Manus AI Review (2025): I Tested It — Pros, Cons, & Ideal Users

Users struggle with tedious tasks, like compiling reports, tracking product reviews, or moving data between tools. These eat into time they’d rather spend on higher-value work. Manus AI promises to take that load off by running these processes on its own. 

Teams using Manus often complain about Integration and customization limits as needs grow. 

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is Manus AI?
• Features and use cases
• How it compares to Lindy
• Pros and cons to consider before using it
• Who should and shouldn’t use Manus AI
• Best practices

First, let’s understand Manus

What is Manus?

Manus AI is a productivity tool that uses autonomous agents to complete multi-step digital tasks with minimal input. You tell it what you need, and it plans, executes, and delivers results. These tasks can be market research, content creation, or data organization. It runs tasks in the background so you can focus on your core work.

It works well for targeted workflows, but businesses that want to execute tasks across multiple channels often turn to platforms that support AI automation for business workflows.

Key features

Manus AI offers a mix of automation capabilities and task management tools that help you simplify repetitive work. Here's what stands out:

• Autonomous task execution: Create an agent, define a task, and Manus handles the steps until completion.
• Natural language commands: Set up tasks in plain English without technical syntax.
• Scheduling and triggers: Run workflows at a set time or in response to a defined event.
• Basic integration support: Connects with a limited range of apps for importing or exporting data.
• Multi-task chaining: Link several smaller tasks into a single workflow.

Compared to other automation and AI agent platforms, Manus AI app reviews suggest that it lacks the number of integrations. Tools like Lindy with larger integration libraries allow workflows to connect CRMs, email platforms, and voice systems in one sequence.

Let’s see how Manus AI works once you start using it.

How does Manus AI work?

Manus AI follows a simple process –– you set a goal, it plans the steps, and it runs them until the task is complete. It targets users who want minimal setup and little day‑to‑day intervention.

Here’s what the workflow usually looks like:

1. Create an agent: Start a new project in the Manus dashboard.
2. Define the goal: Write the task in plain language.
3. Connect integrations: Link any apps needed for the task.
4. Choose an execution method: Run instantly or set a schedule/trigger.
5. Review outputs: Check results and adjust the agent if needed.

For example, you could set up Manus to pull weekly product reviews from multiple sites, compile them into a report, and send it to your inbox. 

Next, we compare Manus AI and Lindy side by side to see where they overlap and differ.

Manus AI vs Lindy: What's the difference?

The difference between Manus AI and Lindy is that Manus automates single workflows with minimal setup, while Lindy connects multi‑channel, end‑to‑end processes. Here’s how these two compare:

Lindy’s higher number of integrations make it easier for businesses to run workflows without switching platforms. That flexibility also means you can adapt one automation to multiple use cases instead of creating separate agents for each.

Let’s now explore the pros and cons of using Manus AI.

Manus AI pros and cons

Manus AI has strengths for certain users, but it also comes with limits that could be deal-breakers for others. Below is a clear distinction:

What works

• Easy setup: Creating and running a new agent takes just a few steps.
• Hands-off execution: Once configured, agents run without ongoing input.
• Good for repetitive work: Ideal for weekly reports, data collection, or research tasks.
• Accessible entry price: Manus offers a free tier and lower-cost plans compared to many enterprise automation platforms.

Where it falls short

• Integration scope: Fewer app connections than larger automation platforms.
• No multi-modal support: Limited to digital workflows; can’t handle voice calls or physical process triggers.
• Less customization: Workflows follow a fixed structure, making complex scenarios harder to set up.

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If your needs stay within Manus’s limits, it can work well. For tasks that demand more integrations or multi-step processes across departments, a more flexible platform may be worth exploring.

Next, we’ll look at who should use Manus AI, who might want to skip it, and how those decisions fit different use cases.

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Should you use Manus AI? Our take

You should use Manus AI if you handle simple, repetitive tasks. Skip it if you need deep, multi‑app automation.

Tools with better integration support deliver more value to businesses that automate entire processes, such as syncing CRM data, handling customer emails, and triggering follow‑up tasks. 

Here’s what our Manus AI performance review concluded:

Manus AI is perfect for

• Solopreneurs handling recurring admin tasks.
• Freelancers automating simple research or reporting.
• Users wanting a low-maintenance automation tool.

Skip Manus AI if you

• Need integrations with many business apps.
• Want voice, email, and CRM workflows in one platform.
• Plan to automate client-facing or multi-step processes.

So, how to get started with Manus AI? Let’s see the setup process.

