Vellum alternatives
An open-source (MIT) personal AI assistant with its own always-on cloud machine, memory and identity, reachable from web, Mac, iPhone, Android, CLI, Telegram, Slack, email and phone.
Assistant alternatives by use case
Start with Notis
Cloud-based project work
Notis is a personal AI assistant you message from WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack or email, and reach from your own coding agent through its MCP server.
Unlike Vellum, it has no mobile app or support for your own API keys.
Compare the assistants
| Assistant | A good fit for | Pricing | Cloud computer | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vellum | People who want an always-on, self-hostable assistant that runs on their own keys and can drive their Mac. | Free-$200/mo (Base free, Mighty $30, Super $100, Ultra $200; Custom from $50/mo) plus pay-as-you-go credits ($1 = 1 credit) | Yes | Yes |
| Notis | Cloud-based project work | Free–$149/mo | Yes | Yes |
 Atomic Bot | Control over your own setup | Free local install; Cloud $19–$79/month | Yes | No |
 OpenClaw | Research and document work | Free (MIT open source; you pay your own model provider, or reuse a Claude/ChatGPT subscription) | No | Yes |
 ChatGPT | Voice and mobile use | $0-$200/month individual; Business $25-$125/user/month ($20-$100 annual); Enterprise custom | Limited | Yes |
 Manus | Help with ongoing context | $20–$200/mo (Pro tiers, 4,000–40,000 credits); Team from $20/seat/mo; no free plan currently listed | Yes | Yes |
Each alternative in detail
01
Notis: cloud-based project work
Notis is a personal AI assistant you message from WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack or email, and reach from your own coding agent through its MCP server.
- Gives it a cloud computer of its own
- Browses the web for you
- Creates and edits documents
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no mobile app or support for your own API keys.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack, Email
02
Atomic Bot: control over your own setup
A one-click installer and dedicated cloud VPS for running the open-source OpenClaw or Hermes personal AI agent on your Mac, PC or a server of your own.
- Run it on your own server
- Open source
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no voice input or document creation.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, Mobile app, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack
03
OpenClaw: research and document work
A self-hosted, MIT-licensed gateway that connects 29+ chat apps to an AI agent running on your own machine, with shell access, a browser, memory, cron automations and MCP.
- Creates and edits documents
- Browses the web for you
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no cloud computer.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, Mobile app, WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack
04
ChatGPT: voice and mobile use
Combines conversational help, multi-step Work, and Codex across web, mobile, and desktop.
- Its own iPhone or Android app
- Voice messages
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no Telegram.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, Mobile app, Slack
05
Manus: help with ongoing context
A general-purpose AI agent with its own persistent cloud computer that plans and finishes multi-step work — research, slides, sites, data analysis — and reports back through Telegram, WhatsApp Business, Slack, LINE or email.
- Remembers you between conversations
- Reads your existing files and apps
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no support for your own API keys or local MCP connections.
Where you can use it
Web / desktop, Mobile app, Telegram, Slack, Email
Vellum alternatives for workflow automation
Start with OpenClaw
Self-hosting and ownership
A self-hosted, MIT-licensed gateway that connects 29+ chat apps to an AI agent running on your own machine, with shell access, a browser, memory, cron automations and MCP.
Unlike Vellum, it has no workflow templates or managed hosting.
OpenClaw: self-hosting and ownership
A self-hosted, MIT-licensed gateway that connects 29+ chat apps to an AI agent running on your own machine, with shell access, a browser, memory, cron automations and MCP.
Pricing. Free (MIT open source; you pay your own model provider, or reuse a Claude/ChatGPT subscription)
- Self-hosting
- Open source
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no workflow templates or managed hosting.
Duet: AI steps with human review
A persistent, cloud-hosted AI coworker that runs a small business's recurring work on schedules, events, and demand, and builds and hosts the internal apps that work needs.
Pricing. $20–$200/month (7-day free trial, no card required)
- Human approval steps
- AI model steps
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no open source code or self-hosting.
Notis: AI using your own knowledge
Notis is a personal AI assistant you message from WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack or email, and reach from your own coding agent through its MCP server.
Pricing. Free–$149/mo
- Knowledge bases or RAG
- AI model steps
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no approval steps or open source code.
Lindy: AI-led work across apps
A Slack-native AI teammate that runs your inbox, calendar and meetings, and takes on multi-step work across 1,000+ connected apps.
Pricing. $29.99–$199.99/user/mo (Plus/Pro/Max), Enterprise custom
- Build workflows with natural language
- Autonomous agents
- Ready-made app integrations
The trade-off. Unlike Vellum, it has no open source code or self-hosting.
Activepieces: visual workflows with branching
Builds and runs app-connected flows and AI agents in the cloud or on customer-controlled infrastructure. It also has what Vellum lacks: visual builder.
Pricing. $0–$200/mo; annual billing lowers Plus to $16/mo and Team to $166/mo; Ultimate custom; Community Edition free self-hosted
- Visual workflow builder
- Conditional branches
- Email, form, or manual trigger
| Tool | Self-hosting | Open source |
|---|---|---|
| Vellum | Yes | Yes |
| OpenClaw | Yes | Yes |
| Duet | No | No |
| Notis | No | No |
| Lindy | No | No |
| Activepieces | Yes | Yes |
Questions about Vellum alternatives
Which Vellum alternatives suit everyday assistance?
Start with Notis for cloud-based project work. Atomic Bot suits control over your own setup. OpenClaw suits research and document work.
Which Vellum alternatives suit workflow automation?
Start with OpenClaw for self-hosting and ownership. Duet suits AI steps with human review. Notis suits AI using your own knowledge.
How do the prices compare with Vellum?
Vellum: Free-$200/mo (Base free, Mighty $30, Super $100, Ultra $200; Custom from $50/mo) plus pay-as-you-go credits ($1 = 1 credit). Notis: Free–$149/mo. Atomic Bot: Free local install; Cloud $19–$79/month.
Is there a free alternative to Vellum?
Yes. Atomic Bot, OpenClaw and ChatGPT can be used for free. Self-hosting Atomic Bot still costs hosting and model usage.
Prefer an assistant you can message?
Notis takes tasks from WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack and email.
Written by Notis, which makes an AI assistant. No placement on this page is paid.