Top Manus Alternatives for Building Apps (2026)
Davis Christenhuis
Manus is an autonomous AI agent that builds full-stack applications, mobile apps, and presentations from single prompts. Users describe what they need, and Manus generates it with minimal supervision.
This guide compares four top Manus alternatives for app building, then explores when a different approach might be the better fit for your team.
📌 TL;DR
#1 Short summary of the alternatives
- Replit Agent – Hosted full-stack development with automatic deployment. Free tier available for testing and prototyping.
- Cursor – AI-native code editor with full code ownership. Works with your existing projects and Git workflows.
- Lovable.dev – Generates production-ready apps with integrated backend, authentication, and database. Clean code export included.
- Gamma – AI presentation builder for decks and interactive content. Good alternative to Manus Slides specifically.
#2 When you need enterprise AI agents instead:
- Dust – Team collaboration platform with AI agents that connect to Slack, Salesforce, Notion, and GitHub. Built for company-wide adoption with SOC 2 compliance and measurable productivity gains across departments.
What is Manus?
Manus is an autonomous AI agent designed for individual power users who need to build applications, create presentations, and automate complex tasks from natural language prompts. Built on Claude and proprietary models, Manus handles end-to-end workflows including full-stack web development, native mobile app generation (iOS and Android), presentation creation with Canva and PowerPoint integration, and browser automation through its Browser Operator extension.
How to look for Manus alternatives
When evaluating alternatives to Manus, consider which specific capabilities matter most for your workflow. Different tools excel at different aspects of what Manus does.
- App building and deployment: Look for platforms that offer prompt-to-app generation with clear code ownership and export capabilities.
- Code ownership and control: AI-assisted development environments give you full access to your codebase while helping you write code.
- Presentation creation: Specialized visual content tools often provide better design quality and export options than general-purpose agents.
- Team collaboration: If multiple people need to work together, choose platforms built for shared workspaces and organization-wide deployment.
- Team-wide value: Look for platforms that deliver measurable ROI through time savings, knowledge access, and cross-department adoption.
At the end of the day, the right alternative depends on your specific use case and team structure.
Need AI that works across your entire business, not just app building? Try Dust free for 14 days or talk to our team to see how it compares →
Top Manus alternatives compared
1. Replit Agent – Hosted alternative with automatic deployment
Replit Agent is an AI coding assistant built into the Replit cloud development environment. It generates full-stack applications from natural language prompts and deploys them automatically to Replit's hosting infrastructure.
Key features:
- Natural language to full-stack apps with frontend, backend, and database integration
- Hosted development environment that runs entirely in browser
- Automatic deployment with built-in hosting and custom domain support
- Real-time collaboration for multiple developers working simultaneously
Pros:
- Zero local setup—works on any device with a browser
- Includes hosting and deployment in one platform
- Active community with shared projects and templates
- Regular updates with new features and model improvements
Cons:
- Cloud-only platform with no local development option
- Platform dependency for hosting (less portable than exported code)
Pricing: Free tier with limited compute; Replit Core $20/month; Teams plan $35/user/month; Enterprise custom pricing.
Best for: Developers wanting rapid prototyping with hosted deployment and teams needing browser-based collaboration.
2. Cursor – AI-native code editor for full code control
Cursor is an AI-native code editor built on Visual Studio Code that provides AI assistance while developers maintain complete control over their codebase, architecture, and deployment.
Key features:
- Codebase-aware suggestions that understand your entire project context
- Multi-file editing with natural language commands across dependencies
- Tab completion with AI-powered autocomplete that predicts next edits
- Privacy mode that keeps code on your machine without cloud processing
Pros:
- Full control over development environment, architecture, and deployment
- Works with existing projects and repositories without migration
- Compatible with VS Code extensions and existing workflows
- Strong privacy controls for sensitive codebases
Cons:
- Requires coding knowledge—not a "prompt and deploy" solution
- No built-in hosting or deployment automation
Pricing: Free trial with limited requests; Pro plan $20/month; Business plan $40/month per user with admin controls and usage analytics.
Best for: Professional developers who want AI assistance with full code control and teams working on existing codebases with security requirements.
