# Hermes Agent vs szn > Hermes Agent scores 67.9 (B) to szn's 7.3 (F) for assistants reached by message. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side. - Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-szn - Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-szn.md (~3,400 tokens) - Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-szn.min.md (~580 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts) - JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-szn.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 Hermes Agent scores 67.9 (B) on agent readiness against szn's 7.3 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do assistants reached by message. - Hermes Agent: grade B, 67.9/100, rank #244 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/hermes-agent.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/hermes-agent.json - szn: grade F, 7.3/100, rank #1010 of 1010. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/szn.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/szn.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 ### Hermes Agent (B) Good for: A technical owner who wants one always-on agent across chat apps with memory and scheduled jobs, on their own machine or a small server, with any model. Ahead on: - Reliability, 57 against 5 - Schema & documentation, 80 against 10 - Agent ergonomics, 80 against 0 - Security & auth, 75 against 0 - Payments & pricing, 60 against 20 - Maintenance & community, 84 against 2 - Transparency & trust, 63 against 23 Also in its favour: - No key needed to call it - Free to start without a card - Open source Watch for: The default terminal backend runs commands on the host, and the default `smart` mode lets an auxiliary model approve commands it rates low-risk ### szn (F) Good for: A person who wants calls, emails and bookings done for them and has an access code. Also in its favour: - No incidents deducted, where Hermes Agent loses 3 points for them Watch for: Early access by access code only. ## Score by category | Category | Weight | Hermes Agent | szn | Edge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 57 | 5 | Hermes Agent +52 | | Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 80 | 10 | Hermes Agent +70 | | Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 80 | 0 | Hermes Agent +80 | | Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 75 | 0 | Hermes Agent +75 | | Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 20 | Hermes Agent +40 | | Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run | | Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 84 | 2 | Hermes Agent +82 | | Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 63 | 23 | Hermes Agent +40 | | Negative events | ≤15 | -3 | 0 | | | **Total** | | **67.9 · B** | **7.3 · F** | | ## Facts side by side | Fact | Hermes Agent | szn | | --- | --- | --- | | Kind | Agent harness | Platform | | Vendor | Nous Research | Nomadic Futures | | Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) | | Transports | | | | Auth | None | OAuth or key | | Pricing | Free | Free | | x402 | no | no | | Licence | MIT | Closed service. No terms of service were found on theszn.ai. A privacy policy and an acceptable use policy (both last updated March 2026) apply. | | Read-only variant documented | no | yes | | llms.txt | yes | yes | | Last release | 2026-10-11 | none | | Terms last updated | no document linked | 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 | 253k stars | none | ## Verdicts **Hermes Agent.** Card payments always ask first and are refused in unattended sessions, and the messaging gateway denies every sender until an allowlist is set. Shell commands run on the host by default with a model judging risk, and sending mail through the Google Workspace skill is held back only by an instruction to the model. **szn.** szn is an errand assistant in early access that makes calls, sends emails and books for its owner, free during the preview for people with an access code. No outside agent can call it, no terms of service or legal entity appear in its policies, and its privacy policy says nothing on training. ## Before you call either ### Hermes Agent 1. Set `approvals.mode: manual` before giving it real accounts. The default `smart` lets an auxiliary model approve commands 2. Run the gateway with `terminal.backend: docker` or the project's Docker image when it reads mail, web pages or group chats 3. Set `memory.write_approval: true` and `skills.write_approval: true` to review what it saves about the owner 4. Leave `approvals.cron_mode` and `approvals.unattended_mode` at `deny` for scheduled and webhook runs 5. Set `TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS` or the matching allowlist per channel. Never set `GATEWAY_ALLOW_ALL_USERS=true` ### szn 1. Don't plan to call szn from another agent. It answers only its web app, iMessage, SMS and email for the owner. 2. Tell the owner they need an access code to start, and that the acceptable use policy makes them responsible for confirming actions. ## Questions ### Which is better for AI agents, Hermes Agent or szn? Hermes Agent scores 67.9 (B) on agent readiness against szn's 7.3 (F), and leads in every scored category. ### Are Hermes Agent and szn open source? Hermes Agent is open source (MIT). No open-source release is listed for szn. ## For agents - This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-szn.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-szn.min.md - Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "hermes-agent", "b": "szn"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare hermes-agent szn` - Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/hermes-agent.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/szn.json ## Other comparisons with Hermes Agent or szn - [asaply vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [asaply vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asaply-vs-szn.md) - [Asmi vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Asmi vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/asmi-vs-szn.md) - [AstrBot vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-szn.md) - [Boba vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Boba vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boba-vs-szn.md) - [Boski vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-szn.md) - [Brea vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Brea vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/brea-vs-szn.md) - [Caddy vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-szn.md) - [CowAgent vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-szn.md) - [Del vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Del vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/del-vs-szn.md) - [folk vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-szn.md) - [GAIA vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-szn.md) - [Grok Bot vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-szn.md) - [Haven vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-szn.md) - [Hermes Agent vs HireAlpha](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-hirealpha.md) - [Hermes Agent vs OpenInstinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-openinstinct.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Orbits](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-orbits.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Orchid](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-orchid-ai.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-tab-bot.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-zapia.md) - [HireAlpha vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hirealpha-vs-szn.md) - [Instinct vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/instinct-vs-szn.md) - [IronClaw vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ironclaw-vs-szn.md) - [Lindy vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/lindy-vs-szn.md) - [nanobot vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanobot-vs-szn.md) - [NanoClaw vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/nanoclaw-vs-szn.md) - [Dots vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openai-dots-vs-szn.md) - [OpenClaw vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openclaw-vs-szn.md) - [OpenInstinct vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/openinstinct-vs-szn.md) - [Orbits vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orbits-vs-szn.md) - [Orchid vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/orchid-ai-vs-szn.md) - [PicoClaw vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/picoclaw-vs-szn.md) - [Poke vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/poke-vs-szn.md) - [QwenPaw vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/qwenpaw-vs-szn.md) - [szn vs Tab](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-tab-bot.md) - [szn vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-tomo.md) - [szn vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-town.md) - [szn vs Zapia](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-zapia.md) - [szn vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [szn vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-zo-computer.md) - [AstrBot vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/astrbot-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Boski vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/boski-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Caddy vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/caddy-app-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [CowAgent vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cowagent-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [folk vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/folk-nozomio-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [GAIA vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gaia-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Gemini Spark vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Grok Bot vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/grok-bot-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Haven vs Hermes Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/haven-vs-hermes-agent.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Instinct](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-instinct.md) - [Hermes Agent vs IronClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-ironclaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Leon](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-leon.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Lindy](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-lindy.md) - [Hermes Agent vs nanobot](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-nanobot.md) - [Hermes Agent vs NanoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-nanoclaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Dots](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-openai-dots.md) - [Hermes Agent vs OpenClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-openclaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs PicoClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-picoclaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Poke](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-poke.md) - [Hermes Agent vs QwenPaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-qwenpaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Town](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-town.md) - [Hermes Agent vs ZeroClaw](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-zeroclaw.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Zo Computer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-zo-computer.md) - [Gemini Spark vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-spark-vs-szn.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Natura tinyNature](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-natura.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Pally](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-pally.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Tomo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-tomo.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-wajo.md) - [Leon vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/leon-vs-szn.md) - [Natura tinyNature vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/natura-vs-szn.md) - [Pally vs szn](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pally-vs-szn.md) - [szn vs Wajo (Fo)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-wajo.md) - [Hermes Agent vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hermes-agent-vs-talorys.md) - [szn vs Talorys](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/szn-vs-talorys.md) ## Disclosure - szn 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.