AI agents for work: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Hermes and OpenClaw compared

In 2026, AI stopped being just a chat box. So-called agents open your email, fill in spreadsheets, browse websites and carry out multi-step tasks while you do something else.

There are two families:

Big-company agents — Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok. Easy to use, but the strongest features are paid and each is tied to its own company’s models.
Open agents — Hermes and OpenClaw. Free and self-installed, they work with hundreds of models (free ones included), but need more setup and more care with security.

This article reflects what was available in October 2026. Prices and features change almost monthly — always check the official site before paying.

Quick summary

	Email & calendar	Social media	Images	Documents & data	Free?
Claude	✓ Gmail, Calendar and Outlook via connectors	~ writes posts; publishing only via browser or connected tools	✗ doesn’t generate images (makes charts and diagrams)	✓ very strong with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and PDF	~ chat and connectors free; autonomous work is paid
ChatGPT	✓ connectors and agent mode	~ writes posts; publishes via agent mode in the browser	✓ generates and edits images	✓ data and file analysis	~ limited free plan; agent from Plus
Gemini	✓ built into Gmail, Calendar and Drive	~ writes posts; agent browses for you	✓ generates and edits images (Nano Banana)	✓ Docs, Sheets and Drive	~ Gmail help is free; Spark agent is paid
Grok	~ Grok Bot signs into your tools	✓ native access to X (Twitter)	✓ generates images (Grok Imagine)	~ reports across several tools	~ chat free; Grok Bot needs SuperGrok
Hermes	~ via tools and skills you set up	~ via integrations you set up	~ depends on the model you choose	~ depends on the model	✓ free software; free or paid models
OpenClaw	✓ reads and sends email if you give access	~ via community skills	~ depends on model and skills	✓ runs commands and scripts on the computer	✓ free software; pay only for the model

Key: ✓ does it well · ~ partly, or with extra setup · ✗ doesn’t do it

Claude (including the former Cowork)

What used to be Claude Cowork, launched in January 2026, is now part of the Claude app: Claude takes a multi-step task, uses your connected tools and hands back a finished result — a report, a spreadsheet, a presentation.

Pros

Very good at producing finished documents: Excel with formulas, Word, PowerPoint and PDF.
Connectors for Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, Slack and CRMs like HubSpot.
Skills and plugins: teach it once how you want a task done and it repeats it the same way.
Natural writing in many languages.

Cons

Doesn’t generate photos or illustrations.
Longer autonomous work needs a paid plan (Pro, ~$20/month, or higher).
Usage limits you’ll notice with heavy use.

How to start

Sign up at claude.ai (or install the desktop app).
In Settings → Connectors, connect Gmail, Calendar or Drive.
Ask for a complete task: “Read this week’s client emails, make a table of pending requests and draft replies.”
For repeated tasks, turn on or upload Skills — we have 10 free skills.

ChatGPT (agent mode and workspace agents)

OpenAI has two pieces: agent mode, where ChatGPT uses its own browser to do tasks, and workspace agents, launched in 2026 for teams, which run in the cloud on a schedule and connect to tools like Slack.

Pros

The best-known AI app, with lots of documentation and tutorials.
Generates and edits images in the chat.
Agent mode can browse, fill in forms and prepare purchases or bookings (it asks before confirming).
Team agents can run on a schedule.

Cons

The free plan has few messages on advanced models, and ads in some regions.
Agent mode starts at Plus (~$20/month); workspace agents are only for Business, Enterprise and Edu plans, on credits.
The browser agent can be slow and stumble on complex sites.

How to start

Sign up at chatgpt.com.
In Settings → Apps / Connectors, connect Gmail or Google Drive.
In the message box, choose Agent mode and describe the task from start to finish.
For teams: sidebar → Agents → describe the workflow and follow the guide.

Gemini (Google)

Gemini lives inside Google’s tools: Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets and Chrome. In 2026 Google added Spark, a personal agent that runs web errands for you, and auto browse in Chrome.

Pros

Already where many people work: Gmail and Google Drive.
Some Gmail help (writing and summarising emails) works without paying.
Good image generation (Nano Banana) and video on paid plans.
Google AI Pro includes extra Google Drive storage.

