# AstrBot vs Orbits

> AstrBot scores 58.8 (C) to Orbits's 15.6 (F) for assistants reached by message. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits.md (~3,350 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits.min.md (~630 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- Updated: 2026-10-13

AstrBot scores 58.8 (C) on agent readiness against Orbits's 15.6 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do assistants reached by message.

- AstrBot: grade C, 58.8/100, rank #585 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/astrbot.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/astrbot.json
- Orbits: grade F, 15.6/100, rank #997 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/orbits.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/orbits.json
- Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md
- All 834 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md

## Which one, for what

### AstrBot (C)

Good for: Someone who wants one self-run bot answering on QQ, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Lark or WeCom, in private or group chats, with scheduled tasks, a knowledge base and plugins.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 81 against 15
- Schema & documentation, 62 against 10
- Agent ergonomics, 54 against 0
- Security & auth, 44 against 0
- Payments & pricing, 60 against 20
- Maintenance & community, 81 against 54

Also in its favour:
- Free to start without a card
- Open source

Watch for: No approval step before any tool call. The agent sends messages, creates scheduled tasks and calls MCP tools without asking

### Orbits (F)

Good for: Families who want one shared assistant for calendars, lists, meals, chores and household email.

Watch for: No public agent API, as llms.txt states.


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | AstrBot | Orbits | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 81 | 15 | AstrBot +66 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 62 | 10 | AstrBot +52 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 54 | 0 | AstrBot +54 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 44 | 0 | AstrBot +44 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 20 | AstrBot +40 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 81 | 54 | AstrBot +27 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 40 | 43 | Orbits +3 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -2 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **58.8 · C** | **15.6 · F** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | AstrBot | Orbits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | Agent harness | Platform |
| Vendor | AstrBotDevs | Nemus AI, Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports |  |  |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Closed service under the Orbits Terms of Service (Nemus AI, Inc.). |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | no | yes |
| Last release | 2026-09-27 | 2026-10-13 |
| Terms last updated | 2026-01-12 |  |
| Privacy policy last updated | no document linked |  |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text |  |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text |  |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text |  |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text |  |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text |  |
| Popularity | 42k stars | none |

## Verdicts

**AstrBot.** Fourteen official messaging adapters, scheduled tasks and scoped API keys come in one AGPL-3.0 program with releases most weeks. No tool call asks for approval, no mail, calendar or long-term memory connector is built in, and usage statistics, including the machine's hostname, are sent by default.

**Orbits.** Orbits is a family household app whose assistant, Bit, runs shared calendars, lists and meals, reads household email and places restaurant calls after approval, with iOS releases every week or two. No outside agent can call it, prices appear only as App Store in-app purchases, and no status page, security contact or named subprocessors were found.

## Before you call either

### AstrBot

1. Set `ASTRBOT_DISABLE_METRICS=1` before the first start. Statistics, including the hostname, are sent to tickstats.soulter.top by default
2. Set `dashboard.host` to 127.0.0.1 in `data/cmd_config.json`, or the `DASHBOARD_HOST` variable, unless remote access is intended. The default is 0.0.0.0
3. Create an `abk_` key in Settings, OpenAPI with only the scopes needed, and send it as `Authorization: Bearer` or `X-API-Key`
4. Include `username` in every `POST /api/v1/chat` body. Without the `chat:admin` scope an administrator ID is rejected
5. Check Extensions, Future Tasks after asking for a schedule. One-off tasks are deleted after their run even when the run fails

### Orbits

1. Don't plan to call Orbits from another agent. llms.txt says no public agent API is offered.
2. Tell the owner the assistant needs an Orbits subscription bought in the app, and that any trial appears only at purchase.

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, AstrBot or Orbits?

AstrBot scores 58.8 (C) on agent readiness against Orbits's 15.6 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.

### Are AstrBot and Orbits open source?

AstrBot is open source (AGPL-3.0-or-later). No open-source release is listed for Orbits.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orbits.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "astrbot", "b": "orbits"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare astrbot orbits`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/astrbot.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/orbits.json

## Other comparisons with AstrBot or Orbits

- [asaply vs AstrBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-astrbot.md)
- [asaply vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-orbits.md)
- [Asmi vs AstrBot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-astrbot.md)
- [Asmi vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-orbits.md)
- [AstrBot vs Boba](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-boba.md)
- [AstrBot vs Brea](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-brea.md)
- [AstrBot vs Del](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-del.md)
- [AstrBot vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-hirealpha.md)
- [AstrBot vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-natura.md)
- [AstrBot vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-openinstinct.md)
- [AstrBot vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [AstrBot vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-pally.md)
- [AstrBot vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-szn.md)
- [AstrBot vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-tab-bot.md)
- [AstrBot vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-tomo.md)
- [AstrBot vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zapia.md)
- [Boba vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-orbits.md)
- [Boski vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-orbits.md)
- [Brea vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-orbits.md)
- [Caddy vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-orbits.md)
- [CowAgent vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-orbits.md)
- [Del vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-orbits.md)
- [folk vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-orbits.md)
- [GAIA vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-orbits.md)
- [Grok Bot vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-orbits.md)
- [Haven vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-orbits.md)
- [Hermes Agent vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-orbits.md)
- [HireAlpha vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-orbits.md)
- [Instinct vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-orbits.md)
- [IronClaw vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-orbits.md)
- [Lindy vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-orbits.md)
- [nanobot vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-orbits.md)
- [NanoClaw vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-orbits.md)
- [Dots vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-orbits.md)
- [OpenClaw vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-orbits.md)
- [OpenInstinct vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openinstinct-vs-orbits.md)
- [Orbits vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-orchid-ai.md)
- [Orbits vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-pally.md)
- [Orbits vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-picoclaw.md)
- [Orbits vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-poke.md)
- [Orbits vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-qwenpaw.md)
- [Orbits vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-szn.md)
- [Orbits vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-tab-bot.md)
- [Orbits vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-tomo.md)
- [Orbits vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-town.md)
- [Orbits vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-zapia.md)
- [Orbits vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-zeroclaw.md)
- [Orbits vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-zo-computer.md)
- [AstrBot vs Boski](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-boski.md)
- [AstrBot vs Caddy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-caddy-app.md)
- [AstrBot vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.md)
- [AstrBot vs folk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-folk-nozomio.md)
- [AstrBot vs GAIA](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-gaia.md)
- [AstrBot vs Gemini Spark](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-gemini-spark.md)
- [AstrBot vs Grok Bot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-grok-bot.md)
- [AstrBot vs Haven](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-haven.md)
- [AstrBot vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-hermes-agent.md)
- [AstrBot vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-instinct.md)
- [AstrBot vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-ironclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-leon.md)
- [AstrBot vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-lindy.md)
- [AstrBot vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-nanobot.md)
- [AstrBot vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-nanoclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-openai-dots.md)
- [AstrBot vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-openclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-picoclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-poke.md)
- [AstrBot vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-qwenpaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-town.md)
- [AstrBot vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zeroclaw.md)
- [AstrBot vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zo-computer.md)
- [Gemini Spark vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-orbits.md)
- [Leon vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-orbits.md)
- [Natura tinyNature vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/natura-vs-orbits.md)
- [Orbits vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-wajo.md)
- [Orbits vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-talorys.md)
- [AstrBot vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-talorys.md)

## Disclosure

- Orbits competes with LocalGhost, which Anchor Terminal's founder builds. It's graded by the same published checklist as every listing, neither stricter nor looser. Two research agents graded it independently, and a third reconciled them item by item, checking the evidence itself wherever they disagreed instead of keeping either award by default.