Manus Review for a task Chatgpt Agent couldn’t handle (reading my email)
By Holidays in Europe / March 22, 2026 / No Comments / Uncategorized
Review of Manus AI: A Mixed Bag for Task Automation and Website Building
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, AI-powered tools are increasingly sought after to streamline everyday tasks and enhance online presence. Manus AI presents itself as a versatile platform, combining a website builder with task automation capabilities. After exploring its features firsthand, here’s a comprehensive review based on real-world use.
Overall Impressions and Use Cases
My experience with Manus AI has been a mixed journey. On the positive side, the platform’s website builder is quite impressive. It quickly produced competent website copy on the first attempt, surpassing the results I experienced with other AI tools like ChatGPT, which often required hours of iteration. Additionally, Manus allows for website hosting, making it a convenient all-in-one solution for those looking to establish or maintain a web presence.
However, when it comes to task automation—particularly integrating Gmail and Google Calendar for travel booking and scheduling—I encountered significant challenges. As someone not deeply versed in programming, I hoped Manus would simplify these processes. Unfortunately, my attempts to automate booking flights, trains, and adding appointments to my calendar proved time-consuming and ultimately frustrating.
Performance in Automation Tasks
Initially, I envisioned a smooth automation where the AI could handle straightforward tasks, freeing me from manual input. Instead, supervising the process took approximately 1.5 hours to complete what ideally should have taken 15 minutes. For example, I spent considerable time guiding the AI through booking travel arrangements and integrating the details into my calendar.
This inefficiency was disappointing. If my AI assistant were a human employee, it would undoubtedly be fired for inefficacy. While I acknowledge that mastering such AI tools requires learning, the current performance falls short of expectations, especially given the potential of automation.
Voice Interaction and Connectivity
I appreciate the voice-to-text feature, which provides a more intuitive way to communicate commands. Though it doesn’t match the sophistication of ChatGPT’s voice capabilities, it outperforms alternatives like Claude. On both mobile and desktop platforms, I noticed that lengthy voice prompts occasionally lost their last few seconds—a functionality that could benefit from refinement.
Moreover, the integration with Gmail and Google Calendar has been unreliable. Despite claims of seamless connectivity, I’ve experienced frequent failures, raising questions about potential compatibility issues or external interference, possibly from Google itself. Such problems diminish confidence in using Manus for critical scheduling and booking tasks.
Website Builder and Export Limitations
One standout feature is Manus’s website builder. It excels at generating initial content and design. However, I discovered that exporting my website for use outside Manus’s hosting environment isn’t straightforward—limiting flexibility for users who prefer third-party hosting solutions.
Final Verdict
Considering all aspects, I would rate Manus AI a 6 out of 10. Its strengths lie in website development and basic content generation, but its automation and integration capabilities need significant improvement. I remain optimistic that future updates will enhance its automation reliability and ease of use.
A Notable Comparison
Interestingly, I tested a simple travel booking task with Claude AI, which completed the process in under a minute, successfully extracting details from Gmail and creating a calendar event. Manus, on the other hand, struggled to accomplish the same, highlighting room for growth.
Conclusion
Manus AI shows promise, especially for users seeking an integrated website creation tool. However, for automation and task management—especially those involving email and calendar integrations—it currently falls short. If you’re considering Manus, weigh these factors and keep an eye on future updates that may address its current limitations.