Cons

The Spark agent and strongest features need Google AI Pro (about €22/month) or Ultra.
New features reach the US first; check availability in your country.
Gemini in Gmail doesn’t send emails on its own — it drafts, you send.

How to start

In Gmail, turn on Settings → Smart features and personalisation.
Look for the ✦ icon in Gmail or Docs and ask “Summarise this thread” or “Write a reply”.
At gemini.google.com, turn on the Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Drive) in settings.
With Google AI Pro, try the agent: “Find three Lisbon–London flights next Friday and compare prices.”

Grok (xAI)

Grok is xAI’s assistant, linked to X (Twitter). In August 2026 it launched Grok Bot in beta: agents with their own cloud computer that sign into your accounts and work even when your PC is off.

Pros

Native access to what’s happening on X — useful for news and trends.
Generates images (Grok Imagine).
Bots can learn a routine by watching it once and repeat it, even in portals without an API.
Several bots can split work between them.

Cons

Grok Bot is still in beta and needs a SuperGrok subscription (or higher).
Giving your logins to a cloud bot needs care: use separate accounts for the bot and minimal permissions.
Businesses in the EU should review GDPR before adding client data.

How to start

Sign up at grok.com or use Grok in the X app.
For bots, get a SuperGrok subscription and open the Bots area.
Start with a read-only task: “Every Monday, combine the sales numbers from these two tools into a report.”
Only then grant write permissions (send, post, change).

Hermes Agent (Nous Research)

Hermes Agent is an open-source agent (MIT licence) from Nous Research. You install it on your computer or a server, choose the model, and talk to it through Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack and other apps.

Pros

Free and open; you control the data.
Works with 400+ models via OpenRouter, including free models, and with local models.
Persistent memory: remembers past sessions.
40+ built-in tools (web search, automations) and connections to 20+ messaging apps.

Cons

Needs some comfort with the command line.
The model needs at least 64K context — many small models won’t start.
Quality depends on the model you pick: with free models, expect more mistakes.

How to start

On Linux, macOS or Windows with WSL2, install with: curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/main/scripts/install.sh | bash
Create an OpenRouter account and an API key (there are :free models).
Run the setup wizard, choose the model and paste the key.
Connect Telegram or WhatsApp to talk to the agent from your phone.

OpenClaw

OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot and Moltbot) is an open-source agent created by Peter Steinberger. It runs on an always-on computer and takes orders via WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or iMessage. It can run commands, manage files, read and send email and use hundreds of community skills.

Pros

Free (MIT licence); you only pay for the model you use.
Very powerful: acts directly on the computer, not just in a browser.
500+ community skills for common tasks.
Works with Claude, OpenAI, Google and other providers.

Cons

Real security risk: an email or website with hidden instructions (prompt injection) can trick the agent. Never install it on your personal computer without isolation.
Needs Node.js 22+ and, on Windows, WSL2.
Variable API costs: from ~$10 to over $100/month depending on use and model.

How to start

Use a dedicated computer or a VPS (some hosts now offer managed OpenClaw).
Install Node.js 22+, run the install command from the official site and follow the wizard.
Connect a messaging channel (Telegram is simplest) and an API key.
Start with read-only tasks and require human approval before sending emails or messages.

Which one should you choose?

You want results now, with no setup: Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini. Choose by the ecosystem you already use (Google → Gemini; Microsoft or office documents → Claude or ChatGPT).
You work a lot on X or with portals that have no API: Grok Bot, carefully scoped.
You want to spend little and try many models: Hermes with free OpenRouter models.
You want deep automation of your computer and know what you’re doing: OpenClaw, isolated and with human approval.

Before paying, check our AI Ranking for the best model for your task, and if you’d like to start for free, follow the free AI guide.

AI agents for work: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Hermes and OpenClaw compared

Quick summary

Claude (including the former Cowork)

ChatGPT (agent mode and workspace agents)

Gemini (Google)

Grok (xAI)

Hermes Agent (Nous Research)

OpenClaw

Which one should you choose?

Sources

5 office tasks AI already does better than you

Build a Second Brain with AI

Which AI model to use for each task