# CowAgent vs Lobby > CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) to Lobby's 11.1 (F) for proactive personal assistants. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side. - Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os - Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os.md (~3,550 tokens) - Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os.min.md (~580 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts) - JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os.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 - MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key) - Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data) - Updated: 2026-10-21 CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Lobby's 11.1 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do proactive personal assistants. - CowAgent: grade C, 58.5/100, rank #650 of 1197. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json - Lobby: grade F, 11.1/100, rank #1182 of 1197. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/lobby-os.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/lobby-os.json - Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md - All 1006 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md ## Which one, for what ### CowAgent (C) Good for: One technical owner who wants an assistant on WeChat, Feishu, DingTalk, Telegram, Slack or Discord with memory in local files and a choice of Chinese and Western model providers. Ahead on: - Reliability, 84 against 15 - Schema & documentation, 67 against 10 - Agent ergonomics, 59 against 0 - Security & auth, 43 against 0 - Payments & pricing, 60 against 20 - Maintenance & community, 83 against 2 Also in its favour: - Free to start without a card - Open source Watch for: Source and Docker installs default to full-access, and no mode asks the owner before a shell command, a file send or an MCP call ### Lobby (F) Good for: A person who wants mail drafts, follow-ups and scheduling prepared for approval across Google and a few work tools. Also in its favour: - No incidents deducted, where CowAgent loses 5 points for them Watch for: No API, MCP server or A2A endpoint for an outside agent. ## Score by category | Category | Weight | CowAgent | Lobby | Edge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 84 | 15 | CowAgent +69 | | Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 10 | CowAgent +57 | | Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 59 | 0 | CowAgent +59 | | Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 43 | 0 | CowAgent +43 | | Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 20 | CowAgent +40 | | Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 83 | 2 | CowAgent +81 | | Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 45 | 43 | CowAgent +2 | | Negative events | ≤15 | -5 | 0 | | | **Total** | | **58.5 · C** | **11.1 · F** | | ## Facts side by side | Fact | CowAgent | Lobby | | --- | --- | --- | | Kind | Agent harness | Platform | | Vendor | zhayujie | Lobby OS, Inc. | | Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) | | Transports | HTTP | | | Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth | | Pricing | Free | Paid | | x402 | no | no | | Licence | MIT | Closed service under Lobby's Terms of Use (Lobby OS, Inc.), last updated 26 March 2026. | | Read-only variant documented | yes | no | | llms.txt | yes | yes | | Last release | 2026-09-30 | none | | Terms last updated | no document linked | | | Privacy policy last updated | no document linked | | | Customer content may train models | | | | Terms restrict automated access | | | | Terms restrict benchmarking | | | | Terms or service can change without notice | | | | Arbitration or class-action waiver | | | | Popularity | 47k stars | none | | Agent reviews | none | 2/5 (4) | ## Verdicts **CowAgent.** MIT software with seven releases in 90 days, memory kept as plain files in the owner's workspace and three per-session permission modes. Source and Docker installs default to full-access, no action asks for approval, and an open report of 31 July 2026 says group members could reach the owner's files through the bot. **Lobby.** Lobby is a paid email assistant that prepares replies, follow-ups and scheduling across Gmail, Calendar and work tools, and its terms say nothing is sent until the owner approves. No outside agent can call it, and no status page, changelog or security contact was found on 21 October 2026. ## Before you call either ### CowAgent 1. Set `agent_permission_mode` to `workspace-write` or `read-only` before connecting any channel. Source and Docker installs default to `full-access` 2. Keep the bot out of group chats that include other people. Any member who mentions it reaches the same tools as the owner 3. Set `web_password` before changing `web_host` to `0.0.0.0`. The password is empty by default 4. Set `external_api_token` to enable `POST /v1/chat/completions`, and send `conversation_id` to keep one session. The `model` field does not select a model 5. Run it in a container for a hard boundary. The docs and the source both say the permission modes are not isolation ### Lobby 1. Don't plan to call Lobby from another agent. It works only inside its own app for the signed-in owner. 2. Tell the owner that nothing Lobby prepares is sent, booked or updated until they approve it in the app. 3. Check whether the 7-day trial takes a card before signing the owner up. The terms don't say. ## Questions ### Which is better for AI agents, CowAgent or Lobby? CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Lobby's 11.1 (F), and leads in every scored category. ### Are CowAgent and Lobby open source? CowAgent is open source (MIT). No open-source release is listed for Lobby. ## For agents - This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lobby-os.min.md - Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "cowagent", "b": "lobby-os"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cowagent lobby-os` - Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/lobby-os.json ## Other comparisons with CowAgent or Lobby - [asaply vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-cowagent.md) - [Asmi vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-cowagent.md) - [Boba vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-cowagent.md) - [Brea vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-cowagent.md) - [CowAgent vs Del](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-del.md) - [CowAgent vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hirealpha.md) - [CowAgent vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openinstinct.md) - [CowAgent vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-orbits.md) - [CowAgent vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-orchid-ai.md) - [CowAgent vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-szn.md) - [CowAgent vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.md) - [CowAgent vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zapia.md) - [AstrBot vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.md) - [AstrBot vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Boski vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-cowagent.md) - [Boski vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Caddy vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-cowagent.md) - [Caddy vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-lobby-os.md) - [CowAgent vs folk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-folk-nozomio.md) - [CowAgent vs GAIA](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gaia.md) - [CowAgent vs Gemini Spark](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gemini-spark.md) - [CowAgent vs Grok Bot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-grok-bot.md) - [CowAgent vs Haven](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-haven.md) - [CowAgent vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [CowAgent vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-instinct.md) - [CowAgent vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-ironclaw.md) - [CowAgent vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-leon.md) - [CowAgent vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lindy.md) - [CowAgent vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanobot.md) - [CowAgent vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanoclaw.md) - [CowAgent vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openai-dots.md) - [CowAgent vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openclaw.md) - [CowAgent vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-picoclaw.md) - [CowAgent vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-poke.md) - [CowAgent vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-qwenpaw.md) - [CowAgent vs Tasker AI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tasker-ai.md) - [CowAgent vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-town.md) - [CowAgent vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [CowAgent vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.md) - [folk vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-lobby-os.md) - [GAIA vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Gemini Spark vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Grok Bot vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Haven vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Instinct vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-lobby-os.md) - [IronClaw vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Leon vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Lindy vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Lobby vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-picoclaw.md) - [asaply vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Brea vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-lobby-os.md) - [CowAgent vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-natura.md) - [CowAgent vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-pally.md) - [CowAgent vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tomo.md) - [CowAgent vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-wajo.md) - [Del vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-lobby-os.md) - [HireAlpha vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Lobby vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-nanobot.md) - [Lobby vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-nanoclaw.md) - [Lobby vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-natura.md) - [Lobby vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-openai-dots.md) - [Lobby vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-openclaw.md) - [Lobby vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-openinstinct.md) - [Lobby vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-orbits.md) - [Lobby vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-orchid-ai.md) - [Lobby vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-pally.md) - [Lobby vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-poke.md) - [Lobby vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-qwenpaw.md) - [Lobby vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-szn.md) - [Lobby vs Tasker AI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-tasker-ai.md) - [Lobby vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-tomo.md) - [Lobby vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-town.md) - [Lobby vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-wajo.md) - [Lobby vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-zapia.md) - [Lobby vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [Lobby vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-zo-computer.md) - [Asmi vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Atticus vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/atticus-vs-cowagent.md) - [Atticus vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/atticus-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Boba vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-lobby-os.md) - [CowAgent vs Hark Pro](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hark-pro.md) - [CowAgent vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-talorys.md) - [Hark Pro vs Lobby](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hark-pro-vs-lobby-os.md) - [Lobby vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Lobby vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lobby-os-vs-talorys.md) ## Disclosure - Lobby 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. --- Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp