Manus Beginner tutorial

Beginner · step 1 of 7

What Manus is (and isn't)

Manus is an AI agent: instead of only answering, it plans a task and carries it out, browsing, writing files and building outputs like reports or simple sites. It runs on credits. The free plan gives 300 daily credits, one task at a time and two scheduled automations; paid plans add more credits and up to 20 tasks at once (Manus Help Center).

Good for:

• Comparison reports built from many web pages
• Turning a brief into a draft document or slide outline
• Recurring digests with scheduled automations

Not good for:

• Anything that needs your passwords or card
• Tasks with no clear finish line
• Publishing its output without review

Why this step matters: Knowing what it is good and bad at stops you using it for jobs where it will fail quietly.

Beginner · step 2 of 7

Get the official app

1. Start from manus.im and sign up there or through its official app links.
2. Check the publisher in the app store matches Manus before installing.
3. Open the credits page once so you know your daily or monthly allowance.

Why this step matters: Copycat apps and unofficial installers are common; starting from the official source protects your account and data.

Beginner · step 3 of 7

Your first useful prompt

Give it a situation, a task and the format you want. Try this:

Task: make a one-page comparison of 3 budgeting apps for a college student (price, free plan, platforms, one pro, one con).
Show me your plan first and wait for my OK. Cite the official page for every price.

Then ask one follow-up that narrows it down.

A good result: output in the format you asked for, built only on what you gave it. If it drifts into generic advice, add the situation sentence again.

Why this step matters: A prompt with situation, task and format gets a usable answer first time, so you learn what the tool can actually do.

Beginner · step 4 of 7

Check the answer

1. Ask for the source of any fact you'll reuse.
2. Open the link and find the exact sentence (Ctrl+F).
3. If you can't find it, treat the claim as unverified.
4. For files, check two page or row references yourself.

Before you answer: separate what you checked from what you're assuming. Write "unknown" instead of guessing. Give a link for every number.

Why this step matters: Chatbots state wrong facts in the same confident tone as right ones. Checking is the only way to tell them apart.

Beginner · step 5 of 7

Privacy basics

• Don't paste passwords, ID numbers, card numbers or other people's private details.
• Assume the company can read and keep your chats unless its official policy says otherwise.
• For health, money or legal decisions, confirm with a professional or an official source.
• Never give the agent your passwords or card details. If a site needs a login, do that step yourself.
• Review files and outputs it creates before sharing them.

Why this step matters: Anything you paste may be stored and read. Deciding what never goes in is easier than undoing a leak.

Beginner · step 6 of 7

What it costs

• Free: 300 daily credits, 1 concurrent task, 2 scheduled automations.
• Pro: from $20/month (4,000 credits) or $40/month (8,000 credits, with a 7-day trial). About 17% off yearly. Up to 20 concurrent tasks.
• Team: from $20 per seat a month or $200 per seat a year. SSO is a $150 add-on for teams under 30 seats.

Source: Manus Help Center, checked Oct 30, 2026.

Full details: Manus step-by-step tutorial.

Why this step matters: Paying for features you don't use is the most common waste. Knowing the limits first tells you if the free tier is enough.

Beginner · step 7 of 7

Your first week

1. Day 1: three real tasks from your week.
2. Day 3: compare its results with what you'd have done yourself.
3. Day 7: decide if it's worth paying, based on what you actually used.

Why this step matters: A week of real tasks gives you evidence for whether it saves time, instead of a first impression.