You hold the keys
Bots sign in through your own accounts, and Murage never needs your passwords handed to a cloud. Memory, files and chats are stored on your computer.
Compare
An Instinct alternative where you keep control
Instinct is a personal assistant you text or call, with a cloud computer. Murage is the alternative where you keep control: your computer, your own accounts, your choice of AI, and a yes from you before anything is sent.
The short answer
Instinct works from a cloud computer you text. Murage works on yours, signs in through your own accounts and asks before anything is sent.
Which should you choose?Murage
- The app is free
- On your computer
- The AI you choose
Who does the work: A Chief of Staff and a team
Instinct
- No price listed
- A cloud computer (reported)
- Text or call
Who does the work: One assistant you text or call
Download Murage
Checked October 2026 (October 9, 2026) against Instinct’s own site, terms and privacy policy (both revised August 26, 2026).
What control looks like in Murage
Everything Murage does for you starts and ends on your computer: the team, its memory, its files. You pick the AI. You see the lessons your team learns and can edit or forget them. And the few actions that reach other people, like sending to someone new, posting publicly or paying, wait for your yes.
At a glance.
Ten things buyers weigh up, including the ones where they’re ahead.
What matters
Murage
Instinct
The app itself is free
You choose which AI company does the work
YesPer bot: Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, a local model and more
Named agents that keep their memory
YesNamed bots, each with its own notebook and managed memory
Asks before acting outside, by default
Not statedIts terms appoint the service as your agent to enter agreements, commitments or transactions on your behalf
SourceMemory stored on your computer
YesMemory, files and chats on your computer
Open source
Reach it from your phone
YesThe web app, plus your Chief in Telegram, Slack, Discord or WhatsApp
Keeps working with your computer off, today
NoMurage Cloud isn’t open yet
Native phone app
ComingiPhone and Android app coming
SOC 2 report
NoNo SOC 2 report
Each of Instinct’s marks links the page it comes from, checked October 9, 2026. “Not stated” means we couldn’t find it on the page named, not that it’s missing.
What a year costs.
The Murage app is
Free
on top of the AI plan or key you already pay for. Your provider still bills its own use.
Instinct
No price listed
Instinct’s site shows a “Text Instinct” button that leads to a login page, and lists no price. Instinct’s service includes its own AI. Murage is free but doesn’t include the AI: add the AI plan or key you bring.
From Instinct’s own membership page, checked October 9, 2026. We don’t quote prices it doesn’t publish.
Where your work lives.
Murage
Your computer
MemoryFilesChats
Instinct
You
Their cloud
MemoryFilesChats
Who does the work.
Murage
Instinct
What Murage adds for an Instinct user.
The brief
“Go through my inbox before I get in. Draft replies in my voice. Send nothing.”
What came back
Twelve emails came in. The team drafted eight replies, set four aside, and left two questions only the owner could answer. Nothing was sent.
Needs from you, in the team’s own report
- Dana Brooks, Acme Studio · RenewalThe prior contract terms
- Jordan Lee, Brightline Design · Pricing for 20 seatsThe per-seat price, and whether we offer a pilot
- Priya S. · Export to PDF?Confirm the exact steps
- Ben C. · Refund requestMoney. Check the billing record first
A yes from you before it goes out
New bots start on Ask. On Full access, a bot stops before messaging anyone new, posting publicly, paying, or deleting outside its folder, unless you have allowed it for that task. Replies in an existing conversation go ahead on Auto and Full access. No limits turns the stop line off. On Hermes and other ACP engines, Ask and the stop line cover only what the engine asks Murage about, which for Hermes is shell commands and file edits.
Lessons you can see, edit and forget
Murage learns from your corrections, and every lesson is open to read, edit and forget.
Your AI, your choice
Pick the engine for each bot: Fuigo, Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, Grok Build, OpenCode, local models or API keys. Bring the AI plan you already pay for.
A team led by a Chief of Staff
Ember, your Chief of Staff, builds the team for each job, with projects that give each piece of work its goal, files, chat and shared memory.
Your own browser
Murage for Chrome (coming) will work in your own signed-in Chrome, in the tabs you share. Today, “Use my Chrome” lets one bot work in your own Chrome on Mac and Linux, inside the experimental built-in browser, so sign-ins and checks stay with you.
Open source, no invite
Read the code (AGPL-3.0), and start today with nothing to apply for.
