---
title: Agent J and similar products: same kind, different choices
nav: Comparisons
summary: Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, Meta Muse, Grok Bot, OpenAI dots and Agent J are the same kind of product. Here is what they share and, one by one, where they differ, with official sources.
order: 13
---

# Agent J and similar products: same kind, different choices

People ask us: Claude Code already has a phone remote, OpenAI just launched dots, Meta has Muse, and everyone seems to be running OpenClaw. So how is Agent J different?

The short answer: **they are the same kind of product as Agent J.** All of them try to turn AI from something that answers a question into something that gets a job done for you. Where they differ is whose computer the AI works on, whose model it uses, how you direct it from your phone, and how you keep track when there are many jobs at once.

> **Note:** Everything below about other products comes from their official pages, checked on 2026-10-05, with a source on every row. Where the vendor says nothing, we say it is not published; press reports are used only where marked. These products change every week, so their own sites have the final word. What we say about Agent J covers only what is live today.

## What they share: a manual for putting AI to work

Our [positioning article](/docs/positioning/) uses an analogy: the model is the blade, and the way of putting it to work is the martial-arts manual. Every product below is a manual, each with its own style:

- they organize the model, tools and steps so the AI keeps working on its own instead of answering one message at a time;
- most let you hand out work and check progress from your phone;
- all of them stop and ask when a decision belongs to you;
- most can run jobs on a schedule, such as a report every morning.

So the choice isn't whether you get AI. It is which of the differences below matters most to you.

## At a glance

| Product | Where the AI works | Whose model | On your phone | Starting price (official) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agent J | Your own computer or your own cloud server | The Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Kimi Code or Qwen Code you already use, with your own model account | Web app on your Home Screen | $20 per seat per month, or $200 a year; models paid separately |
| Claude Code (with Remote Control) | Your computer, or Anthropic's cloud VMs | Anthropic's Claude | Claude mobile app, claude.ai/code | Included in Pro, from $20/month |
| OpenAI Codex | Your computer, or OpenAI's cloud sandboxes | OpenAI's models | ChatGPT mobile app | CLI and cloud from Plus, $20/month |
| OpenClaw | Your own computer, server or VPS | Any model, with your own key | Chat apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram | Free and open source; models paid separately |
| Hermes Agent | Your own machine, or optional Nous Portal hosting | Any model | Chat apps such as Telegram, Discord and WhatsApp | Free and open source; hosting from $20/month |
| Meta Muse | A dedicated VM in Meta's cloud | Meta's Muse Spark | Muse app, web, WhatsApp | Free tier and paid tiers |
| Grok Bot (xAI) | Computers in xAI's cloud | xAI's Grok | Grok app | Included in SuperGrok and other plans, usage billed separately |
| OpenAI dots | A computer and browser in OpenAI's cloud | OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra | ChatGPT app | Included in Pro, from $100/month |

Sources are in each section below.

## Agent J, for reference

- **Where it works:** your own computer (Mac or Linux; Windows needs WSL2 first) or your own cloud server. We don't host the AI for you.
- **Whose model:** Agent J isn't a model. It works through the Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Kimi Code or Qwen Code already signed in on your computer; Kimi Code runs on a Kimi membership, Qwen Code on an Alibaba Cloud Model Studio (Bailian) plan, and with OpenCode you can use Bailian, Volcano Engine Ark, DeepSeek or Zhipu GLM. You pay the model company directly.
- **On your phone:** a web app you add to your Home Screen. Your chats with your Agent are end-to-end encrypted: only your phone and your computer can read them, not us. The one exception is explained on the [data security page](/security/).
- **Many jobs at once:** you talk to one main Agent. Behind it sit as many workflows as you need, each with its own Agent in charge, and the main Agent hands out work, reads the reports and fixes what breaks. Scheduled jobs run on your computer, install switched off, and start only when you say yes on your phone.
- **Price:** $20 per seat per month, or $200 a year. See [pricing](/pricing/).

