Category · 8 tools · 10 comparisons
Open-source AI agents
Self-hosted assistants that act for you: they run on your own machine or server, work through chat apps like WhatsApp and Slack, and use the AI model you choose.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 8
- Entry plans
- $20–$42.50/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $20/mo
- Free plan
- 7 of 8
- Cheapest paid
- Hermes Agent, $20/mo
- Best value score
- Goose, 9/10
Every tool we cover
API pricing →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 GooseGoose | 7.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 Hermes AgentHermes Agent | 7.6 | $20/mo* | $200/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 NanobotNanobot | 7.4 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 Agent ZeroAgent Zero | 7.0 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 PicoClawPicoClaw | 7.0 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 ZeroClawZeroClaw | 6.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 OpenClawOpenClaw | 6.5 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AutoGPTAutoGPT | 5.0 | $42.50/mo | $272/mo | No | 7 days | ReviewAlternatives |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
Hermes AgentvsZeroClawHermes Agent vs ZeroClaw
Hermes AgentvsAgent ZeroHermes Agent vs Agent Zero
ZeroClawvsAgent ZeroZeroClaw vs Agent Zero
OpenClawvsHermes AgentOpenClaw vs Hermes Agent
OpenClawvsNanobotOpenClaw vs Nanobot
OpenClawvsAgent ZeroOpenClaw vs Agent Zero
OpenClawvsGooseOpenClaw vs Goose
OpenClawvsZeroClawOpenClaw vs ZeroClaw
OpenClawvsPicoClawOpenClaw vs PicoClaw
OpenClawvsAutoGPTOpenClaw vs AutoGPT
Highest scored
GooseGoose
A free, local-first agent with useful integration surfaces and room to verify production details.
Hermes AgentHermes Agent
A capable open-source agent for developers willing to own the model, runtime and operational setup.
NanobotNanobot
A flexible self-hosted agent framework, but you own the model bill, deployment and operational checks.
Open-source AI agents: quick answers
How much do open-source AI agents cost?
Paid plans for the 8 open-source AI agents we track start between $20 and $42.50 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $20 a month. 7 of them have a free plan. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 11, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which open-source AI agent is the cheapest?
Hermes Agent has the lowest paid entry plan at $20 a month, followed by AutoGPT at $42.50. If you can live with limits, Goose, Hermes Agent, Nanobot and Agent Zero have a free plan.
Which open-source AI agents have a free plan?
Goose, Hermes Agent, Nanobot, Agent Zero, PicoClaw, ZeroClaw and OpenClaw have a free plan. AutoGPT offers a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which open-source AI agent scores highest in our reviews?
Goose scores highest at 7.8/10. A free, local-first agent with useful integration surfaces and room to verify production details.