General Work AI Agents Comparison
Agents that operate within and across apps and integrations to execute a broad range of knowledge tasks. They can autonomously carry out multi-step tasks in a delegated workspace over extended periods (e.g., reading and writing files, accessing computer and browser functions, and coordinating with subagents).
To compare language models see our model benchmarks.
| Product | Released | Platform | Open Source | Bring Your Own Model | Local Files | Browser Automation | Price | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Cowork | Jan 2026 | WebmacOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroid | SubscriptionEnterpriseUsage-based $20–200/mo | Cloud-based agent that executes tasks in an isolated environment, with local file access on desktop. The agent can edit and create local files, and has pre-set skills for handling common file types and general work tasks (e.g. editing Excel spreadsheets). Connects to external tools via computer use, MCP connectors, or browser extension. | |||||
| ChatGPT Work | Jul 2026 | WebmacOSWindowsiOSAndroid | FreeSubscriptionEnterpriseUsage-based $8–200/mo | A ChatGPT mode for delegating substantial work with a clear outcome. It can use files, plugins, and approved tools to retrieve information, create finished documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files, run workflows, and return reviewable results. On desktop, it can use local files, apps, and the browser when those tools are available. | |||||
| OpenClaw | Nov 2025 | WebmacOSLinuxWindowsWindows (WSL2)iOSAndroid | FreeUsage-based N/A | Open-source, self-hosted agent platform that turns existing chat apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Slack, Teams) into autonomous AI assistants. Also has macOS menu bar companion app and WebChat interface. Tasks run in the background with results in chat. Supports community Skills marketplace, NVIDIA NemoClaw stack for secure scaling, and security models. | |||||
| Hermes Agent | Feb 2026 | macOSWindowsLinuxWindows (WSL2)Android | FreeSubscriptionUsage-based $20–200/mo | Open-source, self-hosted agent platform with persistent cross-session memory and a self-improving skills system. Creates procedural skills from experience and reuses them across sessions. Tasks run in the background with results in chat. Includes 80+ built-in tools (e.g. image gen, TTS, vision, Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp). | |||||
| Microsoft Copilot | Nov 2023 | WindowsmacOSWebiOSAndroid | FreeSubscriptionEnterpriseUsage-based $9.99–19.99/mo | Cross-platform AI assistant for chat, web research, file analysis, and multimodal help. Microsoft 365 Premium adds Researcher and Analyst agents plus Browse with Copilot in Edge; Microsoft 365 subscriptions also bring Copilot into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. | |||||
| Google Workspace Studio | Dec 2025 | Web | SubscriptionEnterprise ~$8.40–26.40/mo | No-code agent builder inside Google Workspace for creating and sharing AI agents. Agents reason, adapt to new information, and handle tasks like email summarization, meeting action items, and document management, with deep Google ecosystem integration (Gmail, Drive, Sheets, Maps, Docs, etc.) and external app support via Marketplace connectors. | |||||
| Gemini Enterprise | Oct 2025 | Web | SubscriptionEnterprise $21–30/mo | Agentic platform for enterprise knowledge workers. Connects to company data via prebuilt connectors (Google Workspace, M365, Salesforce, Jira, Confluence, Box). Offers permission-aware search, prebuilt agents like Deep Research, no-code workbench, and Code Assist. | |||||
| Manus | Mar 2025 | WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroid | FreeSubscriptionUsage-based $20–40/mo | General purpose agent that can orchestrate multiple AI models per task and autonomously plan and execute (web automation, coding, data work, PDF/PPT generation) in a sandboxed environment. Produces deliverables including research reports, websites, and data analysis. | |||||
| Microsoft Copilot Cowork | Mar 2026 | WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroid | SubscriptionEnterpriseUsage-based $25.20–31.50/mo | Execution layer for Microsoft 365 Copilot that handles autonomous, multi-step actions across Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Work IQ. Fully sandboxed in your M365 cloud tenant, permission-aware, and enterprise-compliant. Plans, coordinates, and executes tasks (calendar cleanup, competitive research, launch plans, etc.) in the background with checkpoints, clarification requests, and user approvals. |
Landscape Summary
The table compares general work agents across platform availability, open-source status, bring-your-own-model support, local file access, browser automation, and pricing. Microsoft Copilot, Manus, ChatGPT Work, Claude Cowork, and OpenClaw offer the broadest platform support across desktop, web, and mobile. Google Workspace Studio and Gemini Enterprise are web-only. Microsoft Copilot Cowork is available in the browser and in the Microsoft 365 Copilot desktop app for Windows and Mac. Most agents support local file access, with Gemini Enterprise offering partial access through connectors. Browser automation is available in Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Work, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, Microsoft Copilot, Manus, and Microsoft Copilot Cowork. Pricing ranges from free access and free open-source software through subscriptions starting around $8/mo, up to $200/mo tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
General work AI agents are AI systems that autonomously execute multi-step tasks over extended periods. They read and write files on your desktop or in cloud sandboxes, perform broad knowledge work tasks, and typically connect to external services like email, calendars, Slack, and CRM. Unlike coding agents, they target everyday office and administrative tasks for non-developer knowledge workers.
Most agents in the table support local file access: Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Work, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, Microsoft Copilot, Google Workspace Studio, Manus, and Microsoft Copilot Cowork. ChatGPT Work can use local files, apps, and the browser on desktop when available; web and cloud Work can use uploaded files, plugins, and approved tools. Gemini Enterprise offers partial access via connectors to SharePoint, Confluence, and other enterprise systems.
Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Work, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, Microsoft Copilot, Manus, and Microsoft Copilot Cowork support browser automation. Google Workspace Studio and Gemini Enterprise do not include browser automation.
OpenClaw and Hermes Agent are fully open-source and free to self-host (you pay for LLM API calls). ChatGPT Work is also included with ChatGPT Free. Other closed-source paid access starts around $8/mo and reaches $200/mo on the highest listed tiers.
We compare agents across platform availability, open-source status, bring-your-own-model support, local file access, browser automation, and pricing. Our comparison table is updated regularly. View LLM benchmarks