# nanobot review

> nanobot is an open-source, self-hosted personal AI agent framework in Python that runs in a browser, terminal, or chat app.

Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026. Canonical page: https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/hkuds-nanobot/

## TL;DR

nanobot is a lightweight, self-hosted personal AI agent framework written in Python. It suits developers who want one agent across a WebUI, terminal, and chat apps, connected to their own model provider or local model server. It includes memory, MCP, scheduled automations, multi-agent delegation, a Python SDK, and an OpenAI-compatible API.

## nanobot at a glance

- **Category:** [Coding agents](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/coding-agents/)
- **Maintained by:** ✨Data Intelligence Lab@HKU✨ (organization, [@HKUDS](https://github.com/HKUDS) on GitHub)
- **License:** MIT
- **Language:** Python, TypeScript, CSS
- **Repository:** [github.com/HKUDS/nanobot](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot)
- **Website:** [nanobot.wiki](https://nanobot.wiki)
- **PyPI package:** [nanobot-ai](https://pypi.org/project/nanobot-ai/) 0.3.5
- **Latest release:** [v0.3.5](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot/releases/tag/v0.3.5) on GitHub, Sep 15, 2026
- **First published:** Feb 1, 2026

## What nanobot does

- nanobot runs in a browser WebUI or a native terminal client, and both share saved conversations and the local gateway.
- nanobot connects to chat channels including Telegram, Discord, Slack, WeChat, Email, Mattermost, and Linear.
- nanobot reads PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with built-in file tools, for tasks such as summarizing reports.
- nanobot uses shell, web search and fetch, MCP integrations, cron, image generation, and multi-agent delegation.
- nanobot keeps session history and long-term memory through its Dream feature.
- nanobot runs long-horizon goals and scheduled automations, such as a morning brief or weekly review.
- nanobot exposes a Python SDK and an OpenAI-compatible API for integrations.

### How it works

nanobot runs a local gateway that the WebUI and terminal client both use. You run `nanobot webui` for the browser or `nanobot` for the terminal. You connect a supported model provider or local model server to supply the AI. The agent can run as a long-running local or server-side gateway, and reaches chat apps, MCP servers, and tools from there.

## How to install nanobot

**Installer on macOS / Linux**

```
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HKUDS/nanobot/main/scripts/install.sh | sh
```

**With uv**

```
uv tool install nanobot-ai
```

**With pip**

```
python -m pip install nanobot-ai
```

### Requirements

- Python 3.11 or newer.
- Access to a supported model provider or local model server; nanobot does not supply a model account.
- Git and Bun for a current-source development install.
- Native TUI wheels cover macOS 13+, glibc 2.17+ Linux (ARM64, x64), and Windows x64; x64 requires SSE4.2.

### First steps

1. Run `nanobot webui` to open the browser UI, or `nanobot onboard --wizard` for terminal-only setup.
2. Open Settings → Models and save a provider/model preset with your credential or supported sign-in.
3. Start a new topic and send `Hello!` to verify the model connection.
4. Try a file task by selecting a practice folder with Restricted access and asking nanobot to summarize a file.

## Who nanobot is for

- Developers who want a self-hosted personal AI agent they can inspect, customize, and extend.
- Teams running an agent inside chat apps like Telegram, Discord, Slack, or Mattermost.
- Users who want to run local LLMs or OpenAI-compatible model APIs with fallbacks.
- Developers embedding an agent through a Python SDK or OpenAI-compatible HTTP API.

### Limitations

- nanobot does not supply a model; model fees or local hardware requirements depend on the service you choose.
- On platforms without native TUI wheels, you must use `nanobot --classic` or the WebUI.
- The README describes current source; the released version is covered by separate published documentation.
- The WebUI launcher terminal must stay open while using the browser.

## Usage data (the week of Oct 25–31, 2026)

- Board rank: #175 overall, #62 in Coding agents, momentum score 47
- Downloads that week: 20.9k (+6% vs 4-week average)
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 314; Aug 16: 284; Aug 23: 290; Aug 30: 229; Sep 6: 350; Sep 13: 346; Sep 20: 262; Sep 27: 209; Oct 4: 218; Oct 11: 249; Oct 18: 254; Oct 25: 434

## nanobot alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [Cindy](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/makecindy-cindy/) | 8.8k | – |
| #2 | [OpenMausBot](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/milind-soni-openmausbot/) | 9.6k | – |
| #3 | [Orca](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/stablyai-orca/) | 111.7k | – |
| #4 | [OpenBot](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/copilotkit-openbot/) | 9.1k | – |
| #5 | [Agent Reach](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/panniantong-agent-reach/) | 107.2k | – |
| #6 | [Skill Recorder](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/microsoft-skill-recorder/) | 5.6k | – |

## nanobot FAQ

### Is nanobot free and open source?

Yes. nanobot's source code is on GitHub (HKUDS/nanobot) under the MIT license, so you can use it for free.

### How do I install nanobot?

Run `curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HKUDS/nanobot/main/scripts/install.sh | sh`. The nanobot-ai package needs Python 3.11 or newer. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.

### Is nanobot still maintained?

Yes. The HKUDS/nanobot repository was last updated on Oct 21, 2026, and the latest release, v0.3.5 on GitHub, came out on Sep 15, 2026.

### How popular is nanobot?

nanobot has 49.7k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 434 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 287 a week. Its main package had 20.9k downloads that week, +6% against its own 4-week average. That made it #62 among AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### nanobot vs Hermes Agent: how do they compare?

nanobot and Hermes Agent are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI coding agents. nanobot has 49.7k GitHub stars and Hermes Agent has 259.2k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, nanobot's main package had 20.9k downloads and Hermes Agent's had 35.7k. Hermes Agent is an open-source, self-hosted AI agent by Nous Research with persistent memory, self-created skills, and a messaging gateway. [Hermes Agent review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/nousresearch-hermes-agent/)

### What are the best alternatives to nanobot?

Other AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: Cindy (#1), OpenMausBot (#2), Orca (#3), OpenBot (#4), Agent Reach (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### How do I use nanobot with a local model?

nanobot connects to a supported model provider or local model server to supply the AI. Configure it in Settings → Models in the WebUI, or with `nanobot onboard --wizard` in the terminal. The README lists local LLMs among supported options.

### Is nanobot an alternative to OpenClaw?

nanobot was presented on Hacker News as an ultra-lightweight alternative to OpenClaw. Its repository lists openclaw among its topics.

### How does nanobot limit file access?

nanobot lets you select a project folder and an access level such as Restricted for file tasks. Attaching a file sends it to the conversation but does not change the selected project folder.

### Can nanobot run on a remote server?

nanobot can run on a server with `nanobot webui --no-open`. You then forward port 8765 over SSH and open the printed login link locally. The docs recommend keeping the server listener on localhost.

### What is nanobot?

nanobot is an open-source, self-hosted personal AI agent framework written in Python. It works with files, remembers preferences, and schedules tasks from a browser, terminal, or chat app.

## Sources

1. [HKUDS/nanobot on GitHub](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot)
2. [nanobot README](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot/blob/main/README.md)
3. [nanobot-ai on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/nanobot-ai/)
4. [nanobot website](https://nanobot.wiki)
5. [Release v0.3.5 (Sep 15, 2026)](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot/releases/tag/v0.3.5)
6. [Release v0.3.0 (Jul 25, 2026)](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot/releases/tag/v0.3.0)
7. [Release v0.2.2 (Jun 23, 2026)](https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot/releases/tag/v0.2.2)
8. [Hacker News: Nanobot: Ultra-Lightweight Alternative to OpenClaw](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46897737)
9. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)