3. Lovable.dev – Production apps with integrated backend
Lovable.dev generates production-quality full-stack applications with integrated backend services, authentication systems, and database management. The platform focuses on creating deployable applications with clean, exportable code that runs on any hosting provider.
Key features:
- Integrated backend with automatic API endpoint generation and database schema creation
- Built-in authentication and user management with session handling and role-based access
- Clean code export in React with standard project structure
- Iterative refinement through conversation to add features and fix bugs after initial generation
Pros:
- Production-ready code suitable for real applications with paying users
- Includes backend, database, and authentication—not just frontend UI
- Iterative development allows refinement without starting over
- Suitable for non-technical founders building MVPs
Cons:
- Less granular control than traditional IDEs during generation
- Higher cost than coding from scratch for experienced developers
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro plan $25/month (shared across unlimited users); Business plan $50/month; Enterprise custom pricing.
Best for: Non-technical founders building MVPs and product managers prototyping full-stack applications with backend infrastructure.
4. Gamma – AI presentation and document builder
Gamma is an AI-powered presentation and document creation tool that generates interactive, web-based content from text prompts or outlines. It focuses on visual content creation rather than app building.
Key features:
- Prompt-to-presentation generation from text descriptions or uploaded outlines
- Interactive web-based format with responsive design for any device
- Automatic design system with professional typography, spacing, and layout
- Rich media embedding including videos, charts, forms, and interactive elements
Pros:
- Modern web-native format instead of traditional static slides
- No design skills required—AI handles all visual layout automatically
- Embedding and sharing simpler than exporting and emailing files
Cons:
- Less design control than manual tools like PowerPoint or Keynote
- Requires internet connection for viewing presentations (not offline-friendly)
Pricing: Free tier with presentations (Gamma branding); paid plans start at under $10/month per user with Pro tier available for advanced features.
Best for: Business professionals creating presentations quickly, marketers building visual content, and teams needing modern web-based decks.
When your team needs agents for knowledge work, not just app building
The alternatives above replace Manus for building applications, editing code, and creating presentations. They excel at autonomous app generation, AI-assisted development, and visual content creation for individual developers and small teams.
Many organizations discover they need a different type of tool entirely. Instead of autonomous agents that build standalone applications, they need AI that helps teams work more efficiently with the tools and knowledge they already have. This means agents that connect to existing business systems and make company knowledge accessible and actionable across departments.
This is a fundamentally different category from app builders. It addresses team collaboration, knowledge management, and workflow automation rather than creating new applications from scratch.
Dust – Enterprise AI agents that work across your entire business
Dust is an AI platform built for team collaboration and company-wide knowledge management. Where Manus builds standalone applications from prompts for individual power users, Dust helps teams automate workflows and access information across their existing tool stack with agents deployed organization-wide.
Teams build custom AI agents that connect to multiple data sources simultaneously, take actions across systems like updating CRMs or creating support tickets, and share these agents with colleagues through permission-controlled workspaces.
The platform serves middle-market and enterprise organizations (30 to 5,000+ employees) rather than individual developers.
Key features:
- Multi-source AI agents: Build agents that pull context from Slack, Google Drive, Notion, GitHub, Salesforce, Snowflake, and 50+ data sources—no manual file uploads required with automatic synchronization.
- Accessible everywhere: Use agents in Slack through @mentions, in Chrome while browsing any webpage, or through the Dust web interface—agents work where teams already collaborate.
- Multi-model flexibility: Choose GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, or Mistral for each agent based on specific task requirements—switch models as better ones emerge without rebuilding workflows.
- Actions and workflow automation: Agents update Salesforce records, create Jira tickets, query data warehouses with SQL, send emails, and trigger multi-step workflows—going beyond read-only information retrieval.
- Team workspaces with permission controls: Create shared Spaces where teams access the same agents, with granular permissions that respect existing data access policies and role-based controls.
- Enterprise security and compliance: SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR compliant, HIPAA-ready, with SSO/SCIM support, comprehensive audit logs, and data residency options.
