# OpenMausBot review

> OpenMausBot is an open-source desktop chat app where each contact is a local Claude, Codex, or Grok CLI agent with its own computer.

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

## TL;DR

OpenMausBot is an open-source, local-first chat app that runs a team of AI bots on the claude, codex, and grok CLIs installed on your machine. It is for people who want several agents with their own models, computers, and connected apps. Risky actions surface as approval cards, and data stays in ~/.openmausbot.

## OpenMausBot at a glance

- **Category:** [Coding agents](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/coding-agents/)
- **Maintained by:** Milind Soni (individual, [@milind-soni](https://github.com/milind-soni) on GitHub)
- **License:** Apache 2.0
- **Language:** TypeScript, JavaScript, MDX
- **Repository:** [github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot)
- **Website:** [www.openmausbot.com](https://www.openmausbot.com/)
- **Latest release:** [v0.1.137](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot/releases/tag/v0.1.137) on GitHub, Nov 1, 2026
- **First published:** Aug 11, 2026

## What OpenMausBot does

- OpenMausBot lets you pick a model per bot, with Claude and Codex models side by side, and switch models mid-conversation.
- OpenMausBot gives each bot a cloud Linux desktop, an isolated Local VM, or, after opt-in, control of your own computer.
- OpenMausBot turns shell commands, file edits, and questions into inline Allow / Deny cards through a permission broker.
- OpenMausBot connects bots to Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Notion, Linear and more through Composio, using OAuth.
- OpenMausBot organizes work into channels, each with its own transcript, shared instructions, working folder, and bot roster.
- OpenMausBot ships a stdio MCP server so clients such as Claude Desktop and Cursor can create bots, send work, and switch models.
- OpenMausBot includes an openmausbot command to drive a running workspace from scripts and CI, with JSON output and exit codes.

### How it works

OpenMausBot runs as two processes. A React app sends typed HTTP commands to a harness server on 127.0.0.1:8799 and reads one SSE event stream back. The harness owns every agent process, driving the claude, codex, and grok CLIs. It connects to Boat for cloud computers and to Composio for connected apps. Desktop shells use Electron.

### Requirements

- At least one agent CLI (claude, codex, or grok) installed and signed in on your machine, or an AI API key.
- macOS (Apple silicon or Intel), Windows x64, or Ubuntu 24.04 x64.

### First steps

1. Download the OpenMausBot desktop app for your computer and open it. The phone apps are companions, so start on your computer.
2. Use the onboarding engine check to install and sign in to one supported agent, such as Claude Code or Codex.
3. Select New or share → New bot, name it, and choose the connected engine and an available model.
4. Send a small task, such as planning your day or drafting an email, and review the answer.

## Who OpenMausBot is for

- Developers who already use Claude Code, Codex, or Grok CLIs and want several agents in one chat app.
- Users who want agents running locally, with transcripts and keys kept on their own machine.
- Teams scripting agent work from CI or orchestrating bots from MCP clients like Cursor.

### Limitations

- OpenMausBot keeps Ubuntu Wayland host control disabled while issue #345 is resolved.
- OpenMausBot's native macOS dictation and Apple speech work only on macOS.
- OpenMausBot uses your own AI accounts or API keys, so provider fees and limits apply.
- OpenMausBot's MCP server does not expose approval grants, deletion, arbitrary settings, credentials, or computer lifecycle.

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

- Board rank: #5 overall, #2 in Coding agents, momentum score 98
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 1k; Aug 16: 374; Aug 23: 428; Aug 30: 340; Sep 6: 375; Sep 13: 583; Sep 20: 419; Sep 27: 426; Oct 4: 411; Oct 11: 663; Oct 18: 500; Oct 25: 4.4k

## OpenMausBot alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [Cindy](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/makecindy-cindy/) | 8.8k | – |
| #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 | – |
| #7 | [ARTEMIS](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/google-artemis/) | 15.9k | – |

## OpenMausBot FAQ

### Is OpenMausBot free and open source?

Yes. OpenMausBot's source code is on GitHub (milind-soni/OpenMausBot) under the Apache 2.0 license, so you can use it for free. Its website also links to a pricing page (https://www.openmausbot.com/pricing) for any paid plans.

### Is OpenMausBot still maintained?

Yes. The milind-soni/OpenMausBot repository was last updated on Nov 1, 2026, and the latest release, v0.1.137 on GitHub, came out on Nov 1, 2026.

### How popular is OpenMausBot?

OpenMausBot has 9.6k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 4.4k new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 824 a week. That made it #2 among AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### What are the best alternatives to OpenMausBot?

Other AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: Cindy (#1), Orca (#3), OpenBot (#4), Agent Reach (#5), Skill Recorder (#6). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### How does OpenMausBot differ from Grok Bot?

OpenMausBot keeps Grok Bot's roster-of-bots shape but lets you choose any model per bot and run it on your own machine, with approval cards. The README describes Grok Bot as Grok-only on one shared cloud computer. OpenMausBot is independent and not affiliated with xAI.

### Which AI agents does OpenMausBot run?

OpenMausBot runs bots on the claude, codex, and grok CLIs installed on your machine, using your existing logins. You can point any engine at a custom CLI binary in Settings → Engines.

### Where does OpenMausBot store data?

OpenMausBot stores transcripts, keys, and events in ~/.openmausbot on your machine, not in a cloud. A local harness server on 127.0.0.1 owns every agent process.

### Can OpenMausBot bots control my computer?

OpenMausBot bots can control your own computer on macOS and Ubuntu Xorg after explicit opt-in. Otherwise they use a cloud Linux desktop or an isolated Local VM.

### Does OpenMausBot have a cryptocurrency token?

OpenMausBot has no token. The maintainer states that any coin using the OpenMausBot, Maus, or SupaMaus name is not affiliated with the project.

## Sources

1. [milind-soni/OpenMausBot on GitHub](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot)
2. [OpenMausBot README](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot/blob/main/README.md)
3. [OpenMausBot website](https://www.openmausbot.com/)
4. [Release v0.1.137 (Nov 1, 2026)](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot/releases/tag/v0.1.137)
5. [Release v0.1.136 (Oct 31, 2026)](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot/releases/tag/v0.1.136)
6. [Release v0.1.135 (Oct 31, 2026)](https://github.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot/releases/tag/v0.1.135)
7. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)