Liftoff vs Hermes
Hermes runs on your hardware, when you are there. Liftoff runs in the cloud, always.
Bring your Hermes setup to Liftoff
Import your existing Hermes setup so what you already built keeps running, always on.
npx @liftoffos/cli switch --from hermesRequires a Liftoff account. Your credentials are never imported.
Better in Every Way
Simpler. Faster. More capable, more secure, and more flexible.
| Topic | Hermes | Liftoff |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | An open-source, self-hosted assistant you run on your own hardware | Cloud-hosted AI teams that share context, hand off, and run business functions |
| Who it serves | Whoever installed it, on their own hardware | Anyone, from one person to a whole company |
| Setup | Technical: install, bring your own API keys, and configure the assistant yourself | Zero setup. Pre-built AI teams, or new ones in plain language |
| Collaboration | Single user, no shared workspace | People and AI teams can collaborate together in real time on the same workflows with shared context |
| Teamwork | Limited: helpers within one task | Full collaboration between AI teams |
| Throughput | Bounded by the hardware you run it on | Unlimited AI teams running simultaneously, scaling with the work not your attention |
| Bring your own AI | None | Connect the AI tools you already use |
| Memory | Basic memory | Every AI team remembers its own work, and nothing is lost company-wide |
| Self-improvement | Basic | Always learning and self-improving 24/7 |
| Identity | Runs as you on your own hardware | Every AI team has its own identity and its own access, scoped to its own job |
| Governance | Minimal, you are the only safeguard | Guardrails for access and what requires approval for AI teams, access controls, audit logs, and undo capability |
| Integrations | Messaging channels and any MCP server | Connects with everything: apps and services, any MCP server, and a browser for apps with neither |
| How it runs | Your own hardware. Security and maintenance are all yours | Liftoff cloud, always on. Enterprise-grade security, isolated per customer, and nothing to keep alive |
| Pricing | You pay for your own hardware and ongoing AI provider costs | From $20/month, unlimited AI teams and people in the same workspace |
Built to Operate Inside Real Companies
Liftoff gives your agents speed and autonomy without giving up oversight, boundaries, or accountability.
Clear Operating Boundaries
Decide what the system can do on its own, what requires approval, and what should escalate.
Human Review Where It Matters
Sensitive cases, exceptions, and low-confidence situations route to your team with context.
Full Operational Visibility
See what is moving, what is blocked, and where intervention is needed.
Continuous Improvement
AI teams learn from the work they do and your feedback.