Where the work runs
Muse
Muse Secure VM: a dedicated virtual machine that holds the agent and your data.
Lobstack
On your computer: Windows, macOS or Linux. Prompts go to the model; the rest stays local.
CompareAlways-on agents
Lobstack and Muse
Muse is a personal agent for everyday errands, reached in its app or WhatsApp, running on Meta’s secure VM and checking with you before sensitive actions. Lobstack runs bots on your computer for work in your repos and tools, and stops before every change.
When it stops for you
Muse
Sensitive actions, such as sending an email or making a purchase.
Lobstack
Every step that changes something, by default: a write, a command, a push or a message, with the exact change in front of you.
With your computer off
Muse
Keeps working after you close the app, and comes back when it needs you.
Lobstack
Nothing runs. Routines run on a schedule only while the app is open.
Where Muse is stronger
What Muse does better.
Free, and where people already are
Muse is free for most use and answers in WhatsApp. Lobstack is a desktop app you download, and heavier use costs money.
Built for life admin
Bookings, forms, purchases and email are what Muse is for, with a browser and an email address of its own. Lobstack is built for work in repos, documents and business tools.
Keeps going with the app closed
Muse works on its own machine and comes back when something changes. Lobstack’s bots stop when your computer does.
A second agent watching the first
Meta runs a separate Sentinel agent beside Muse that must approve anything reaching the internet.
Side by side
9 questions, each answered from its own side’s pages.
| Lobstack | Muse Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A desktop app where AI bots work in your repos, files and tools, and wait for your yes before changing anything. | A personal AI agent for everyone, for errands, plans and goals. |
| Where the work runs | On your computer: Windows, macOS or Linux. Prompts go to the model; the rest stays local. | Muse Secure VM: a dedicated virtual machine that holds the agent and your data. |
| With your computer off | Nothing runs. Routines run on a schedule only while the app is open. | Keeps working after you close the app, and comes back when it needs you. |
| Where you talk to it | In the desktop app, in a thread per job. | The Muse app or WhatsApp, like messaging a person. It also has an email address of its own. |
| Apps it works in | 36 built-in connectors, any MCP server by URL or command, and your own files and repos. | A browser of its own for forms and bookings. For small businesses, tools such as Shopify, Slack and Dropbox. |
| When it stops for you | Every step that changes something, by default: a write, a command, a push or a message, with the exact change in front of you. | Sensitive actions, such as sending an email or making a purchase. |
| Where your data lives | One folder on your disk. Keys in your operating system’s credential store. No telemetry. | On the same VM as the agent. A separate Sentinel agent must approve anything that leaves it. |
| Who can use it today | Anyone, as a free download. A public beta, not code-signed yet. | Rolling out in the US on iOS, Android and the web. |
| Price | Free to download. $5 of credit for 30 days, then $1 a week. Paid plans from $29 a month, or your own provider key. | Free for most use, with subscription plans for more. |
As of 2026-10-01. Plans, prices and regions change; check them before you decide.
Which one
Pick the one that fits the job.
Choose Muse if
- You want help with personal errands: travel, bookings, forms and purchases.
- You would rather message an agent in WhatsApp than install an app.
- It should keep working with your phone and computer off.
Choose Lobstack if
- The work is in your repos, documents and business tools, on your own computer.
- Every change should wait for your yes, not only purchases and emails.
- You want your data on your own disk rather than on a vendor’s VM.
- You are outside the US.
Questions
What people ask.
Muse and Lobstack both ask before acting. What is different?
Muse checks with you before sensitive actions such as sending an email or making a purchase. Lobstack stops before every step that changes something, including file edits, commands and pushes, and shows you the exact change.
Is Lobstack for personal errands like Muse?
Not really. Lobstack’s bots work in your repos, files and business tools from your computer. For bookings and shopping from your phone, Muse is built for that.
Where does my data go?
With Muse, onto Muse Secure VM, which Meta runs and which holds the agent and your data. With Lobstack, into one folder on your disk; prompts go to the model you choose.
Sources
Every page we read.
- about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent
What it is · Where the work runs · With your computer off · Where you talk to it · Apps it works in · When it stops for you · Where your data lives · Who can use it today · Price · read 2026-10-01
“The World’s First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyone”
“Muse runs on Muse Secure VM, a dedicated, virtual machine (VM)”
“Muse keeps working after people close the app”
“in the Muse app or directly in WhatsApp”
“It can open a browser, fill out forms, and negotiate on their behalf.”
“before sensitive actions like sending an email or making a purchase”
“Nothing Muse does reaches the internet unless the Sentinel approves it”
“rolling out in the US on iOS, Android, and muse.ai”
“free for most of what people need”
- about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-small-business
Muse for Small Business and its business tools · read 2026-10-01
- Lobstack’s column
Each line restates a page on this site: /download, /docs/app, /docs/app#routines, /connectors, /docs/app#approval, /pricing.
Try Lobstack on your own computer.
Free for Windows, macOS and Linux, in public beta. Bots work on your machine and wait for your yes before anything changes.