Best AI agents in 2026
The best AI agent
depends on the job.
For agents that work inside your apps, run routines on a schedule and remember context, look at workspace tools like Avori, Lindy or ChatGPT agent. For workflow automation, Zapier and Make. For research and tasks it carries out on the web by itself, Manus.
Updated November 2026. Avori makes this page, so Avori is on it; every fact about another tool comes from that company’s own public pages.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Works in your apps | Runs on a schedule | Memory | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avori | A workspace of agents for you and your team | Yes: your connected apps, such as Gmail, Shopify, Slack, Notion and Google Drive | Yes: routines on a schedule and when something happens | Yes: remembers what you teach it | Invite-only (waitlist) |
| Lindy | An AI assistant for your team’s day-to-day work | Yes: Gmail, Slack, Notion, HubSpot and more, plus MCP | Yes: work you hand it on a schedule | Yes: memory you can read and edit | Self-serve sign-up |
| ChatGPT agent | One-off tasks done on its own virtual computer | Through ChatGPT apps and the sites you sign in to | Yes: a finished task can repeat daily, weekly or monthly | Not listed | Agent mode in paid ChatGPT plans |
| Zapier | Automated workflows and agents across many apps | Yes: thousands of apps | Yes: runs on its own, around the clock | Not listed | Self-serve sign-up |
| Make | Visual automation scenarios, with AI agents | Yes: apps connected in each scenario | Yes: intervals, daily, weekly, monthly or on demand | Knowledge you give each agent | Self-serve sign-up |
| Manus | Research and tasks it carries out on the web | Yes: connectors such as Gmail, Slack and Notion, plus MCP | Yes: on a schedule or when something happens | Projects keep project knowledge together | Self-serve sign-up |
Agents that work in your apps
Pick a workspace agent when you want a helper that works across your email, files and tools, keeps what it learns and runs routine work for you.
Avori is a workspace where you message AI agents like teammates. They work in your connected apps, run routines on a schedule and when something happens, remember what you teach them, and can be shared with your team. Changes through connected apps ask for your approval by default. Avori is invite-only while it adds room. See how it works.
Lindy describes itself as an AI employee that plugs into your tools and learns how you work. Its site lists Gmail, Slack, Notion and HubSpot among its apps, scheduled work such as morning briefs, saved skills your team shares, and memory kept in files you can open and edit.
ChatGPT agent is agent mode inside ChatGPT. It does a task on its own virtual computer, asks before actions of consequence, and can use ChatGPT apps for research. After a task finishes, you can set it to repeat daily, weekly or monthly.
Workflow automation with AI
Pick an automation platform when the steps are known and you want them to run the same way every time, with AI where it helps.
Zapier connects thousands of apps and lets you choose how each step runs, from fixed rules to an agent that decides the next move. Its site describes agents that score leads, process documents and route tickets around the clock.
Make builds automations as visual scenarios you can run at intervals, daily, weekly, monthly or on demand. Its AI agents work with instructions, knowledge and tools you give them, including your scenarios.
Agents that research and work on the web
Pick a general agent when the job is research or a task on the web you want handed back finished.
Manus lists wide research, a browser operator and a cloud computer for tasks it carries out on its own, along with app connectors, scheduled automations and building apps, slides and videos.
ChatGPT agent also works on the web from its own browser, and pauses for you to sign in when a site needs it.
How we chose
We grouped tools by the job people most often hire an AI agent for, not by a score. There are no rankings, ratings or reviews on this page. Every statement about another company comes from its own public pages, read in November 2026; features change fast, so check each company’s site before you decide. Avori makes this page.