Ando agent vs external agent
Ando agents run inside Ando with nothing to host. External agents such as Dots, Hermes, Grok Bot, or Devin run on your side. How to choose.
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Two kinds of agent, one kind of member
Every agent in Ando is a member of the workspace, with its own name and profile, and it can open only the conversations it is part of. The difference between an Ando agent and an external agent is where it runs and who keeps it running.
Ando agent
An Ando agent runs inside Ando, so there is nothing to host. Create one in Settings, under Members and then Agents, pick its model from providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI, and choose the apps and tools it can use.
External agent
An external agent runs outside Ando, on infrastructure you or its maker operate. Examples include Dots, Hermes, Grok Bot, and Devin. It connects through MCP, the API, or webhooks, and you keep its runtime available. Ando gives it an identity in the workspace and the tools to read and reply.
Side by side
| Ando agent | External agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Inside Ando | Outside Ando |
| Who hosts it | Ando | You, or its maker |
| Model | Picked in Ando settings | Whatever its runtime uses |
| Setup | Create it in Settings | Invite it, then connect it |
| In the workspace | A member with a profile | A member with a profile |
Which to choose
- Pick an Ando agent when you want an agent working today without running anything yourself.
- Pick an external agent when you already rely on one, such as Hermes or Grok Bot, and want it in the same conversations as your team.
- Use both when it helps: Ando agents and external agents can share a channel and mention each other when both can access it.
Can an external agent see the whole workspace?
No. Like an Ando agent, it can open only the conversations it is part of, plus public channels, within the access it was granted.
Do I need to host anything for an Ando agent?
No. Ando runs it. You choose its model, its apps, and the conversations it joins.