# anything-llm vs Hermes Agent
_Autonomous Agents · independent comparison_

> anything-llm and Hermes Agent are both open-source autonomous agents you can self-host for free. Hermes Agent has wider GitHub adoption — 248k stars vs 66k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**anything-llm**
- Open source · Platform · 66k★ · JavaScript · MIT · active today
- Best for: A private, all-in-one AI workspace with RAG and agents you can run locally.
- Avoid if: You need a multi-tenant SaaS with enterprise SLAs.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/anything-llm) · [official](https://anythingllm.com)

**Hermes Agent**
- Open source · Agent · 248k★ · Python · MIT · active today
- Best for: People who want a persistent personal agent on their own server that improves the more it is used.
- Avoid if: You want a sandboxed assistant; it runs shell commands on the machine it is installed on.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/hermes-agent) · [official](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com)

## Key differences

- Hermes Agent has wider GitHub adoption — 248k stars vs 66k.
- anything-llm is written primarily in JavaScript; Hermes Agent in Python.

## Which to choose

**Choose anything-llm if:** A private, all-in-one AI workspace with RAG and agents you can run locally.

**Choose Hermes Agent if:** People who want a persistent personal agent on their own server that improves the more it is used.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between anything-llm and Hermes Agent?**
Hermes Agent has wider GitHub adoption — 248k stars vs 66k.

**Is anything-llm or Hermes Agent better?**
Neither is universally better. anything-llm is the stronger fit for A private, all-in-one AI workspace with RAG and agents you can run locally; Hermes Agent for People who want a persistent personal agent on their own server that improves the more it is used. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is anything-llm or Hermes Agent free?**
anything-llm is free to run and self-host; Hermes Agent is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.

**Which is more popular, anything-llm or Hermes Agent?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — Hermes Agent is ahead (248k vs 66k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

---
Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/anything-llm-vs-hermes-agent