{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "cowagent", "name": "CowAgent", "vendor": "zhayujie", "vendorUrl": "https://cowagent.ai", "kind": "harness", "category": "personal-assistants", "summary": "CowAgent is an open-source AI assistant that its owner runs on a computer or server. It plans tasks, runs tools and skills, keeps long-term memory in local files and answers on a web console and messaging apps.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json", "repo": "https://github.com/zhayujie/CowAgent", "license": "MIT", "transports": [ "http" ], "packages": [ { "registry": "oci", "name": "zhayujie/chatgpt-on-wechat" } ], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "No account. The web console listens on 127.0.0.1 with no password by default, and `web_password` adds a login whose session lasts 30 days. `external_api_token` is one Bearer token for the OpenAI-compatible endpoint, which stays off while the token is empty (https://docs.cowagent.ai/channels/web). Messaging channels use each platform's bot token or app secret in `config.json`. Model keys go in `config.json` or environment variables.", "pricing": "free", "pricingNotes": "Free under the MIT licence, with nothing to buy to run it. The owner pays the configured model provider, or nothing with a local model behind an OpenAI-compatible endpoint. The README names LinkAI as a seller of managed hosting, and link-ai.tech did not answer on 12 October 2026, so its prices were not read.", "priceSummary": "Free · OSS", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source (checked 2026-10-12).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 47400, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-12" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.cowagent.ai/intro/index", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.cowagent.ai/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "assistant.proactive", "assistant.messaging", "assistant.memory", "assistant.self-hosted", "agent.mcp-client", "assistant.accounts" ], "tags": [ "open-source", "self-hosted", "local", "free", "no-card", "llms-txt", "docker", "python", "openai-compatible" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-30", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 58.5, "grade": "C", "agentReady": false, "rank": 591, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 986, "categoryRank": 9, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 59, "maintenance": 83, "payments": 60, "reliability": 84, "schema": 67, "security": 43, "transparency": 45 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-12" }, "negative": -5, "negativeNotes": [ "2026-07-31. Issue #2998 reports that a member of a Feishu group asked the bot for local files and it sent the owner's documents into the group. This is the reporter's account and we did not reproduce it. We confirmed in the master source on 12 October 2026 that group channels accept every group, that full-access is the default and that the proposed sender gating is absent. Open and unfixed, -3. https://github.com/zhayujie/CowAgent/issues/2998", "2026-07-29. Version 2.1.5 fixed a chain in which injected content led the agent to rewrite the MCP config, run arbitrary commands and take keys, and fixed the `edit` tool reaching `~/.cow/.env`. Both are described in the release notes with no advisory. Fixed and documented, -2. https://docs.cowagent.ai/releases/v2.1.5" ], "verdict": "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.", "bestFor": "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.", "strengths": [ "Memory is plain Markdown under `~/cow` (`MEMORY.md`, `memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md`), readable and removable by the owner", "Three permission modes per session (read-only, workspace-write, full-access), with a global default in `agent_permission_mode`", "The web console binds to 127.0.0.1 by default, and the cloud client loads only when `use_linkai` and a deployment id are both set", "Seven tagged releases between 20 July and 30 September 2026, each with dated notes in the docs", "Tests run on Python 3.11 and 3.13 for every push to master, and the 15 newest master runs we saw passed on 12 October 2026" ], "weaknesses": [ "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", "The permission checks read arguments and are not an OS sandbox, as the source says. The `bash` blocklist covers only root deletion, disk wiping and power commands", "Issue #2998, open since 31 July 2026, reports the bot sending the owner's local documents into a Feishu group. Its fix is not on master", "No setting limits which Telegram, Slack or Discord users may message the bot, and those channels reply in every group", "No SECURITY.md, security.txt, privacy policy or terms. Model keys sit in `config.json` and MCP keys in `mcp.json` as plain text" ], "agentNotes": [ "Set `agent_permission_mode` to `workspace-write` or `read-only` before connecting any channel. Source and Docker installs default to `full-access`", "Keep the bot out of group chats that include other people. Any member who mentions it reaches the same tools as the owner", "Set `web_password` before changing `web_host` to `0.0.0.0`. The password is empty by default", "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", "Run it in a container for a hard boundary. The docs and the source both say the permission modes are not isolation" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "C", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 58.5 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 59, "maintenance": 83, "payments": 60, "reliability": 84, "schema": 67, "security": 43, "transparency": 62 }, "provenanceScore": 27 }, "connect": { "install": "bash \u003c(curl -fsSL https://cdn.link-ai.tech/code/cow/run.sh) # or: curl -O https://cdn.link-ai.tech/code/cow/docker-compose.yml \u0026\u0026 docker compose up -d", "http": "curl http://localhost:9899/v1/chat/completions -H \"Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN\" -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" -d '{\"model\":\"cowagent\",\"conversation_id\":\"example-conversation\",\"messages\":[{\"role\":\"user\",\"content\":\"Hello\"}]}'" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/assistant.proactive", "tool": "https://letme.dev/cowagent" }, "area": "frameworks", "provenance": { "legalEntity": "", "domain": "cowagent.ai", "domainRegistered": "", "endpointOnVendorDomain": null, "terms": "", "privacy": "", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://docs.cowagent.ai/releases/overview", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-12", "notes": [ "No company or legal entity is named for CowAgent. The licence names zhayujie, and the cowagent.ai footer reads Copyright 2026 CowAgent.", "The README lists sales@simple-future.tech and LinkAI (link-ai.tech) for enterprise services and managed hosting. link-ai.tech did not answer our robots.txt request on 12 October 2026, so none of its pages were read.", "cowagent.ai links no terms and no privacy policy. Its sitemap lists the home, download and blog pages only.", "cowagent.ai answers `/.well-known/security.txt` and `/llms.txt` with the home page, so neither file exists. docs.cowagent.ai serves an llms.txt.", "The registration date of cowagent.ai was not looked up." ], "score": 27 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.json" }, "answer": "CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Zo Computer's 43.1 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Zo Computer leads on schema \u0026 documentation and transparency \u0026 trust.", "b": { "slug": "zo-computer", "name": "Zo Computer", "vendor": "Zo Computer Company", "vendorUrl": "https://www.zo.computer", "kind": "http-api", "category": "personal-assistants", "summary": "Hosted personal assistant from Zo Computer Company that runs on a cloud Linux computer assigned to each user. It answers by web chat, SMS, email, Slack, Discord and Telegram, runs scheduled automations, and has an HTTP API and MCP endpoint.