ChatGPT vs Hermes

ChatGPT Agent is a mode inside ChatGPT that can reason, research, and take actions for you.

Instead of only answering questions, it can use tools like the browser, uploaded files, connected apps, and spreadsheets to complete more complex tasks.

When I tested agent mode, I was honestly quite disappointed. When I compare it to something like Viktor where there's absolutely no setup, no prompting, no procedure to write (it just KNOWS what it needs to do), ChatGPT Agent felt like what I used 1-2 years ago with other AI employee tools.

The result? I haven't continued to use it after the first day.

That said, if you're already paying for ChatGPT Plus or Pro, it doesn't hurt to experiment. You can build something useful for a narrow, repetitive task.

But if you're looking for an AI agent that actually joins your team, takes proactive action, and doesn't need you to hold its hand? You'll want something purpose-built for that.

• Chat interface makes it easy to use
• Agent templates give you a starting point without building from scratch
• If you're already paying for ChatGPT, agents are included, no extra cost to experiment

• Not proactive. You always have to go to it and prompt it, which defeats the purpose of an "agent"
• Setup is clunky: you have to write SOPs, connect apps, configure everything manually
• Everything lives inside a chat interface, which limits how agents can interact with your actual workflow
• The whole experience felt like where the AI agent space was a year or two ago — not the future

ChatGPT now lets you create agents by chatting with it. You describe the role, connect apps (Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Linear, and more), upload reference files, and define how the agent should behave.

It's essentially giving ChatGPT a job description and standard operating procedure.

While you have templates as a starting point, we found the actual outcomes a lackluster and did not end up incorporating it into our workflow.

Codex is where things get more interesting from an agent perspective, specifically for engineering teams. It can work through coding tasks autonomously and return pull requests.

But it's built entirely to code. It's not going to help your marketing team draft content, give your CEO a cross-department report, or manage follow-ups across your business.

• Free: $0. Limited access to GPT-5.5, no agent mode. Fine for trying ChatGPT as a chatbot, but you won't get agent capabilities here.
• Plus: $20/mo. Includes agent mode, Deep Research (10/mo), Codex, and Sora. This is where most people should start if they want to experiment with ChatGPT agents. The 40-message agent limit can feel restrictive if you're a heavy user.
• Pro: $100/mo or $200/mo. Higher usage limits (5x or 20x Plus), GPT-5.5 Pro, and up to 1M-token context at the $200 tier. Worth it if you're hitting Plus limits daily, but that's a steep price for agent capabilities that still require manual setup.
• Business: $20–$25/seat/mo. Team workspace with admin controls, SSO, and no training on your data. Agent mode included. Makes sense for teams already using ChatGPT who want to standardize across the company.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, 150-seat minimum. Full governance, HIPAA, audit logs. If you're at this scale, you're likely evaluating dedicated AI agent platforms alongside ChatGPT anyway.

Hermes is an open-source AI agent that you host yourself. You install the software, connect an AI model and your chat apps, and configure it to perform tasks for you. Hermes is NOT FOR YOU if you are not technical. Do not buy into the propaganda that using Hermes is "cheaper" because the software is free. You need to pay for hosting, model usage, not to mention your time to maintain it and ensure it has proper secure guardrails in place.

Hermes is best for technical users who enjoy self-hosting and experimenting with open-source software. But if you're a business looking for an AI employee, you should not choose Hermes.

Our team employs two full-time engineers who could set up and manage Hermes, but it still wouldn't be a good use of their time.

• Free and open source
• Gives you control over the software and configuration
• Can run on your own hardware or server
• Works with chat apps such as Slack, Telegram, Discord, and WhatsApp
• Highly customizable for technical users

• Complicated to install and configure
• Requires ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting
• Makes you responsible for security and reliability
• Sessions may stall, freeze, or need to be reset
• Server and AI model costs can add up
• Not practical for most nontechnical users or busy teams

Hermes is free, open source, and runs on your own hardware or server. This gives you more control over the software, data, and configuration than you would get from a managed AI assistant.

Sounds good right? Well be prepared to handle the setup, updates, security, reliability, and maintenance yourself. If you have no idea what this all means, skip Hermes.

Hermes can communicate through apps such as Slack, Telegram, Discord, and WhatsApp. This allows you to interact with it inside the tools you already use instead of opening a separate AI app.

However, it isn't as comprehensive out of the box as a managed AI teammate. Most AI agents have already built thousands of integrations with third party apps so you're behind if you're using Hermes.

• Hermes software: Free and open source.
• AI model usage: Varies depending on the model and provider you connect.
• Hosting: Varies depending on whether you use your own hardware or rent a server.
• Setup and maintenance: The largest hidden cost, especially if you need an engineer or consultant to manage it.