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Comparison

Henchman vs OpenAI dots

OpenAI's dots are always-on agents in ChatGPT, each with its own computer in the cloud. Henchman is a free Mac app with a crew of characters, and the thinking happens on your Mac.

Coming soon for MacFree for Apple silicon Macs · macOS 15 or later

At a glance

Henchman and OpenAI dots side by side
HenchmanOpenAI dots
What it isA Mac app with a crew of AI helpers you can chat with or textAlways-on agents in ChatGPT that keep work moving between conversations
Where the thinking happensOn your Mac, with open models you add, like Granite or QwenIn OpenAI's cloud, on GPT-6 Astra, with its own computer and browser
Where you reach itThe Henchman app, plus Telegram, Discord and Slack direct messagesChatGPT, Slack and Microsoft Teams; texting is coming soon
When it worksWhile your Mac is awake and Henchman is runningAround the clock, even when your own computer is shut down
Apps it can useFiles in folders you allow, Calendar, Reminders, Google Calendar and GmailMore than 4,000 apps through plugins, plus your computer if you connect it
ControlA permission level for each henchman, pause all, and a change logBuilt-in reviews before sensitive actions, plus custom rules to allow, ask or block
PriceFree, no accountIncluded with paid ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium plans; Pro access excludes the EEA, UK and Switzerland

Choose Henchman if

  • You'd rather your prompts, memory and files didn't go to a model company.
  • You want a free assistant without a subscription or an account.
  • You want a crew with names and personalities, with answers shown as cards.

Choose OpenAI dots if

  • You want OpenAI's strongest models working on long, hard jobs.
  • You want an agent that keeps going in the cloud when your computer is off.
  • You work in Slack or Teams with a team, or you already pay for ChatGPT Pro.

OpenAI launched dots at its developer day in September 2026. They’re the most ambitious take yet on the always-on assistant, and they work very differently from Henchman.

Dots live in OpenAI’s cloud

Each dot has its own computer and browser in the cloud, runs on OpenAI’s newest model, and keeps working while you’re away. It can use thousands of apps through plugins, learns your preferences, and you can reach it from ChatGPT, Slack or Teams. Sensitive steps go through OpenAI’s reviews, and you can add your own rules. Dots come with paid ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium plans.

Henchman lives on your Mac

Henchman is a free Mac app. The thinking happens on your Mac with open models you add, so your prompts, memory and files don’t go to a model company. You hire a crew of henchmen with names and personalities, choose how much each one can do, and text them from Telegram, Discord or Slack direct messages while your Mac is awake.

Which one fits

If you want the most capable agent available and are happy for it to work in OpenAI’s cloud, dots are hard to match. If you’d rather keep the thinking at home and pay nothing, Henchman is the private option.

Sources

Details about OpenAI dots were last checked on . Products change; check their site for the latest.

Questions

Is Henchman as smart as a dot?

No. Dots run on OpenAI's frontier model in the cloud, and the open models that fit on a Mac are smaller. Henchman trades some of that power for keeping the thinking on your Mac.

Do I need ChatGPT to use Henchman?

No. Henchman doesn't use ChatGPT or any cloud model, and it doesn't need an account. You add open models to your Mac and the crew uses those.

Can I text a dot from my phone?

You can message it in the ChatGPT app, Slack or Teams. OpenAI says texting is coming soon.

Private by design

Most AI assistants send every message to a company's servers. Henchman's crew does its thinking on your Mac, so your questions, memories and files stay with you.

Read more

Text from your phone

Your crew lives on your Mac, but you don't have to be sitting at it. Send a direct message from Telegram, Discord or Slack and the right henchman picks it up.

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Permissions and control

Some jobs you want done without a fuss. Others you want to sign off. Henchman lets you set that per henchman, and shows you everything they did.

Read more

Henchman vs OpenClaw

OpenClaw is a popular self-hosted gateway that connects AI agents to almost every chat app. Henchman is a Mac app with a crew of characters and thinking done on your Mac.

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Henchman vs Hermes Agent

Hermes Agent from Nous Research is a capable, highly configurable agent that learns skills and reaches almost any chat app. Henchman is a Mac app with a crew of characters and thinking done on your Mac.

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Henchman vs Meta Muse

Muse is Meta's personal AI agent app. It does tasks for you from its own computer in the cloud. Henchman is a free Mac app with a crew of characters, and the thinking happens on your Mac.

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Henchman is almost here

Free for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 15 or later. Coming soon.

Coming soon for Mac