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zo-computer", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zo-computer.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zo-computer.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/zo-computer.json", "license": "Proprietary service under Zo Computer Company's terms of service", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.zo.computer/mcp", "packages": [], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "A bearer access token with the prefix `zo_sk_`, created by the owner under Settings \u003e Advanced and shown once. The same token is used for the HTTP API and the MCP endpoint, and both guides say it grants full access to the workspace. No scoped, read-only or expiring token and no OAuth flow for outside clients were found in the docs. Whether a token can be revoked individually is not stated on the pages read. `GET /models/catalog` needs no authentication. Sign-up is in a browser behind Cloudflare Turnstile.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free Trial is $0 for 14 days with no card, then ordinary computer access ends. Basic is $18 a month with $10 of AI credit, Pro $64 with $40 and Ultra $200 with $100. API and MCP access are included on all plans. Chat is billed at per-token rates on the models pages, which we did not read, and media at fixed per-request prices from $0.035. A user's own model API key can replace Zo-billed usage (checked 2026-10-12).", "priceSummary": "$18 / mo", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the API guide, the OpenAPI file, the billing guide or the pricing page, checked 12 October 2026. Billing is a Stripe subscription with prepaid credits.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-12" }, "docsUrl": "https://www.zo.computer/guide", "llmsTxt": "https://www.zo.computer/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://www.zo.computer/docs-assets/openapi.json", "capabilities": [ "assistant.proactive", "assistant.messaging", "assistant.accounts", "assistant.memory", "agent.mcp-client" ], "tags": [ "official", "hosted", "closed-source", "assistant", "mcp", "openapi", "llms-txt", "free-trial" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-14", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 43.1, "grade": "E", "agentReady": false, "rank": 911, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 986, "categoryRank": 13, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 34, "maintenance": 68, "payments": 40, "reliability": 15, "schema": 73, "security": 37, "transparency": 60 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-12" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Zo publishes an OpenAPI file, Markdown docs, plan prices and a named list of the providers that receive user content. One access token grants full access to the workspace, no approval step before sending or buying was found in the reviewed docs, and no status page, rate limit or SLA is published.", "bestFor": "One person who wants a hosted assistant with its own Linux machine, reachable by text message and chat apps, and who accepts that the assistant acts on connected accounts without a documented approval step.", "strengths": [ "OpenAPI 3.1 file, llms.txt and a Markdown copy of every guide and reference page are public", "Persona permissions remove tools from a conversation, with 19 named scopes and a Read only preset", "The security page names each infrastructure, inference and tool provider and states which can see user content", "Plan prices, included AI credit and per-request media prices are public, with a 14-day trial that needs no card", "Dated weekly changelog, with nine weekly entries between 20 July and 14 September 2026" ], "weaknesses": [ "The access token for the API and MCP endpoint grants full access to the workspace, with no scoped or read-only token documented", "No approval step before sending mail, posting or buying was found. The browser guide says Zo can buy and send on signed-in sites", "No status page, incident history, rate limit figures or SLA were found on the pages read", "The privacy policy lists only email address, trackers, usage data and SMS data, and does not describe workspace files, memory or connected accounts", "Memory storage and deletion are not documented beyond a design aim and whole-account deletion or factory reset" ], "agentNotes": [ "Send `POST https://api.zo.computer/zo/ask` with `Authorization: Bearer zo_sk_...` and an `input` string. The owner creates the token under Settings \u003e Advanced", "Pass `persona_id` for a persona with a narrow tool set. The token itself carries every permission the owner has", "Set `memory_mode` to `off` to keep workspace memory out of a request. The field is in the OpenAPI file and absent from the API guide", "Do not retry `/zo/ask` blindly after a timeout. No idempotency key is documented and the request may already have sent a message", "Append `.md` to any guide or reference URL for Markdown" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "E", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 43.1 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 34, "maintenance": 68, "payments": 40, "reliability": 15, "schema": 73, "security": 37, "transparency": 46 }, "provenanceScore": 73 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -X POST https://api.zo.computer/zo/ask \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer zo_sk_your_key_here\" \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -d '{\"input\": \"Hello, Zo!