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OpenMausBot Review: Is This Open-Source Grok Bot Local AI?

·9 min readBy · Founder of PromptQuorum · Discovery engine for open-weight & open-source AI

OpenMausBot is a free, Apache 2.0 desktop chat app for a team of AI bots, and it is not a local AI by default: its bots run on the Claude, Codex or Grok command-line agents you have installed, which are cloud models. The project's source and docs show that local models can be connected through Ollama, LM Studio and other OpenAI-compatible servers, which PromptQuorum did not test.

Key Takeaways

  • Local or not: the app and its data folder are local; the default agents are not, and local models are an optional connection.
  • License and maker: Apache 2.0, published by Supamaus Software Private Limited, a company incorporated in India; an enterprise folder has its own source-available licence.
  • Cost: the app is free, model usage is billed by your own provider, and optional Cloud plans start at $15 per month.
  • Maintenance: version 0.1.155 was released on 13 November 2026, so the project is actively updated, but it is a young 0.1.x line created in August 2026.
  • Caveats: unsigned Windows installer, Ubuntu in beta, and no local-model test by PromptQuorum.

📍 In One Sentence

OpenMausBot is an open-source chat app that manages a team of AI agents on your computer, using cloud agents by default and local models only if you connect them.

💬 In Plain Terms

Think of a messaging app where every contact is an AI worker: the app is yours and open, but the brain behind each contact is whichever model you plug in.

Read in:
🇺🇸en🇩🇪de🇫🇷fr🇯🇵ja🇨🇳zh🇪🇸es🇧🇷pt🇸🇦ar🇰🇷ko

OpenMausBot (also called MausBot, formerly OpenGrokBot) is a free, open-source desktop chat app in which every contact is an AI agent. It is not a local AI by itself: it drives the Claude, Codex and Grok command-line agents you already have, and those are cloud models. Its source code and documentation show that local models can be connected as well, through Ollama, LM Studio or any OpenAI-compatible address. This review answers that question first, then covers installation, price, privacy and alternatives, using the project's own repository and website. PromptQuorum did not install the app or run a local model through it.

OpenMausBot Review: Is This Open-Source Grok Bot Local AI?

Get OpenMausBot

OpenMausBot installs like any desktop app, so no terminal is needed. The releases page and the official site offer the same installers, and the harness server is embedded in them.

Platform
Get It
Mac (Apple silicon)OpenMausBot.dmg — signed and notarized, per the README
Mac (Intel)OpenMausBot-intel.dmg
Windows (x64)OpenMausBot-setup.exe — not code-signed yet; SmartScreen shows "unknown publisher"
Ubuntu 24.04 (x64, beta)OpenMausBot-amd64.deb or AppImage
Terminal or servernpx openmausbot (Node 24+) — see the README for serve options
Websitemausbot.com (openmausbot.com redirects there)
Privacy policyMausBot privacy policy
Source codegithub.com/milind-soni/OpenMausBot — Apache 2.0

Android and iOS companion apps are described as remote controls for a running desktop or server and are shared through the project's Discord, not through the app stores. You also need at least one agent CLI installed and signed in (Claude, Codex or Grok), or a connected model server.

OpenMausBot at a Glance

Attribute
OpenMausBot
PlatformmacOS, Windows x64, Ubuntu 24.04 x64 (beta)
PriceFree app; optional Cloud $15, $49 or $99 per month
LicenseApache 2.0 (enterprise folder separate)
RunsApp and data on your computer; models via agent CLIs or connected servers
Local modelsPossible through Ollama, LM Studio and OpenAI-compatible servers; untested by PromptQuorum
Own model includedNo
Approval promptsYes, for shell commands, file edits and questions
MCP server and CLIBoth listed in the README

Attributes come from the README, the docs and the website as read on 14 November 2026. A missing statement means unknown, not unsupported.

What OpenMausBot Is

OpenMausBot is a chat app where each bot is a real agent with its own personality, model, computer and connected apps. The README describes it as an independent, open-source project inspired by xAI's Grok Bot, formerly named OpenGrokBot and also called MausBot, and says it is not affiliated with xAI, Meta, OpenAI or Manus.

