Getting Started with Manus AI
Your complete guide to mastering Manus AI from first login to successful project delivery
What is Manus AI?
Manus AI is an autonomous AI agent that builds complete projects through natural language conversation. Unlike traditional AI assistants that just provide suggestions, Manus actually executes tasks—writing code, creating designs, analyzing data, and deploying finished products.
Think of Manus as your personal development team: you describe what you want to build, and Manus handles the technical implementation. Whether you need a website, mobile app, presentation, video, or data analysis, Manus delivers production-ready results in minutes instead of weeks.
Quick Start Guide
Visit manus.im and sign up for a free account. You'll start with free credits to explore Manus capabilities.
💡 Pro Tip:
Use the invitation code 0CK2HEB718GS10 when signing up to get bonus credits and support Manus Mate!
Manus offers specialized modes for different project types:
- •Build Website: Create responsive websites and web applications
- •Develop Apps: Build mobile apps and complex software
- •Create Slides: Generate professional presentations
- •Generate Video: Produce AI-generated video content
- •Data Analysis: Analyze datasets and create visualizations
Not sure which mode to choose? Check out our Mode Selection Guide tutorial.
Describe what you want to build in natural language. The more specific you are, the better Manus can help.
❌ Weak Prompt:
"Build me a website"
✅ Strong Prompt:
"Build a modern portfolio website for a freelance graphic designer. Include a hero section with my name and tagline, a project gallery with filtering by category, an about page with my bio and skills, and a contact form. Use a minimalist design with a black/white/gold color scheme."
Want to master prompting? Read our Prompt Engineering Masterclass tutorial.
Manus will build your project and show you a live preview. You can:
- •Test the result: Click through and interact with what Manus built
- •Request changes: "Make the header blue" or "Add a pricing table"
- •Add features: "Add user authentication" or "Integrate Stripe payments"
- •Fix bugs: "The contact form isn't working on mobile"
💡 Pro Tip:
Manus saves checkpoints automatically. You can always roll back to a previous version if you don't like a change.
When you're happy with the result, click the Publish button in the Management UI. Your project goes live instantly with:
- •Free hosting: Your project is hosted on Manus infrastructure
- •Auto-generated domain: Get a .manus.space subdomain instantly
- •Custom domain support: Bind your own domain in Settings → Domains
- •SSL certificates: HTTPS enabled automatically
Learn more in our Domain Setup & SEO tutorial.
Understanding the Manus Interface
The left side of your screen is the conversation panel where you communicate with Manus. This is where you:
- •Describe what you want to build
- •Request changes and improvements
- •Ask questions about your project
- •See Manus's progress updates
The right side panel (click the icon in the chat header to open) contains powerful project management tools:
- •Preview: Live preview of your project with visual editor
- •Code: Browse and download all project files
- •Dashboard: Analytics, visibility controls, and site status
- •Database: CRUD interface for your data
- •Settings: Domains, secrets, notifications, GitHub export
Understanding Credits
Manus uses a credit-based system to manage AI operations. Different actions consume different amounts of credits based on computational complexity.
Credits (AI Operations)
Used for AI thinking, code generation, image creation, and other computational tasks. Pay-per-use consumption model.
Top-ups (Infrastructure)
Used for hosting, database operations, storage, and keeping your projects online. Monthly recurring costs.
Important: You need BOTH credits and top-ups. Having credits but no top-up balance will cause your published projects to go offline. Learn more in our Billing System Tutorial.
Credit Optimization Tips
- •Be specific in prompts: Vague prompts require multiple iterations, wasting credits
- •Plan before building: Know what you want before starting to avoid costly revisions
- •Use Manus Mate first: Browse our prompt templates and get guidance before spending credits
- •Start with MVP: Build a minimal version first, then add features incrementally
Common Beginner Mistakes
Problem: "Build me a website" or "Create an app"
Manus doesn't know what you want, leading to generic results that require many revisions.
✅ Solution:
Include specific details: purpose, target audience, key features, design preferences, and technical requirements.
Problem: Jumping straight to building without defining requirements
Leads to scope creep, wasted credits, and projects that don't meet your needs.
✅ Solution:
Spend 10 minutes outlining: What problem does this solve? Who is it for? What are the must-have features? What's the MVP?
Problem: Using "Build Website" mode for a mobile app or "Create Slides" for a video
Each mode is optimized for specific project types. Wrong mode = poor results.
✅ Solution:
Read the mode descriptions carefully. When in doubt, ask Manus Mate chatbot which mode to use for your project.
Problem: Publishing immediately without testing functionality
Bugs and broken features go live, creating a poor user experience.
✅ Solution:
Click through every page, test all forms and buttons, check mobile responsiveness, and verify all links work before publishing.
Problem: Starting complex projects without checking credit balance
Running out of credits mid-project interrupts your workflow and momentum.
✅ Solution:
Use our Credit Estimator to estimate costs before starting. Top up credits if needed.
Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics, here's how to level up your Manus skills:
If you get stuck or have questions:
- •Ask Manus Mate Chatbot: Get instant answers to common questions at /chatbot
- •Browse Tutorials: Check our tutorial library for detailed guides
- •Watch Videos: See real examples at /videos
- •Contact Support: Submit feedback at help.manus.im