\"}'", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http zo https://api.zo.computer/mcp --header \"Authorization: Bearer zo_sk_your_key_here\"", "config": { "mcpServers": { "zo": { "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer zo_sk_your_key_here" }, "type": "http", "url": "https://api.zo.computer/mcp" } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/assistant.proactive", "tool": "https://letme.dev/zo-computer" }, "area": "frameworks", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Basic plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 18, "note": "Includes $10 of AI credit a month." }, { "item": "Pro plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 64, "note": "Includes $40 of AI credit a month." }, { "item": "Ultra plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 200, "note": "Includes $100 of AI credit a month." } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Zo Computer Company", "domain": "zo.computer", "domainRegistered": "", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.zo.computer/reference/information/terms", "privacy": "https://www.zo.computer/reference/information/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://www.zo.computer/updates", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-10-12", "notes": [ "The terms of service name Zo Computer Company at 13 Grattan St Unit 102, Brooklyn, NY 11206, under New York law. They were last updated on 8 August 2025.", "The terms refer to an Acceptable Use Policy that we did not find linked from the pages read.", "security.txt at www.zo.computer/.well-known/security.txt gives a contact, a policy link and an expiry of 8 April 2027.", "No status page is linked from the home page, the docs index, the security page or the help centre home page.", "The API and MCP endpoint are on api.zo.computer. The domain's registration date was not looked up.", "The X handle is the one the home page footer links." ], "score": 73 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zo-computer.json", "live": { "slug": "zo-computer", "probe": { "target": "https://api.zo.computer/mcp", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-12T19:01:35.563750129Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 405, "lastMs": 472, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 320, "p95ms24h": 1228, "samples24h": 18, "samples30d": 18, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-12", "probes": 18, "ok": 18 } ] }, "updatedAt": "2026-10-12T19:01:35.563750129Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "Agent harness", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "zhayujie", "b": "Zo Computer Company", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "no (local only)", "b": "https://api.zo.computer/mcp", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth or key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Free", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "MIT", "b": "Proprietary service under Zo Computer Company's terms of service", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-09-30", "b": "2026-09-14", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "no document linked", "b": "2025-08-08", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "no document linked", "b": "2026-05-20", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "47k stars", "b": "none", "name": "Popularity" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Zo Computer's 43.1 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Zo Computer leads on schema \u0026 documentation and transparency \u0026 trust.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, CowAgent or Zo Computer?" }, { "answer": "No hosted endpoint is listed for CowAgent. Zo Computer has a hosted endpoint at https://api.zo.computer/mcp.", "question": "Can an agent call CowAgent and Zo Computer without installing anything?" }, { "answer": "CowAgent is open source (MIT). No open-source release is listed for Zo Computer.", "question": "Are CowAgent and Zo Computer open source?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 84 against 15", "Agent ergonomics, 59 against 34", "Security \u0026 auth, 43 against 37", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 40", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 83 against 68" ], "also": [ "Free to start without a card", "Open source" ], "goodFor": "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.", "slug": "cowagent", "watchFor": "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" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 73 against 67", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 60 against 45" ], "also": [ "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install", "No incidents deducted, where CowAgent loses 5 points for them" ], "goodFor": "One person who wants a hosted assistant with its own Linux machine, reachable by text message and chat apps, and who accepts that the assistant acts on connected accounts without a documented approval step.", "slug": "zo-computer", "watchFor": "The access token for the API and MCP endpoint grants full access to the workspace, with no scoped or read-only token documented" } ], "job": { "capability": "assistant.proactive", "name": "Assistant proactive" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.json", "title": "AstrBot vs CowAgent", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "AstrBot vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gaia.json", "title": "CowAgent vs GAIA", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gaia" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gemini-spark.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Gemini Spark", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gemini-spark" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-grok-bot.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Grok Bot", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-grok-bot" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-haven.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Haven", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-haven" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hermes-agent.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Hermes Agent", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hermes-agent" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-instinct.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Instinct", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-instinct" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-ironclaw.json", "title": "CowAgent vs IronClaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-ironclaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-leon.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Leon", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-leon" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lindy.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Lindy", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lindy" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanobot.json", "title": "CowAgent vs nanobot", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanobot" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanoclaw.json", "title": "CowAgent vs NanoClaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanoclaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openai-dots.