## One by one

### Claude Code (with Remote Control)

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Anthropic's coding Agent: CLI, desktop app, web, and a Code tab in the mobile app | [Desktop docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop) |
| Remote Control | Connects your phone or browser to a Claude Code session running on your machine; files, tools and settings stay on your computer, which must stay on with the process running | [Remote Control docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/remote-control) |
| Transport | Outbound requests only, no open ports; messages go through Anthropic's servers, and the docs describe TLS | Same |
| Who can use it | Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise; API keys aren't supported | Same |
| Cloud | Cloud sessions run on Anthropic-managed VMs and keep going when your laptop is closed; Routines run in the cloud on a schedule, at most once an hour | [Web docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/claude-code-on-the-web), [Routines docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/routines) |
| Data | Individual users choose whether their data is used to improve the models | [Data usage](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/data-usage) |
| Price | Pro $20/month; Max $100 or $200/month | [Pricing](https://claude.com/pricing) |

**How Agent J differs:** Remote Control is Claude Code's own phone window and comes with the subscription at no extra cost. If you only use Claude Code and just want to continue one session from your phone, it is enough. Agent J isn't tied to one vendor: it works with Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode, and switching models doesn't change how you use your phone. The other difference is how you manage the work. With Remote Control you open and watch each session yourself; with Agent J you talk to one main Agent, and it looks after the workflows and scheduled jobs behind it.

### OpenAI Codex

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | OpenAI's coding Agent: desktop app, open-source CLI (Apache-2.0), IDE extension, cloud, and the ChatGPT mobile app | [Codex docs](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs), [GitHub](https://github.com/openai/codex) |
| Phone remote | The ChatGPT mobile app connects to a Mac, Windows PC or SSH host running Codex: start tasks, follow progress, approve commands, review changes; the computer must stay awake and online | [Remote docs](https://learn.chatgpt.com/codex/remote) |
| Transport | A secure relay layer, in OpenAI's words, so the machine isn't exposed to the internet; whether it is end-to-end encrypted is not published | [Remote connections docs](https://learn.chatgpt.com/codex/remote-connections) |
| Scheduling | Desktop automations run on your computer, which must be on with the app running | [Automations docs](https://learn.chatgpt.com/codex/automations) |
| Price | From Plus at $20/month; the CLI, IDE and cloud need Plus or higher | [Pricing](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing) |

**How Agent J differs:** the Codex phone remote controls Codex only, with OpenAI's models and your ChatGPT account. Agent J can use Codex as one of its tools, alongside Claude Code or OpenCode, and on your phone you deal with one main Agent rather than a list of Codex tasks.

### OpenClaw

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An open-source personal AI assistant (MIT) that runs on your own computer; in China, setting one up is nicknamed raising a lobster, after its logo | [GitHub](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw), [Xinhua report](https://www.news.cn/tech/20260318/99c5dd0ae2c04ed49d5fef16d163fe24/c.html) |
| Where it works | Your own laptop, server or VPS; state, memory and credentials live on your machine, with no hosted service in the middle | [Docs](https://docs.openclaw.ai) |
| Models | Any model, with your own key | Same |
| On your phone | Through chat apps you already use: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Signal, iMessage and 20+ more | [GitHub](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) |
| Agents and scheduling | Multi-agent routing, scheduled jobs and webhooks | [Docs](https://docs.openclaw.ai) |
| Safety | Incoming messages are to be treated as untrusted input; without a sandbox, tools run directly on your computer | [GitHub](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) |
| Price | Free, no paid tier, no telemetry by default | [Docs](https://docs.openclaw.ai) |

**How Agent J differs:** OpenClaw is a complete Agent program of its own that talks to models directly. Agent J doesn't add another one; it works through the Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode you already have. The phone side differs too: OpenClaw borrows third-party chat apps, so your messages pass through those platforms, while Agent J has its own end-to-end encrypted web app, where anything that needs your OK appears as an approval card. OpenClaw is free, but you install, configure and maintain it yourself; Agent J charges per seat, and the AI on your computer walks you through the install.

### Hermes Agent (Nous Research)

> **Tip:** Hermes is also the name of a Nous Research open model family. This section is about the Agent product, Hermes Agent.

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An open-source Agent (MIT) that turns experience into skills and remembers you across sessions | [Website](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/), [GitHub](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent) |
| Where it works | Your own computer, a VPS, Docker and more, or one-click hosting on Nous Portal | Same, [Nous Portal](https://portal.nousresearch.com/) |
| Models | Not tied to a vendor: OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic and others | [GitHub](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent) |
| On your phone | Through Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal or email | Same |
| Agents and scheduling | Subagents and a built-in scheduler | Same |
| Privacy | No telemetry or privacy statement on the official pages; not published | — |
| Price | The Agent is free; Nous Portal plans at $20, $100 and $200/month | [Nous Portal](https://portal.nousresearch.com/) |

**How Agent J differs:** like OpenClaw, Hermes Agent is a separate Agent program with chat apps as its phone side. Agent J works through the AI coding tool you already have and uses its own encrypted channel and approval cards on your phone.