How to get started with Manus AI in 5 steps

Setting up Manus AI is straightforward. Here’s the process most users follow:

1. Sign up and log in: Create a free account to access the dashboard.
2. Create your first agent: Start a new project and name it for clarity.
3. Define the task: Describe what you want the agent to do in plain language.
4. Add integrations: Connect any apps the agent will need.
5. Run or schedule: Launch it immediately or set a recurring schedule.

Here’s a tip: If you’re exploring automation tools, run Manus alongside another platform for a week. Compare how each handles the same workflow. This gives you a clear view of performance, integration depth, and where you might save more time.

Next, we’ll look at a few best practices that can help you get the most out of Manus AI and avoid common mistakes.

Manus AI best practices you wish you knew earlier

Getting good results from Manus AI isn’t only about setup. It depends on how you manage and refine each agent over time. Here are the best practices with common mistakes:

Best practices

• Keep workflows focused: Build separate agents for distinct tasks instead of cramming multiple jobs into one.
• Test before scaling: Run a few trial tasks to confirm accuracy before scheduling a workflow long-term.
• Name agents clearly: Use descriptive names so you can quickly identify what each one does.
• Monitor early runs: Check the first outputs to make sure the agent is pulling data and formatting it as expected.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Overcomplicating a single agent with too many steps.
• Ignoring integration limits can cause workflows to break.
• Not evaluating whether another platform with more integrations and multi-modal support might serve you better.

With these practices in place, Manus AI can be a reliable assistant for specific workflows. 

Our verdict on Manus

Manus lets you set up simple automations quickly and let them run with minimal oversight. It’s especially useful for repetitive admin work or single-purpose workflows.

It starts to feel limiting in larger, interconnected processes, especially if you need multiple apps working together or want to combine channels like email, voice, and CRM updates in one automation. 

Bottom line: If your automation needs are small and specific, Manus can be a time-saver. If you’re looking to automate complex operations, it’s worth testing it alongside a more versatile platform like Lindy before deciding.

Try Lindy, your Manus AI alternative

Lindy is an affordable AI automation platform and can be a strong alternative to Manus AI. It lets you build customizable AI agents for multiple tasks. 

You’ll find plenty of pre-built templates and integrations to choose from.  

Lindy helps automate your workflows with features like: 

• AI Meeting Note Taker: Lindy joins meetings from Google Calendar. It records the conversation, creates transcripts, and writes structured notes in Google Docs. After the meeting, Lindy can send Slack or email summaries with action items and can even trigger follow-up workflows across apps like HubSpot and Gmail.
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• ‍Integrates with major apps: Lindy connects with your favorite tools like Airtable and Salesforce, keeping all your training data in one place.
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• Personalized email outreach and replies: Lindy’s Lead Outreacher crafts personalized outreach and manages replies autonomously. Your team can send professional replies without hours of manual effort.
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• ‍Supports tasks beyond sales training: Lindy also handles meeting notes, website chat, lead generation, and content creation. You can create AI agents that help reduce manual work in training, content, and CRM updates.
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• Send follow-up emails and keep everyone in sync: Lindy agents can send follow-up emails, schedule meetings, and keep everyone in the loop by triggering notifications in Slack by letting you build a Slackbot. 
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• Cost-effective: Automate up to 40 monthly tasks with Lindy’s free version. The paid version lets you automate up to 5,000 tasks per month, which is a more affordable price per automation compared to many other platforms. 

Try Lindy free and automate up to 40 tasks with your first workflow.

Frequently asked questions

What does Manus AI do?

Manus AI uses autonomous agents to complete digital tasks from start to finish. You set a goal, and it plans, executes, and delivers the output without needing constant prompts.

What is the best Manus AI alternative?

One of the best Manus AI alternatives is Lindy. It works for users who need deeper integrations and multi-channel automation. It integrates with 7,000+ apps and comes with ready-to-use templates, enabling more complex workflows. 

Is Manus AI free?

Yes, Manus AI offers a free plan with limited usage. Paid plans unlock more credits and features.

How much does Manus AI cost in 2025?

In 2025, Manus AI costs $0 for the free tier. The paid Manus pricing plans start from $19/month for the Basic plan and go all the way up to $199/month for the Pro plan. 

Who should use Manus AI?

Manus AI is best for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small teams that automate recurring admin tasks.

Who should use Lindy.ai instead?

You should use Lindy instead of Manus if you need cross‑platform automations, voice/email workflows, or extensive app integrations.

Can Manus AI replace my current workflow tools?

Manus AI can replace your current single-function workflow tools for simple tasks. For complex workflows across various apps, you may need a platform with more integrations.