step work: Perplexity's, which mixes web research with your Mac's files and apps, and Manus's, which starts work on triggers and schedules.
Side by side
| Compared on | Perplexity Computer (Personal Computer) | Manus Cue and Automations |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Multi-step work across the web, files and connected apps; the desktop app adds your local files and Mac apps. | Automations that start on a signal or schedule, plus Cue, a team of agents with their own email, phone and wallet. |
| Starting price (checked 2026-10-09) | $17/month billed annually (Pro, includes weekly Computer usage); Max $167/month billed annually; free plan. | Free plan (300 daily credits, 2 Scheduled Automations); Pro from $20/month; Team from $20 per seat/month. |
| How you pay for work | Credits (100 = $1): light tasks about 100 to 350, the largest 2,400 to 9,800; tasks pause when credits run out. | Monthly credits per plan; Cue phone numbers and Cloud Computers bought separately. |
| Running while you are away | Works best on a Mac mini left running; control of installed apps is not yet on Windows. | An always-running automation needs a Cloud Computer, bought separately. |
| Where it breaks | Credits for a finished task are not refunded even if the result missed; monthly credits do not roll over. | Cue is invite-only; agents can contact people and hold money under their own identity; training opt-out listed as a Team feature. |
| Setup | No-code. | No-code; Cue needs an invitation code. |
| A custom build beats it when | The same report runs every week from the same sources; a script over the Sonar API costs a fraction of credits. | The trigger and action never change; Zapier, Make or n8n does it for less. |
The verdict
Both run on credits and can keep working in the cloud, and both cost more as tasks grow. Perplexity Computer comes with Pro at $17 a month billed annually, which includes weekly Computer usage; it builds teams of agents across 20+ models and 400+ connectors and, on a Mac, works in your local files and apps, but the largest projects can use thousands of credits and credits spent on a result you did not want are not refunded. Manus has a free plan with 2 Scheduled Automations and Pro from $20 a month; its Automations start work when a signal or schedule fires, and Cue gives each agent its own email, phone number and wallet, though Cue is invite-only for now and phone numbers and Cloud Computers cost extra.
Pick Perplexity Computer if your work is research mixed with files and apps on a Mac; pick Manus if you want work to start on its own from triggers and schedules.
Read the full take on each
Sources
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/14659663-what-is-personal-computer
- perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/13838041-how-credits-work-on-perplexity
- perplexity.ai/hub/pricing
- help.manus.im/en/articles/17190150-what-is-new-in-manus-2-0
- help.manus.im/en/articles/11711111-what-is-the-current-membership-pricing-for-manus
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