### Meta Muse

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Meta's personal AI agent: it sends email, books trips, fills in forms and checks out for you, and keeps working after you close the app | [Meta announcement](https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/) (2026-09-08) |
| Where it works | A dedicated VM per user in Meta's cloud; a version encrypted with a key only you hold is promised for later this year | Same |
| Model | Meta's own Muse Spark | Same |
| On your phone | iOS, Android, web and WhatsApp; the Mac app can read your Messages, Mail and Notes | Same, [Mac help](https://www.meta.com/help/artificial-intelligence/1126304576638594/) |
| Safety | A separate Sentinel agent has to approve anything Muse sends to the internet | [Meta announcement](https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/) |
| Privacy | Conversations and VM data aren't shared with Meta's ad systems; you can opt out of model training | Same |
| Availability and price | US only, 18+; free and paid tiers | Same |

**How Agent J differs:** Muse runs in Meta's cloud on Meta's model, so you never touch a computer and it is always on, which suits personal errands. Agent J hosts nothing: the AI works on your own computer or server, with your own tools and files, which suits people who want AI working on their own code, files and workflows.

### Grok Bot (xAI)

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A team of always-on agents, each with its own cloud computer, signed in to your tools and coming back to you only for approvals | [Introducing Grok Bot](https://x.ai/news/introducing-grok-bot) (2026-08-11) |
| Many agents | Run several Bots at once with one as chief of staff over the others; Bots can message each other and work in group chats | Same, [Designing Grok Bot](https://x.ai/news/designing-grok-bot) |
| Where it works | Each Bot on its own computer in the cloud; on Enterprise, each user's environment is isolated with no access by default | [Grok Bot for Enterprise](https://x.ai/news/grok-bot-for-enterprise) |
| Model | xAI's own Grok | [xAI news](https://x.ai/news) |
| Scheduling | Automations in Grok run daily, weekly and so on for everyone; email triggers need SuperGrok | [Automations in Grok](https://x.ai/news/grok-automations) |
| Privacy | Data and training terms specific to Grok Bot are not published | — |
| Price | Included in SuperGrok, Cursor Pro and Cursor Teams plans, with Bot usage billed separately; SuperGrok's dollar prices aren't listed on the official plans page | [More plans](https://x.ai/news/grok-bot-more-plans) |

**How Agent J differs:** Grok Bot letting one Bot run the others is the same idea as Agent J's main Agent running your workflows. The difference is that Grok Bot runs in xAI's cloud on Grok, while Agent J runs on your own machine with the AI coding tool and model you choose.

### OpenAI dots

| Topic | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | OpenAI's always-on Agent inside ChatGPT; it pushes several projects forward at once and learns from your feedback | [Introducing dots](https://openai.com/index/introducing-dots/) (2026-09-29) |
| Where it works | Each dot has its own cloud computer and browser; your computer stays separate unless you choose to connect it | Same |
| Model | GPT-6 Astra | Same |
| On your phone | Message or call it in ChatGPT on desktop, web and mobile, or message it in Slack and Teams; your first dot is created on desktop | Same |
| Many agents | One primary dot for now; specialist dots are in an enterprise pilot | Same |
| Approvals | Auto-review decides which actions go ahead and which need you; things like password changes always stay with you | Same |
| Price | Your first dot is included in Pro (from $100/month) or Business Premium | Same, [Pricing](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/pricing) |

**How Agent J differs:** dots is an assistant OpenAI hosts for you in its cloud, starting with Pro at $100 a month. Agent J hosts nothing and uses your own computer and the subscriptions you already have; Codex on Plus and Claude on Pro both work.

## Which one fits

- **You don't want to deal with a computer and want an always-on helper for personal errands:** a cloud-hosted product such as Meta Muse, OpenAI dots or Grok Bot is simpler.
- **You use one tool and just want to continue a session from your phone:** Claude Code's Remote Control or the Codex phone remote, included in your subscription.
- **You're happy to install and maintain things yourself and want a chat app as the front door:** OpenClaw or Hermes Agent, free and open source.
- **You already use Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode and want one main Agent to run several workflows for you, with tasks, approvals and reports on your phone:** that is what Agent J is built for.

Read [What Agent J is](/docs/what/) for the prerequisites, or go to [Installing](/docs/install/) when you're ready.