# CowAgent vs Tab > CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) to Tab's 10.7 (F) for assistants reached by message. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side. - Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot - Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.md (~3,300 tokens) - Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.min.md (~580 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts) - JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.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 CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Tab's 10.7 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do assistants reached by message. - CowAgent: grade C, 58.5/100, rank #592 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json - Tab: grade F, 10.7/100, rank #1003 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/tab-bot.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/tab-bot.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 ### 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 5 - Schema & documentation, 67 against 0 - Agent ergonomics, 59 against 0 - Security & auth, 43 against 4 - Payments & pricing, 60 against 0 - Maintenance & community, 83 against 58 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 ### Tab (F) Good for: A person who wants a texting assistant that browses, calls and buys with tight checkout controls. Also in its favour: - No incidents deducted, where CowAgent loses 5 points for them Watch for: Private beta behind a waitlist. ## Score by category | Category | Weight | CowAgent | Tab | Edge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 84 | 5 | CowAgent +79 | | Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 0 | CowAgent +67 | | Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 59 | 0 | CowAgent +59 | | Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 43 | 4 | CowAgent +39 | | Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 0 | CowAgent +60 | | Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 83 | 58 | CowAgent +25 | | Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 45 | 45 | even | | Negative events | ≤15 | -5 | 0 | | | **Total** | | **58.5 · C** | **10.7 · F** | | ## Facts side by side | Fact | CowAgent | Tab | | --- | --- | --- | | Kind | Agent harness | Platform | | Vendor | zhayujie | Terrasoft, Inc. | | Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) | | Transports | HTTP | | | Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key | | Pricing | Free | Paid | | x402 | no | no | | Licence | MIT | Closed service under Tab's Terms of Use (Terrasoft, Inc., effective 2 September 2026). | | Read-only variant documented | yes | no | | llms.txt | yes | no | | 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 | ## 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. **Tab.** Tab is a private-beta texting assistant with a detailed security page on credential isolation and checkout binding, and a public updates page. No outside agent can call it, no price is published, and its privacy policy says nothing on training with user content. ## 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 ### Tab 1. Don't plan to call Tab from another agent. It answers only the owner's Messages or WhatsApp thread. 2. Tell the owner that access needs a waitlist place and no price is published. ## Questions ### Which is better for AI agents, CowAgent or Tab? CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Tab's 10.7 (F), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. ### Are CowAgent and Tab open source? CowAgent is open source (MIT). No open-source release is listed for Tab. ## For agents - This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-tab-bot.min.md - Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "cowagent", "b": "tab-bot"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cowagent tab-bot` - Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/tab-bot.json ## Other comparisons with CowAgent or Tab - [asaply vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-cowagent.md) - [asaply vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Asmi vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-cowagent.md) - [Asmi vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-tab-bot.md) - [AstrBot vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Boba vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-cowagent.md) - [Boba vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Boski vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Brea vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-cowagent.md) - [Brea vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Caddy vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-tab-bot.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 Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zapia.md) - [Del vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-tab-bot.md) - [folk vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-tab-bot.md) - [GAIA vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Grok Bot vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Haven vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-tab-bot.md) - [HireAlpha vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Instinct vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-tab-bot.md) - [IronClaw vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Lindy vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-tab-bot.md) - [nanobot vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-tab-bot.md) - [NanoClaw vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Natura tinyNature vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/natura-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Dots vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-tab-bot.md) - [OpenClaw vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-tab-bot.md) - [OpenInstinct vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openinstinct-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Orbits vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Orchid vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Pally vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pally-vs-tab-bot.md) - [PicoClaw vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/picoclaw-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Poke vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/poke-vs-tab-bot.md) - [QwenPaw vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwenpaw-vs-tab-bot.md) - [szn vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Tab vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-tomo.md) - [Tab vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-town.md) - [Tab vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-zapia.md) - [Tab vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [Tab vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-zo-computer.md) - [AstrBot vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.md) - [Boski vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-cowagent.md) - [Caddy vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-cowagent.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 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) - [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) - [CowAgent vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-talorys.md) - [Gemini Spark vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Leon vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Tab vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-talorys.md) - [Tab vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/tab-bot-vs-wajo.md) ## Disclosure - Tab 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.