Where Instinct is ahead.
Fair’s fair. If one of these matters most to you, it may be the better choice today.
- 1
Text or call from any phone
Instinct meets you where you already message, with iMessage reported by the press. Murage has no iMessage; you reach your Chief of Staff in the app, on the web, and in Telegram, Slack, Discord or WhatsApp.
- 2
It works while your computer is off
Instinct runs in the cloud. Murage runs while your computer is on, until Murage Cloud opens.
- 3
Nothing to install to try it
Instinct starts from a text message. Murage is a desktop app you download.
Which should you choose?
Instinct works from a cloud computer you text. Murage works on yours, signs in through your own accounts and asks before anything is sent.
Choose Murage if
- You want your accounts, files and memory to stay under your control, on your computer
- You want a yes from you before messages go out, payments are made or files are deleted
- You want to choose the AI, use the plan you already pay for, and have no invite to wait for
Choose Instinct if
- You want to text an assistant from your phone and have nothing to install
- You want it working while your computer is off, today
- You are comfortable with the terms and settings it publishes
Still deciding? Read how we check that a job is finished, then try one of your own.
Every detail.
Getting in
Price to start
MurageFree. No paid tier
InstinctNo price listed
Invite or waitlist
MurageNone. Download and start
InstinctNot described on its site; private access reported at launch
Age
Murage18 or older, as Murage’s terms say
Instinct18 or older (terms)
Region
MurageWorks wherever your computer is
InstinctNot stated; terms governed by California law
Where it runs
Where agents run
MurageOn your computer
InstinctCloud computer (reported)
Laptop closed
MurageNot today. It runs while your computer is on; Murage Cloud isn’t open yet
InstinctYes (reported)
Open source
MurageYes, AGPL-3.0
InstinctNot stated
Brains
Which AI
MurageThe engine you choose, per bot: Fuigo (built in), Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, Grok Build, Cursor, Google Antigravity, Kimi, Qwen, Droid, OpenCode, Pi, local models (Ollama, LM Studio) and any OpenAI-compatible API (chat only). OpenClaw is coming.
InstinctNot stated
Bring the AI plan you already pay for
MurageYes: Claude Code and Codex sign-ins work, plus API keys and local models
InstinctNot mentioned
Swap the engine per bot
MurageYes; memory and approvals stay put
InstinctNot mentioned
The team
Who runs the work
MurageEmber, your Chief of Staff, builds a team for each job
InstinctOne assistant you text or call
Projects
MurageYes: projects split a job into cards on a board, with a goal, files, chat and shared memory
InstinctNot described
Hands
Apps
Murage1,500+ apps through Flux Router or your own connected-apps key, plus any public API and any MCP, and it builds the connector itself if one doesn’t exist
InstinctConnects apps such as Google Workspace (privacy policy)
Your own signed-in browser
MurageMurage for Chrome (coming) will work in your own signed-in Chrome, in the tabs you share. Today, “Use my Chrome” lets one bot work in your own Chrome on Mac and Linux, inside the experimental built-in browser
InstinctOperates a computer in the cloud (reported)
Phone
MurageiPhone and Android app coming (approvals, questions and calls with your team). Today: the web app on your phone, and your Chief in Telegram, Slack, Discord or WhatsApp
InstinctText or call
Control
Before it acts
MurageNew bots start on Ask. On Full access, a bot stops before messaging anyone new, posting publicly, paying, or deleting outside its folder, unless you have allowed it for that task. Replies in an existing conversation go ahead on Auto and Full access. No limits turns the stop line off. On Claude Code and Codex, the stop line also covers tools from MCP servers you add. On Hermes and other ACP engines, Ask and the stop line cover only what the engine asks Murage about: Hermes asks before shell commands and file edits, but not before MCP or connected-app tools.
