Claude in Chrome and Cowork
Top scores on hard computer tests, and it asks before buying anything.
$20/mo
Best AI agents (AI that uses your computer or browser)
Short answer: Claude in Chrome and Cowork. Claude in Chrome is the most capable for web chores on sites you already use. ChatGPT Work is the pick for long jobs that run in the background, and Manus is the best free start.
Which AI can actually do web tasks for me?
Manus
Free plan gives 300 credits a day for small, simple tasks.
Free · $20/mo
Perplexity Computer
Runs fully on a 36 GB Mac, so your files stay home.
$20/moEasy
ChatGPT Work
The $20 Plus plan adds a cloud browser that works while you sleep.
Free · $20/mo
OpenAI retired ChatGPT agent and Atlas for ChatGPT Work; Perplexity Computer went fully local on Mac in October.
All 11 side by side.
Price, whether it runs on your own computer, and the main catch.
| # | Tool | Best for | Price | On your PC | Main downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Claude in Chrome and CoworkAnthropicBest overall | Web chores on sites you use | $20/moper month | No | Not on the free plan |
| 02 | ChatGPT WorkOpenAI | Long errands and finished documents | Free · $20/mo/mo paid | No | Replaced ChatGPT agent, so old guides are out of date |
| 03 | Gemini in Chrome (auto browse and Spark)Google | Chrome users with Google AI Pro | $19.99/moper month | No | Auto browse only in some countries, English only in India |
| 04 | Perplexity CometPerplexity | Research and shopping while browsing | Free · $20/mo/mo paid | No | Agent tasks are not on the free plan |
| 05 | Perplexity ComputerPerplexity | Private tasks on your own files | $20/moper month | Easy | Fully local mode wants a Mac with 36 GB memory |
| 06 | ManusManus | Research, slides and websites, hands-off | Free · $20/mo/mo paid | No | Credits run out fast and are hard to predict |
| 07 | GensparkGenspark | Office files made by agents | Free · $24.99/mo/mo paid | No | Free credits stop for good once the lifetime cap is used |
| 08 | Opera NeonOpera | Browser fans wanting many AI models | $19.90/moper month | No | Paid only; Chrome and Comet offer similar for less |
| 09 | Browser UseBrowser Use | Tinkerers automating websites | Free | Technical | Needs Python and command line skills |
| 10 | OpenClawOpenClaw community | Techies wanting a 24/7 home agent | Free | Technical | Serious security holes; many setups exposed online in 2026 |
| 11 | ChatGPT AtlasOpenAI | Nothing now; it is discontinued | Paid | No | Shut down on 9 August 2026, less than a year old |
Nothing matches. Try another filter.
Best first, with the catch.
-
Claude in Chrome and Cowork
Anthropic
Claude clicks, types and fills forms in your browser for you.
Best overall- Price
- From $20/mo
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Top scores on the hardest computer use tests
- Works in your own Chrome, already signed in
- Not on the free plan
- Hidden text on web pages can still trick it
-
ChatGPT Work
OpenAI · GPT-6.1 Terra (computer use model)
ChatGPT's agent, with a cloud browser that keeps working.
Best valueFree plan- Price
- Free plan, then $20/moLimited Work access in the desktop app; no cloud browser.
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Keeps working after you close your laptop
- Secure sign-in form hides your password from the AI
- Replaced ChatGPT agent, so old guides are out of date
- Cloud browser needs Plus or higher, not Free or Go
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Gemini in Chrome (auto browse and Spark)
Google
Gemini does web tasks inside the Chrome you already use.
- Price
- From $19.99/mo
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Built into Chrome, nothing extra to install
- Spark can use your saved Chrome passwords, with permission
- Auto browse only in some countries, English only in India
- Needs a paid Google AI plan
-
- Price
- Free plan, then $20/moBrowser and basic AI free; agent tasks need Pro.
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Free browser that runs most Chrome extensions
- Assistant sees every open tab
- Agent tasks are not on the free plan
- Monthly agent limits are not published as numbers
-
Perplexity Computer
Perplexity · Local mode (Qwen 3.6 or PPLX Pro)
Agent that can run fully on your Mac, offline.
