What Is Manus AI And What Caused Its Overnight Popularity?

In China’s fast-growing AI landscape, a new name has captured significant attention: Manus AI. This AI chatbot has rapidly gained popularity on platforms like RedNote (小红书), with many users dubbing it “the next DeepSeek.” But what is Manus AI, and what has contributed to its swift viral success?

Understanding Manus AI

Manus AI is a large language model (LLM) chatbot developed in China that assists users in writing, learning, problem-solving, and coding. The chatbot is accessible in both English and Chinese, providing interactive conversations that echo the style of ChatGPT but with a tone that’s more locally relevant, catering especially to younger audiences.

Some of the key features of Manus AI include:

Writing essays and summarizing texts
Providing homework and exam assistance
Offering programming help
Coaching for interviews and resumes
Generating ideas for creators

The entire experience is streamlined with a minimalist design, making it quick to use and available for free without the need for account registration or a VPN.

Manus AI

Why Has Manus AI Gone Viral?

The surge in Manus AI’s popularity began on RedNote, a platform favored by Gen Z for lifestyle and trend sharing. Users, especially students and creators, began posting screenshots highlighting the chatbot’s clever responses and practical functionalities.

Three main factors contributed to its overnight success:

1. Tailored for Chinese Users

Unlike many global AI tools, Manus AI is closely aligned with Mandarin-speaking users, providing culturally relevant and nuanced responses.

2. Easy Access

With no signup, no subscriptions, and no VPN required, trying Manus AI is a breeze. This frictionless access encourages sharing among users.

3. Momentum on RedNote

The engagement from Gen Z users on this platform created organic buzz and led to a flood of content showcasing Manus AI’s features.

The Vision Behind Manus AI: Its CEO

Manus AI was founded by a young Chinese entrepreneur born in the 1990s, whose name is not yet widely known. This CEO has a background with leading Chinese tech companies, giving them insight into what digital-native users desire in user-friendly and effective tools.

Designed with a youthful tone and a straightforward interface, Manus AI resonates with users looking for practical everyday applications, similar to popular tools like Notion and Figma.

Comparing Manus AI, DeepSeek, and ChatGPT

Feature	Manus AI	DeepSeek	ChatGPT
Chinese Language Optimization	Excellent, with culturally relevant outputs	Strong, academically focused	Decent, mainly Western-centric
VPN Requirement	None	None	Required in China
User Interface	Fast, minimalistic, user-friendly	Complex interface	Clean, but heavier
Content Tone	Youthful and friendly, appealing to younger users	Formal and academic	Neutral tone
Free Access	Limited free tier, premium options available	Limited free access	Paid access for GPT-4
Primary Users	Students, creators, Gen Z	Professionals and researchers	General audience

✅ Highlight: Manus AI is often described as the “轻便版的DeepSeek” — a user-friendly alternative with easier access and an engaging tone.

Monetization Strategy for Manus AI

As of March 31, 2025, Manus AI launched two subscription options:

Basic Plan: $39/month, includes 3,900 credits for two simultaneous tasks.
Pro Plan: $199/month, offers 19,900 credits and allows five simultaneous tasks, with priority access during peak times.

Additionally, users can purchase top-up packs for extra credits.

pricing

Other Monetization Avenues:

API Access for Developers: Integration possibilities with SaaS, educational platforms, or productivity tools.
Partnerships: Potential collaborations with educational institutions, publishers, and training centers.
Data-Driven Enhancements: Likely utilizes anonymized user data to improve task execution and model efficiency.

Ensuring accessibility while introducing premium features will be crucial for Manus AI’s sustained growth.

Tracking Manus AI’s Progress with FoxData

FoxData is monitoring Manus AI’s rapid expansion. With FoxData’s App Intelligence, users can:

🔍 Track Trending Keywords:

Manus AI ranks highly for keywords like “manus” and “manus ai.” It has over 214,744 keywords, including 10,125 unique terms, surpassing its competitors in numerous keyword categories.

keywords- foxdata