InstinctTerms appoint the service as your agent for binding agreements and transactions
Lessons from corrections
MurageStored on your computer; see, edit and forget them
InstinctNot described
Your data
Where memory and files live
MurageOn your computer, open to read and edit
InstinctInstinct’s service; deletion options are in its privacy policy
How it signs in
MurageThrough your own accounts
InstinctGoogle sign-in and connections; may use your usernames and passwords for third-party accounts (privacy policy)
Training
MurageMemory, files and chats stay on your computer; a hosted engine sees what it is given
InstinctMay train unless you opt out in settings, going forward; Vault and Google Workspace data are excluded
Sale of data
MurageMurage has no ads and does not sell data
InstinctStates it does not sell your information
Reach
Platforms
MurageMac, Windows and Ubuntu; Telegram on your phone. iPhone and Android apps coming
InstinctText or call; iMessage and WhatsApp reported
Chat apps
MurageMessage your Chief of Staff on Telegram, Slack, Discord or WhatsApp
InstinctMessaging apps (reported)
Voice
MurageCall any bot in the app and just talk; bots leave voice notes. Send your Chief a voice message in Telegram, Slack or Discord and get a voice reply
InstinctCalls
| Question | Murage | Instinct |
|---|---|---|
| Getting in | ||
| Price to start | Free. No paid tier | No price listed |
| Invite or waitlist | None. Download and start | Not described on its site; private access reported at launch |
| Age | 18 or older, as Murage’s terms say | 18 or older (terms) |
| Region | Works wherever your computer is | Not stated; terms governed by California law |
| Where it runs | ||
| Where agents run | On your computer | Cloud computer (reported) |
| Laptop closed | Not today. It runs while your computer is on; Murage Cloud isn’t open yet | Yes (reported) |
| Open source | Yes, AGPL-3.0 | Not stated |
| Brains | ||
| Which AI | The engine you choose, per bot: Fuigo (built in), Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, Grok Build, Cursor, Google Antigravity, Kimi, Qwen, Droid, OpenCode, Pi, local models (Ollama, LM Studio) and any OpenAI-compatible API (chat only). OpenClaw is coming. | Not stated |
| Bring the AI plan you already pay for | Yes: Claude Code and Codex sign-ins work, plus API keys and local models | Not mentioned |
| Swap the engine per bot | Yes; memory and approvals stay put | Not mentioned |
| The team | ||
| Who runs the work | Ember, your Chief of Staff, builds a team for each job | One assistant you text or call |
| Projects | Yes: projects split a job into cards on a board, with a goal, files, chat and shared memory | Not described |
| Hands | ||
| Apps | 1,500+ apps through Flux Router or your own connected-apps key, plus any public API and any MCP, and it builds the connector itself if one doesn’t exist | Connects apps such as Google Workspace (privacy policy) |
| Your own signed-in browser | Murage for Chrome (coming) will work in your own signed-in Chrome, in the tabs you share. Today, “Use my Chrome” lets one bot work in your own Chrome on Mac and Linux, inside the experimental built-in browser | Operates a computer in the cloud (reported) |
| Phone | iPhone and Android app coming (approvals, questions and calls with your team). Today: the web app on your phone, and your Chief in Telegram, Slack, Discord or WhatsApp | Text or call |
| Control | ||
| Before it acts | New bots start on Ask. On Full access, a bot stops before messaging anyone new, posting publicly, paying, or deleting outside its folder, unless you have allowed it for that task. Replies in an existing conversation go ahead on Auto and Full access. No limits turns the stop line off. On Claude Code and Codex, the stop line also covers tools from MCP servers you add. On Hermes and other ACP engines, Ask and the stop line cover only what the engine asks Murage about: Hermes asks before shell commands and file edits, but not before MCP or connected-app tools. | Terms appoint the service as your agent for binding agreements and transactions |
| Lessons from corrections | Stored on your computer; see, edit and forget them | Not described |
| Your data | ||
| Where memory and files live | On your computer, open to read and edit | Instinct’s service; deletion options are in its privacy policy |
| How it signs in | Through your own accounts | Google sign-in and connections; may use your usernames and passwords for third-party accounts (privacy policy) |
| Training | Memory, files and chats stay on your computer; a hosted engine sees what it is given | May train unless you opt out in settings, going forward; Vault and Google Workspace data are excluded |
| Sale of data | Murage has no ads and does not sell data | States it does not sell your information |
| Reach | ||
| Platforms | Mac, Windows and Ubuntu; Telegram on your phone. iPhone and Android apps coming | Text or call; iMessage and WhatsApp reported |
| Chat apps | Message your Chief of Staff on Telegram, Slack, Discord or WhatsApp | Messaging apps (reported) |
| Voice | Call any bot in the app and just talk; bots leave voice notes. Send your Chief a voice message in Telegram, Slack or Discord and get a voice reply | Calls |
Same job, both ways.