It is published by Supamaus Software Private Limited, which the terms page calls a company incorporated in India; the repository belongs to the developer Milind Soni. The repository page on GitHub shows 22,000+ stars. The README also states that the project has no token and that any coin using its name is unrelated.

Is It Local AI?

The app is local, the default models are not, and local models are an opt-in. Three layers answer the question separately.

App, harness server and data

Where it runs:
On your computer: a small server on 127.0.0.1, with transcripts, keys and events in ~/.openmausbot
Source:
README, "Why" section

Default agents (Claude, Codex, Grok)

Where it runs:
The vendors' cloud models, reached through the CLIs you installed and signed in to; your prompts go to that vendor
Source:
README, "Bring your own agents"

Local models (Ollama, LM Studio, oMLX, EXO, Unsloth)

Where it runs:
On your computer or network, when a server answers on its default local address and you pick its model for a bot
Source:
Repository file server/drivers/local-inject.ts; docs/custom-engines.md

Cloud computers and connected apps

Where it runs:
Optional: a hosted Linux desktop and Composio connections to Gmail, Slack and similar; a Local VM is also offered
Source:
README, "Agents with hands"

The local-model row rests on the repository's source and documentation. PromptQuorum did not run a local model through OpenMausBot, so reply quality, tool use and speed with small models are unknown. The built-in engine for OpenAI-compatible services is, per the docs, labelled "OpenAI-compatible (OpenRouter / Groq)" in the model picker.

The Video

This is a third-party video titled "NEW Open Source Grok Bot is INSANE (FREE!)". It is embedded here because readers asked about OpenMausBot after seeing it. PromptQuorum did not review its claims, and its title is a creator's opinion, not a finding of this review. Use the sections above and the project's own pages for facts.

How to Get Started

Setup is an install, one agent and one bot. The steps follow the README and the download page.

  1. 1
    Install an agent first
    Why it matters: Install and sign in to at least one of the claude, codex or grok CLIs. For a local model, start Ollama or LM Studio instead and pull a model.
  2. 2
    Install OpenMausBot
    Why it matters: Open the .dmg and drag the app to Applications, run the Windows installer (no administrator rights needed), or install the .deb with apt.
  3. 3
    Create a bot and pick its model
    Why it matters: Installed CLIs appear in the model picker automatically; local hosts that answer on their default address are listed under Custom.
  4. 4
    Approve what matters
    Why it matters: Shell commands, file edits and questions arrive as cards in the chat that you allow or deny.

Features

The feature set centres on a roster of agents you manage like contacts. Everything below comes from the README and the docs.

  • A model per bot. Claude and Codex models side by side in one picker, switchable mid-conversation.
  • Approval cards. A permission broker turns risky actions into decisions you make for cloud and local computers alike.
  • Computers for bots. A cloud desktop, an isolated Local VM or, after explicit opt-in, your own computer on macOS and Ubuntu Xorg.
  • Connected apps. Composio gives access to Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Notion and hundreds more after one OAuth sign-in.
  • Channels, teams and routines. Separate channels per context, installable team files, and scheduled or app-event triggers.
  • Voice. Spoken replies and calls through ElevenLabs, Fish Audio, Grok, built-in Mac voices or a local Chatterbox server.
  • Automation. A stdio MCP server for Claude Desktop or Cursor and an openmausbot command for scripts and CI.

Privacy, License and Cost

The privacy policy says the desktop app runs on your machine and your conversations stay there, while the website uses analytics you can switch off. Optional usage analytics in the app are anonymous and can be turned off in settings. Anything you send to a cloud agent, a Cloud computer or a connected app is handled by that service under its own terms.

The app is free under Apache 2.0, with a separate source-available licence for the enterprise folder. Optional MausBot Cloud plans cost $15, $49 or $99 per month and do not include AI usage; your own Claude, ChatGPT or API plan pays for the models. Keys saved by the packaged desktop app are encrypted by the operating system, while the terminal setup stores API keys as plaintext in a private config file, according to the README.

Trade-Offs: Benefits vs. Limitations

Open source, Apache 2.0

What it means in real use:
The code, drivers and docs can be read and changed.
Limitation / caveat:
An enterprise folder has a different licence.

