Unofficial guide · Updated October 1, 2026
OpenAI dots alternatives: 8 options if you can’t get it (or don’t want to pay)
Dots needs ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium, and Pro excludes the UK, the EEA and Switzerland. If that rules you out, these are the alternatives worth knowing about as of September 2026, from free and self-hosted to enterprise.
By the Dots Playbook editors · Checked against 12 sources on October 1, 2026 · 7 min read
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The short answer
- In the UK/EU: ChatGPT Business Premium (dots itself) or self-hosted OpenClaw.
- Free: Meta Muse’s free tier (US only) or OpenClaw (you pay for the model).
- Already in an ecosystem: Gemini Spark for Google, Grok Bot for xAI and Cursor, Copilot Autopilot for Microsoft 365.
- Scheduled, not always-on: Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work cover recurring tasks.
Key facts
- Launched
- Sep 29, 2026
- Model
- GPT-6 Astra
- Included in
- Pro, Business Premium
- Create on
- Desktop only
- Minimum age
- 18
Quick comparison
| Option | Type | Price | UK / EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Business Premium | Dots itself, via a work plan | $100–125 per seat/month, min. 2 seats | Yes |
| Meta Muse | Always-on, cloud, consumer | Free tier + paid plans | No (US only) |
| OpenClaw | Always-on, self-hosted, open source | Free + model/hardware costs | Yes |
| Gemini Spark | 24/7 background agent in Google apps | Google AI Pro or Ultra | No |
| Grok Bot | Always-on agents with their own computer (beta) | SuperGrok or Cursor plans | Not stated |
| Claude Cowork | Scheduled and recurring tasks | Paid Claude plans | Check availability |
| Copilot Autopilot | Always-on, Microsoft 365, enterprise | Private preview | Enterprise only |
| Manus | Task-based cloud agent | Check current plans | Check availability |
ChatGPT Business Premium
- Type
- Dots itself, via a work plan
- Price
- $100–125 per seat/month, min. 2 seats
- UK / EU
- Yes
Meta Muse
- Type
- Always-on, cloud, consumer
- Price
- Free tier + paid plans
- UK / EU
- No (US only)
OpenClaw
- Type
- Always-on, self-hosted, open source
- Price
- Free + model/hardware costs
- UK / EU
- Yes
Gemini Spark
- Type
- 24/7 background agent in Google apps
- Price
- Google AI Pro or Ultra
- UK / EU
- No
Grok Bot
- Type
- Always-on agents with their own computer (beta)
- Price
- SuperGrok or Cursor plans
- UK / EU
- Not stated
Claude Cowork
- Type
- Scheduled and recurring tasks
- Price
- Paid Claude plans
- UK / EU
- Check availability
Copilot Autopilot
- Type
- Always-on, Microsoft 365, enterprise
- Price
- Private preview
- UK / EU
- Enterprise only
Manus
- Type
- Task-based cloud agent
- Price
- Check current plans
- UK / EU
- Check availability
Source: OpenAI Help Center, “ChatGPT Business - Overview”; Meta, “Introducing Muse: The World’s First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyone”; Gemini Apps Help, “Use Gemini Spark to manage your tasks & workflows in Gemini Apps”; xAI, “Introducing Grok Bot”. Verified September 30, 2026.
1. ChatGPT Business Premium: dots itself, even in Europe
If the problem is your region rather than your budget, this is the official route. Business Premium users get dots in all supported ChatGPT regions (OpenAI Help Center). A Premium seat costs $125 per user per month, or $100 billed annually, and a Business workspace needs at least two seats (OpenAI Help Center).
2. Meta Muse: the closest consumer rival
Muse is Meta’s personal agent, launched on September 8, 2026. It runs on its own secure cloud computer, keeps working after you close the app, and you talk to it in the Muse app or WhatsApp (Meta). Meta says it’s free for most tasks, with paid plans reported at $20 and $100 a month (GuruFocus via Yahoo Finance). The catch: it’s US-only for now. Full comparison: dots vs Muse.