Best on your computerRuns on your PC- Price
- From $20/mo
- On your PC
- EasyApple Silicon Mac with 36 GB memory; hybrid mode from 24 GB
- Local mode keeps files and planning on your Mac
- Works across Mail, Notes, Messages and Numbers
- Fully local mode wants a Mac with 36 GB memory
- Browsing the web still goes through the cloud
-
- Price
- Free plan, then $20/mo300 credits a day, one task at a time, for simple jobs.
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Real free plan with daily credits
- Runs many tasks at once in the cloud
- Credits run out fast and are hard to predict
- China blocked its sale to Meta in 2026
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Genspark
Genspark · AI Workspace 6.0
AI workspace whose agents make slides, sheets, sites and research.
Free plan- Price
- Free plan, then $24.99/mo100 credits a day until a lifetime cap runs out.
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Many agents in one place: slides, sheets, email
- Picks among many top AI models for you
- Free credits stop for good once the lifetime cap is used
- Video and big jobs burn credits quickly
-
- Price
- From $19.90/mo
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Shows its plan and lets you take over anytime
- Logins and payment details stay in your browser
- Paid only; Chrome and Comet offer similar for less
- No phone app yet
-
Browser Use
Browser Use
Free open code that lets any AI model drive a browser.
FreeOpenRuns on your PC- Price
- Free, open sourceOpen code is free; you pay your AI model or run one locally.
- On your PC
- TechnicalAny computer; a local 8B model needs 8 GB RAM, better with GPU
- Free and open, about 120,000 GitHub stars
- Works with local models through Ollama
- Needs Python and command line skills
- Small local models make more wrong clicks
-
OpenClaw
OpenClaw community
Open assistant on your computer you message from WhatsApp or Telegram.
FreeOpenRuns on your PC- Price
- Free, open sourceFree software; you pay for the AI model unless local.
- On your PC
- TechnicalMac, Windows or Linux; a local 8B model needs 8 GB RAM
- Hugely popular, about 394,000 GitHub stars
- Chat with it from apps you already use
- Serious security holes; many setups exposed online in 2026
- Add-on skills from its store have included malware
-
- Price
- Paid
- On your PC
- No, online only
- Its features live on in the ChatGPT desktop app
- Successor desktop app has tabs, passwords and autofill
- Shut down on 9 August 2026, less than a year old
- Was Mac only
3 of these run on your own computer.
Private and offline. Check what your machine can handle.
| Tool | Setup | You need |
|---|---|---|
| Perplexity Computer | Easy | Apple Silicon Mac with 36 GB memory; hybrid mode from 24 GB |
| Browser Use | Technical | Any computer; a local 8B model needs 8 GB RAM, better with GPU |
| OpenClaw | Technical | Mac, Windows or Linux; a local 8B model needs 8 GB RAM |
Quick answers.
What is the best free AI agent?
Manus has a real free plan, 300 credits a day with one task at a time. ChatGPT Free gives limited Work access in the desktop app. Browser Use is free open code if you can run Python.
Is it safe to let an AI agent use my browser?
Mostly, if you watch it. Agents still click the wrong thing, and web pages can hide instructions that trick them (prompt injection). Avoid banking and password pages, and approve purchases and sends yourself.
Can an AI agent buy things or send emails for me?
Yes, if it is signed in to your accounts. Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini pause for payments or ask before actions you cannot undo, but settings can loosen this. Read what it is about to submit.
What happened to ChatGPT agent and Atlas?
OpenAI shut the Atlas browser on 9 August 2026. ChatGPT agent is no longer available either. Both were replaced by ChatGPT Work, which has a cloud browser on paid plans.
Can I run an AI agent offline on my own computer?
Perplexity Computer runs fully on a Mac with 36 GB memory, but needs a Pro plan and goes online to browse. Open tools like Browser Use and OpenClaw can use local models, with more mistakes.
Claude in Chrome vs ChatGPT Work?
Claude works in your own Chrome, signed in, and scores higher on computer use tests. ChatGPT Work uses its own cloud browser, so it keeps going after you close your laptop. Both start at $20 a month.
Rankings we read: OSWorld 2.0, Steel OSWorld-Verified, Steel WebVoyager, Steel BrowseComp. Prices from each official pricing page, checked 2026-11-05.
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