Bring your own agents

What it means in real use:
Uses your existing Claude, Codex or Grok sign-ins without a proxy.
Limitation / caveat:
Those are cloud models, so it is not private by default.

Local model option

What it means in real use:
Ollama, LM Studio and other servers can be picked per bot.
Limitation / caveat:
Untested by PromptQuorum; small models may struggle with tool-heavy agent work.

Approval cards

What it means in real use:
Risky actions wait for your decision.
Limitation / caveat:
Bots with computer access still need careful review of each request.

Fast-moving project

What it means in real use:
Version 0.1.155 shipped on 13 November 2026.
Limitation / caveat:
Very young: created in August 2026, 0.1.x, and Ubuntu is still beta.

Free app

What it means in real use:
No account is needed for the desktop app.
Limitation / caveat:
Model fees are yours; Windows installer is unsigned.

OpenMausBot vs. Alternatives

These are the closest agent-orchestration and personal-agent tools in the directory.

OpenMausBot

Platforms:
Mac, Windows, Linux
Price and license:
Free, Apache 2.0
Role:
Chat-style team of agents
Key difference:
Messaging-app interface over Claude, Codex and Grok CLIs

Multica

Platforms:
Mac, Windows, Linux
Price and license:
Freemium, source-available
Role:
Workspace for assigning coding-agent work
Key difference:
Task board for coding agents, self-hosted

Mission Control

Platforms:
Mac, Windows, Linux
Price and license:
Free, MIT
Role:
Control plane for agent runs
Key difference:
Tracks runs and spend across agent runtimes
Articles about Mission Control (1)

Also mentioned in:

Atomic Bot

Platforms:
Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Price and license:
Freemium, MIT
Role:
Personal AI coworker
Key difference:
Packages the OpenClaw stack; runs locally or in the cloud
Articles about Atomic Bot (2)

Also mentioned in:

Agent Zero

Platforms:
Mac, Windows, Linux
Price and license:
Free, MIT
Role:
Autonomous agent
Key difference:
One autonomous agent, not a roster of bots
Articles about Agent Zero (2)

Also mentioned in:

Platform, price, and feature details for third-party apps change frequently. Verify current specifics on each project's own page before deciding.

Compare in directory

Who Should Use OpenMausBot

  • People who already pay for Claude, Codex or Grok. The app reuses those sign-ins.
  • Users who want several agents in one chat app. Each bot has its own model and role.
  • Tinkerers with Ollama or LM Studio. The documented local hosts make an experiment possible.
  • Teams that want approval prompts. Risky actions wait for a decision.

Who Should Not Use OpenMausBot

  • Anyone who needs everything offline by default. The default agents are cloud models.
  • Anyone who needs a mature tool. It is a 0.1.x project from August 2026.
  • Users who cannot accept an unsigned Windows installer. SmartScreen will warn.
  • Anyone who expects a tested local-model setup. PromptQuorum has not run one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run OpenMausBot completely offline?

Only if every bot uses a local model server on your computer. The default Claude, Codex and Grok agents need the internet, and PromptQuorum did not test an offline setup.

Which local model servers does it recognise?

The source lists oMLX, Ollama, EXO, LM Studio and Unsloth on their default local addresses, and the docs describe a built-in engine for any OpenAI-compatible address.

Is OpenMausBot made by xAI?

No. The README says it is an independent project inspired by Grok Bot, not affiliated with xAI, Meta, OpenAI or Manus.

Is there a crypto token?

No. The README states that the project has no token and that coins using its name are not affiliated with it.

Is the video in this review an official demo?

PromptQuorum could not confirm who made it. It is a third-party video with an enthusiastic title, linked as context and not verified.

Verdict

OpenMausBot is a good fit if you already use Claude, Codex or Grok and want a chat-style team of agents on your own computer with approval prompts and an open licence. It is not a local AI by default, and anyone who wants fully local operation should treat the Ollama and LM Studio route as an experiment.

The caveats are maturity and verification: a project created in August 2026, an unsigned Windows installer, a beta Ubuntu build, and no local-model test here. Try it with one bot before relying on it.

Sources

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