3. OpenClaw: free and self-hosted
OpenClaw is a free, open-source agent that runs on your own Mac, Linux or Windows machine and takes instructions over 20+ messaging apps, with whichever AI model you connect (GitHub (OpenClaw Foundation)). It works anywhere, but you’re responsible for setup and security. Full comparison: dots vs OpenClaw. Want to stay open source but safer? See our OpenClaw alternatives.
4. Google Gemini Spark: for Google Workspace users
Gemini Spark works in the background 24/7, even when your devices are off, across Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets and Slides. It needs Google AI Pro or Ultra and a personal Google Account, and Google says it isn’t available in the EEA, Nigeria, Switzerland or the UK for now (Gemini Apps Help). Full comparison: dots vs Gemini Spark.
5. xAI Grok Bot: always-on agents in beta
Grok Bot gives you always-on agents with their own cloud computer that sign into your tools and work 24/7. It’s in beta for SuperGrok, SuperGrok Plus and SuperGrok Heavy subscribers, and for Cursor Pro, Pro+, Ultra and Teams plans, on desktop and iOS. Its usage is separate from your Grok or Cursor plan (xAI).
6. Claude Cowork scheduled tasks: recurring, not always-on
Anthropic’s Claude Cowork can run scheduled and recurring tasks for you (Claude Help Center). It’s closer to scheduled automation than to an always-on agent with proactive research, but it covers many of the same “every Monday, check X and report back” jobs.
7. Microsoft Copilot Autopilot: for Microsoft 365 organisations
Microsoft announced Autopilot, an always-on agent mode for Copilot inside Microsoft 365, on September 25, 2026, starting as a private preview for enterprises (Microsoft). Not an option for individuals yet.
8. Manus: task-based cloud agent
Manus runs longer tasks in its own cloud environment and hands back finished results (Wikipedia). It’s task-based rather than always-on, so it’s a better fit for one-off projects than for ongoing responsibilities. Check its site for current plans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to OpenAI dots?
In the US, Meta Muse has a free tier. Anywhere, OpenClaw is free, open-source software, though you pay for the AI model and hardware it runs on.
What can I use instead of dots in the UK or EU?
A ChatGPT Business Premium seat gets you dots itself in all supported regions. Otherwise, self-hosted OpenClaw works anywhere. Meta Muse is US-only, and Gemini Spark isn’t available in the EEA, Switzerland or the UK.
Is there an always-on agent for ChatGPT Plus users?
Not from OpenAI: dots is a Pro feature. Plus includes ChatGPT Work and scheduled tasks for task-based work. Other companies’ always-on agents, such as Muse, Grok Bot or Gemini Spark, have their own subscriptions.
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center: ChatGPT Business - Overview (official, published September 30, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- OpenAI Help Center: Getting started with your dot (official, published September 29, 2026, checked October 1, 2026)
- Meta: Introducing Muse: The World’s First Personal AI Agent Built for Everyone (official, published September 8, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- GuruFocus via Yahoo Finance: Meta’s Muse arrives with three pricing tiers (media report, published September 9, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- GitHub (OpenClaw Foundation): openclaw/openclaw (official, published September 30, 2026, checked October 1, 2026)
- Google: Gemini Spark (official, published September 30, 2026, checked October 1, 2026)
- Gemini Apps Help: Use Gemini Spark to manage your tasks & workflows in Gemini Apps (official, published October 1, 2026, checked October 1, 2026)
- xAI: Introducing Grok Bot (official, published August 11, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- Claude Help Center: Schedule recurring tasks in Claude Cowork (official, published September 30, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- Microsoft: Introducing the new Copilot with Home, Code and Autopilot (official, published September 25, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Manus (AI agent) (media report, published September 30, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
- Trending Topics: Dots, Muse and Siri AI: not in Europe (media report, published September 29, 2026, checked September 30, 2026)
Dots is new and changes fast. If something here is out of date, the official pages win.