Manus vs Devin
Manus is a general-purpose autonomous AI agent capable of multi-domain tasks including coding, research, and data analysis, while Devin is specifically engineered as an autonomous software engineer. Both can independently execute complex tasks but with different specialization levels.
Manus is designed as a broad autonomous agent that can handle software development alongside many other task types including research, document generation, and web browsing. Devin is purpose-built for software engineering, with specialized tooling for coding, testing, and deployment. The specialization gap matters significantly for teams with purely engineering needs.
Head-to-head comparison
Code structure
DevinManus
Manus can write code but its generalist design means it may not consistently produce code that follows engineering best practices or project conventions.
Devin
Devin is specialized for software engineering and produces more consistently structured code with better awareness of development patterns.
Security
DevinManus
Manus operates with broad system access across many task types, requiring careful permission configuration to prevent unintended data access.
Devin
Devin's security model is designed around software development contexts, with more targeted access controls for code repositories and development tools.
Speed of prototyping
TieManus
Manus can rapidly execute multi-step tasks that combine research, planning, and code generation in a single autonomous workflow.
Devin
Devin is fast specifically for software engineering tasks, with specialized knowledge that reduces iteration time on coding challenges.
Backend/data layer
DevinManus
Manus can implement backend systems as part of broader task execution, though its generalist nature may produce less optimal data architecture.
Devin
Devin understands software architecture deeply and can design and implement well-structured backend systems with proper data modeling.
Deployment readiness
DevinManus
Manus can execute deployment-related tasks but its general-purpose design means deployment workflows need explicit instruction.
Devin
Devin has built-in understanding of deployment processes and can interact with CI/CD tools and cloud platforms more reliably.
Long-term maintainability
DevinManus
Manus-generated code may require more review and cleanup for long-term maintainability, as it lacks specialized software engineering knowledge.
Devin
Devin's software-specialized training produces more maintainable code with better adherence to engineering conventions and patterns.
Code quality
Devin produces higher-quality software engineering output due to its specialization in coding and development workflows. Manus is more versatile but the lack of deep software engineering specialization shows in code quality and consistency.
Security
Devin has more targeted security controls appropriate for software development contexts. Manus's broader capability set requires more careful permission management to prevent access beyond what is needed for coding tasks.
Which should you choose?
Choose Manus if...
Best for teams needing an autonomous agent that can handle diverse tasks beyond coding, including research, analysis, and document generation alongside development.
Manus servicesChoose Devin if...
Best for software engineering teams that need an autonomous agent specialized specifically in coding, testing, debugging, and deployment tasks.
Devin servicesThe bottom line
Devin is the better choice for pure software engineering automation due to its specialization and deeper coding knowledge. Manus is better when your autonomous agent needs to do meaningful work across many domains beyond code.
Whichever tool you used, we'll review the code
Get a professional review of your AI-generated code at a fixed price.
Security Scan
Black-box review of your public-facing app. No code access needed.
- OWASP Top 10 checks
- SSL/TLS analysis
- Security headers
- Expert review within 24h
Code Audit
In-depth review of your source code for security, quality, and best practices.
- Security vulnerabilities
- Code quality review
- Dependency audit
- AI pattern analysis
Complete Bundle
Both scans in one package with cross-referenced findings.
- Everything in both products
- Cross-referenced findings
- Unified action plan
100% credited toward any paid service. Start with an audit, then let us fix what we find.
Frequently asked questions
Can Manus be restricted to only perform coding tasks?
Manus can be directed to focus on coding tasks through prompting, but its general-purpose design means it lacks Devin's specialized software engineering depth.
Does Devin integrate with popular version control systems?
Yes — Devin integrates with GitHub and can clone repositories, create branches, commit changes, and open pull requests as part of its workflow.
Other comparisons
Cursor vs Lovable
Cursor produces more production-ready code but requires coding knowledge.
Cursor vs Bolt.new
Cursor gets closer to production-ready code.
Cursor vs v0
Cursor builds full-stack apps while v0 generates UI components.
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
Cursor is more capable for building full features.
Not sure which tool to use?
We've reviewed code from every major AI coding tool. Book a free call and we'll help you understand what your code needs.