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Dots", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openai-dots" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openclaw.json", "title": "CowAgent vs OpenClaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openclaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-picoclaw.json", "title": "CowAgent vs PicoClaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-picoclaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-poke.json", "title": "CowAgent vs Poke", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-poke" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-qwenpaw.json", "title": "CowAgent vs QwenPaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-qwenpaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zeroclaw.json", "title": "CowAgent vs ZeroClaw", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zeroclaw" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "GAIA vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Gemini Spark vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Grok Bot vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Haven vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Hermes Agent vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Instinct vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "IronClaw vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Leon vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Lindy vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "nanobot vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "NanoClaw vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Dots vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "OpenClaw vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/picoclaw-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "PicoClaw vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/picoclaw-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/poke-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "Poke vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/poke-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwenpaw-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "QwenPaw vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwenpaw-vs-zo-computer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zeroclaw-vs-zo-computer.json", "title": "ZeroClaw vs Zo Computer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zeroclaw-vs-zo-computer" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 69, "cowagent": 84, "edge": "cowagent", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "weight": 16, "zo-computer": 15 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 6, "cowagent": 67, "edge": "zo-computer", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "weight": 13, "zo-computer": 73 }, { "by": 25, "cowagent": 59, "edge": "cowagent", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "weight": 13, "zo-computer": 34 }, { "by": 6, "cowagent": 43, "edge": "cowagent", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "weight": 14, "zo-computer": 37 }, { "by": 20, "cowagent": 60, "edge": "cowagent", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "weight": 10, "zo-computer": 40 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 15, "cowagent": 83, "edge": "cowagent", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "weight": 7, "zo-computer": 68 }, { "by": 15, "cowagent": 45, "edge": "zo-computer", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "weight": 7, "zo-computer": 60 } ], "summary": "CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Zo Computer's 43.1 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Zo Computer leads on schema \u0026 documentation and transparency \u0026 trust. Both do assistant proactive.", "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.", "zo-computer": "Zo publishes an OpenAPI file, Markdown docs, plan prices and a named list of the providers that receive user content. One access token grants full access to the workspace, no approval step before sending or buying was found in the reviewed docs, and no status page, rate limit or SLA is published." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.min.md" }, "markdown": "CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Zo Computer's 43.1 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Zo Computer leads on schema \u0026 documentation and transparency \u0026 trust. Both do assistant proactive.\n\n- CowAgent: grade C, 58.5/100, rank #591 of 986. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/cowagent.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json\n- Zo Computer: grade E, 43.1/100, rank #911 of 986. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zo-computer.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/zo-computer.json\n- Best AI personal assistants that act for one person: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/personal-assistants/index.md\n- All 190 assistants comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/personal-assistants/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### CowAgent (C)\n\nGood 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.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 84 against 15\n- Agent ergonomics, 59 against 34\n- Security \u0026 auth, 43 against 37\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 40\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 83 against 68\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Free to start without a card\n- Open source\n\nWatch 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\n\n### Zo Computer (E)\n\nGood for: One person who wants a hosted assistant with its own Linux machine, reachable by text message and chat apps, and who accepts that the assistant acts on connected accounts without a documented approval step.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 73 against 67\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 60 against 45\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n- No incidents deducted, where CowAgent loses 5 points for them\n\nWatch for: The access token for the API and MCP endpoint grants full access to the workspace, with no scoped or read-only token documented\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | CowAgent | Zo Computer | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 84 | 15 | CowAgent +69 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 67 | 73 | Zo Computer +6 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 59 | 34 | CowAgent +25 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 43 | 37 | CowAgent +6 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 40 | CowAgent +20 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 83 | 68 | CowAgent +15 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 45 | 60 | Zo Computer +15 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -5 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **58.5 · C** | **43.1 · E** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | CowAgent | Zo Computer |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Agent harness | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | zhayujie | Zo Computer Company |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://api.zo.computer/mcp` |\n| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | API key |\n| Pricing | Free | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | MIT | Proprietary service under Zo Computer Company's terms of service |\n| Read-only variant documented | yes | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-09-30 | 2026-09-14 |\n| Terms last updated | no document linked | 2025-08-08 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | no document linked | 2026-05-20 |\n| Customer content may train models | | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | | not found in the text |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | | not found in the text |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | | not found in the text |\n| Popularity | 47k stars | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**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.