Five real jobs, walked through with Murage and with Instinct.
- 1
Dispute a bill
With Murage
Ember hands it to a bot that drafts the dispute from your files. You approve before it is sent.
With Instinct
You text Instinct, which can operate a phone and computer for you; its terms let it act as your agent.
- 2
Clear your inbox
With Murage
A bot works through your own signed-in mail, drafts replies for your yes and learns from your corrections, which you can edit.
With Instinct
Connects your mail through Google Workspace; its privacy policy lists how to disconnect.
- 3
Order groceries
With Murage
A bot works in your own signed-in browser. Today that is the experimental “Use my Chrome” on Mac and Linux. Payment waits for your yes.
With Instinct
You text it; it orders from a cloud computer.
- 4
Weekly summary for the team
With Murage
A routine on your computer builds it and posts a draft to Slack with your approval.
With Instinct
Not described on its site.
Coming from Instinct: your first day
Start with one job you would have texted Instinct.
- 1
Download Murage. No invite. Mac, Windows or Ubuntu.
- 2
Pick your engine. Use the AI plan you already pay for.
- 3
Tell Ember the job. Ember builds the team and asks before anything is sent.
- 4
Connect your accounts. Sign in through your own accounts. If you want to review what Instinct holds, its privacy policy points to settings where you can delete connected data.
Questions about Murage and Instinct.
What is Instinct?
Instinct is a personal assistant from Spear Street Technology that you text or call. Its site says it can operate a phone and a computer the way people do, for tasks like disputing a bill or ordering groceries.
Do I need an Instinct invite?
Instinct’s site shows a “Text Instinct” button leading to a login page and does not describe an invite process. The press described its access as private at launch (reported, August 2026). Murage needs no invite.
Is Instinct open source?
Its site does not say it is. Murage is open source under AGPL-3.0.
Does Instinct train on my data?
Its terms, revised August 26, 2026, say your materials may be used to improve the services subject to your opt-out, with an opt-out in settings; content you add to its Vault is not used for training. With Murage, memory, files and chats stay on your computer, and a hosted engine sees only what it is given for the work.
Does Instinct need my passwords?
Its privacy notice says the assistant may use your username and password for third-party accounts to sign in for you. Murage bots sign in through your own accounts and never need your passwords handed to a cloud.
Can Instinct act for me without asking?
Its terms appoint the service as your agent to enter agreements, commitments or transactions on your behalf, binding on you. Murage new bots start on Ask, and the few actions that reach other people wait for your yes.
Can I text Murage on iMessage or WhatsApp?
On WhatsApp, yes: Murage 1.0.0 lets you message your Chief of Staff there, next to Telegram, Slack and Discord, in the app and in the web app. iMessage isn’t supported.
Can Murage run when my computer is off?
Not today. Murage Cloud, which will keep your team working with your computer off, is not open yet.
Is Murage made by Instinct?
No. Murage is an independent open-source project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Instinct or Spear Street Technology.
Can my staff use it too?
Yes. Each person runs Murage on their own computer, with their own AI sign-in. Build a team once, export it, and everyone imports the same bots, skills and routines; logins never travel. Bots can post drafts to your team’s Slack channels through connected apps, with your approval. Shared workspaces that run with your computer off will come with Murage Cloud, which isn’t open yet.
Sources, checked October 9, 2026
- Instinct
- Instinct terms of service (revised August 26, 2026)
- Instinct privacy policy (revised August 26, 2026)
- TechCrunch, August 24, 2026 (reported)
Murage is made by Ferrox Labs, a small team. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
“Not stated” means we couldn’t find it in Instinct’s own docs, not that it’s missing.
Instinct is a trademark of its owner. Murage is not affiliated with or endorsed by Spear Street Technology Inc.; the names and logos are used only to identify the products compared.
Get started in four steps
- 1
Download Murage
Free, for Mac, Windows and Ubuntu.
- 2
Pick an engine
Your plan, a key or a local model.
- 3
Meet Ember
Your Chief of Staff, who builds the team.
- 4
Give the first job
Start small and approve what it drafts.
Try Murage free, next to Instinct or instead of it.
Give your first job to Murage.
Download the free app, connect the AI you already pay for, and tell your Chief of Staff what needs doing. Plan on about ten minutes from install to a working team.
No account needed · Runs on the AI plan you already pay for