Pros:
- Built specifically for company-wide adoption across sales, support, engineering, and operations teams
- Connects to existing business tools with automatic sync that keeps data current
- Model-agnostic approach prevents vendor lock-in as AI capabilities evolve
- Predictable per-user pricing
- Enterprise-grade security meets regulatory compliance requirements
- Dedicated account management and Solutions Engineering support
Cons:
- Requires onboarding
- Cloud-only platform without self-hosting option
Pricing: Pro plan starts at $29 per user per month. Enterprise pricing available for organizations with custom security and compliance needs.
Best for: Teams needing AI across multiple departments, organizations with 30-5,000+ employees requiring governed deployment, and companies wanting AI that works with existing business systems.
Curious how Dust works for your team? Try Dust 14 days for free to explore enterprise AI agents in action →
How different teams use Dust
Companies across industries use Dust to help teams access knowledge and automate workflows:
- Sales teams use Dust agents to research prospects before calls and automatically update CRMs with meeting notes, reducing manual data entry time.
- Customer support teams deploy agents that search documentation, past tickets, and internal discussions to suggest accurate responses in seconds.
- Engineering teams build agents that query data warehouses with natural language, search code repositories for implementation examples, and automate routine tasks like generating release notes from GitHub commits.
- Operations teams create agents that automate cross-system workflows—pulling data from multiple sources, generating reports, and updating downstream systems without manual intervention. Back Market's operations team used this approach to build an AI detection system in one week, contributing to a €1.2M savings initiative.
Want to see more companies that use Dust? Explore customer stories to learn how teams across industries use Dust for daily work!
The difference between the alternatives
The four alternatives above focus on creating new outputs—apps, code, and presentations. An AI platform approach focuses on working with what you already have.
App builders and coding tools:
- Generate standalone applications, code, or visual content from scratch
- Designed for individual developers or small teams building specific projects
- Output is a new asset (web app, codebase, presentation deck)
- Best when you need to create something that doesn't exist yet
AI platforms for teams:
- Connect to existing business systems and company knowledge
- Built for organization-wide deployment across multiple departments
- Output is improved workflows, faster access to information, and automated tasks
- Best when you need teams to work more efficiently with tools already in use
Key question: Are you building something new, or helping teams work better with systems you already have? That determines which category of tool fits your needs.
Comparison table
Feature | Manus | Replit Agent | Cursor | Lovable.dev | Gamma | Dust |
Best for | Individual power users | Rapid prototyping | Professional coding | Production apps | Presentations | Enterprise teams |
Team collaboration | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | Limited | Limited | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Browser automation | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Chrome extension |
Data source connections | Limited | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ 50+ sources |
Knowledge management | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Paid plans | $20/mo | $20-35/user/mo | $20-40/user/mo | $25-50/mo | $10-20/user/mo | $29/user/mo+ |
Enterprise security | SOC 2 | Basic | Business plan | Limited | Basic | ✅ SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA |
Permission controls | ❌ No | Limited | Limited | ❌ No | Basic | ✅ Granular |
Workspace management | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Looking for AI that connects to your team's existing tools instead of building standalone apps? Learn more about Dust →
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What are the best alternatives to Manus for app building?
The best alternatives for app building are Replit Agent (hosted development with deployment), Cursor (AI-assisted coding with full control), Lovable.dev (production apps with backend), and Gamma (presentations). If you need AI agents that work across your entire tool stack rather than standalone app generation, Dust provides cross-platform agents for team collaboration with enterprise security.
Why do developers look for Manus alternatives?
Developers seek alternatives primarily for team collaboration and governed deployment. Manus is built for individual use without shared workspaces or permission controls. Teams often look for centralized administration, role-based access, or integration with tools like Slack, GitHub, and Google Drive. They also want platforms that deliver measurable productivity gains across departments with enterprise-grade security, not just individual app generation.
What is the difference between Manus and Dust?
Manus builds standalone applications, mobile apps, and presentations from prompts for individual power users. Dust connects to existing business tools (Slack, Salesforce, GitHub, Notion) and helps teams access knowledge and automate workflows across multiple systems. Manus is for creating new applications. Dust is for working more efficiently with tools you already use.
How do teams use Dust?
Teams use Dust to deploy AI agents that connect to their existing tools—Slack, Notion, GitHub, Google Drive, and 50+ other platforms. These agents help access company knowledge, automate workflows, and answer questions across departments.