\n\n**Zo Computer.** Zo publishes an OpenAPI file, Markdown docs, plan prices and a named list of the providers that receive user content. One access token grants full access to the workspace, no approval step before sending or buying was found in the reviewed docs, and no status page, rate limit or SLA is published.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### CowAgent\n\n1. Set `agent_permission_mode` to `workspace-write` or `read-only` before connecting any channel. Source and Docker installs default to `full-access`\n2. Keep the bot out of group chats that include other people. Any member who mentions it reaches the same tools as the owner\n3. Set `web_password` before changing `web_host` to `0.0.0.0`. The password is empty by default\n4. 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\n5. Run it in a container for a hard boundary. The docs and the source both say the permission modes are not isolation\n\n### Zo Computer\n\n1. Send `POST https://api.zo.computer/zo/ask` with `Authorization: Bearer zo_sk_...` and an `input` string. The owner creates the token under Settings \u003e Advanced\n2. Pass `persona_id` for a persona with a narrow tool set. The token itself carries every permission the owner has\n3. Set `memory_mode` to `off` to keep workspace memory out of a request. The field is in the OpenAPI file and absent from the API guide\n4. Do not retry `/zo/ask` blindly after a timeout. No idempotency key is documented and the request may already have sent a message\n5. Append `.md` to any guide or reference URL for Markdown\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, CowAgent or Zo Computer?\n\nCowAgent scores 58.5 (C) on agent readiness against Zo Computer's 43.1 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Zo Computer leads on schema \u0026 documentation and transparency \u0026 trust.\n\n### Can an agent call CowAgent and Zo Computer without installing anything?\n\nNo hosted endpoint is listed for CowAgent. Zo Computer has a hosted endpoint at https://api.zo.computer/mcp.\n\n### Are CowAgent and Zo Computer open source?\n\nCowAgent is open source (MIT). No open-source release is listed for Zo Computer.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"cowagent\", \"b\": \"zo-computer\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare cowagent zo-computer`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/cowagent.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/zo-computer.json\n\n## Other comparisons with CowAgent or Zo Computer\n\n- [AstrBot vs CowAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-cowagent.md)\n- [AstrBot vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [CowAgent vs GAIA](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gaia.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Gemini Spark](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-gemini-spark.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Grok Bot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-grok-bot.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Haven](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-haven.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hermes-agent.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-instinct.md)\n- [CowAgent vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-ironclaw.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-leon.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-lindy.md)\n- [CowAgent vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanobot.md)\n- [CowAgent vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-nanoclaw.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openai-dots.md)\n- [CowAgent vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-openclaw.md)\n- [CowAgent vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-picoclaw.md)\n- [CowAgent vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-poke.md)\n- [CowAgent vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-qwenpaw.md)\n- [CowAgent vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zeroclaw.md)\n- [GAIA vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Gemini Spark vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Grok Bot vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Haven vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Hermes Agent vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Instinct vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [IronClaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Leon vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Lindy vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [nanobot vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [NanoClaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Dots vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [OpenClaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [PicoClaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/picoclaw-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [Poke vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/poke-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [QwenPaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwenpaw-vs-zo-computer.md)\n- [ZeroClaw vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zeroclaw-vs-zo-computer.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-12", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "CowAgent vs Zo Computer", "url": "" } ], "description": "CowAgent scores 58.5 (C) to Zo Computer's 43.1 (E) for assistant proactive. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "CowAgent C 58.5", "Zo Computer E 43.1", "scores" ], "h1": "CowAgent vs Zo Computer", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-cowagent-vs-zo-computer.png", "path": "/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "CowAgent vs Zo Computer for AI agents in 2026: scores and prices", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-12", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-zo-computer" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2750, "slim": 780 }, "version": 1 }