How to Use Manus AI: The ChatGPT Alternative?

I started using Manus AI because it feels like ChatGPT on steroids for real web work. It reads websites directly, generates detailed content, and can even scaffold a fully functional landing page with backend wiring.

Below I walk you through how I use it to create slides, build landing pages, and configure site settings so you can move faster and ship real web assets.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Open the Manus AI dashboard and get familiar
• Step 2: Generate presentation slides or social carousels
• Step 3: Review and tweak the generated slides
• Step 4: Build a landing page with Manus AI
• Step 5: Customize settings, add integrations, and publish
• Step 6: Understand credits, scheduling, and pricing tiers
• Smart approaches and best practices
• Quick checklist before you publish
• FAQ
• Final thoughts

Step 1: Open the Manus AI dashboard and get familiar

The dashboard looks familiar if you use ChatGPT, but the key difference is Manus can read live websites and use that content to generate accurate outputs. That capability changes how I approach content creation and site builds: I can ask Manus to analyze a URL and produce assets that match the site’s tone and structure.

Step 2: Generate presentation slides or social carousels

I often start by asking Manus to create slides. Choose the “create slides” option and pick the model you want.

• Prompt example: create a five-page carousel based on this blog post for my website.
• Manus shows what it’s doing step by step, and you can keep chatting with it while it compiles the content.
• Outputs are exportable as PowerPoint, PDF, or Google Slides.

This is great when you need quick social-ready carousels or client-ready presentations without starting from scratch.

Step 3: Review and tweak the generated slides

After Manus finishes, go through each page. It often includes an extra finalization slide, which is useful as a summary or call to action.

Edit headings, swap images, or change the CTA text directly in the generated slides before exporting.

• Use the slide export options to produce deliverables your team or clients can open immediately.
• If something feels generic, prompt Manus for more specificity—give examples, tonal directions, or target audience details.

Step 4: Build a landing page with Manus AI

Switch to the website-building model to scaffold a landing page. Tell Manus who the page is for and what you want it to achieve.

I usually include a target audience and the desired CTA.

• Prompt example: build a landing page targeting dentists who need websites and marketing services. Include a clear call to action to call now.
• Manus may recommend a more powerful model (like 1.6 Max) for heavy tasks, but you can often use the lighter model to iterate first.
• While Manus builds, you’ll see the front-end render and a panel showing backend tasks being configured. It’s building more than just visuals.

When the page is done, replace placeholder phone numbers and CTAs with your real contact details. Keep landing pages simple: a clear hero, benefits or services, a pricing link, and a review section.

Step 5: Customize settings, add integrations, and publish

From the settings area you can:

• Assign a domain and publish the site to hosting.
• Configure email notifications and website notifications.
• Set up payments and SEO settings after publishing.
• Add API keys and push the project to GitHub for collaboration.

Manus can effectively run the site backend while you retain hosting control. You can also embed Google reviews to replace generic testimonial text, which helps conversion.

Step 6: Understand credits, scheduling, and pricing tiers

Manus uses a credit system and offers tiers for different usage levels. Pick a plan based on how many sites or tasks you expect to run.

• $20/month: 300 fresh credits every day (4,000 total per month), professional website output, up to 20 concurrent tasks, scheduled tasks, and early beta access.
• $40/month: 8,000 credits per month, professional websites for changing needs, additional research capabilities, and a 3-day free trial.
• $200/month: 40,000 credits per month, heavy-use research features, and full access to beta releases.

Credits matter when you generate many pages, run deep research, or build multiple landing pages for clients. If you plan to scale, consider starting at the mid or higher tier.

Smart approaches and best practices

• Start small, iterate quickly – use the light model to experiment, then switch to a higher model for production-ready assets.
• Provide clear prompts – audience, tone, and CTAs help Manus generate targeted copy and layouts.
• Always add a pricing page – people want to see basic costs before they call.
• Embed real reviews- link your Google reviews to increase trust rather than relying on generic testimonials.
• Use GitHub integration for collaboration and version control when you hand builds off to developers.

Quick checklist before you publish

1. Replace placeholder phone numbers and email addresses.
2. Add a pricing or service breakdown page.
3. Embed Google reviews or genuine testimonials.
4. Set up tracking, SEO meta tags, and analytics after publishing.
5. Push the repo to GitHub if you need developer collaboration.

FAQ

Final thoughts

Manus AI is a powerful tool when you need to move quickly from idea to working assets. It combines content generation, presentation output, and website scaffolding in one place.

If you focus on clear prompts and practical publishing steps, domain, pricing, and real reviews, you can use Manus to ship landing pages and marketing assets that actually convert.

If you start using it, focus on iterative prompts and export formats that match how your team works: PowerPoint for clients, Google Slides for collaboration, and direct site publishing for fast launches.