Open source · MIT•Latest release v0.21.5•Checked September 26, 2026

Hermes Agent

Name: Hermes Agent
Author: Nous Research

Hermes Agent is Nous Research's free, open-source AI agent. It runs on your computer or server with the model you choose, remembers you across sessions, writes its own reusable skills, and works from a desktop app, the terminal, a browser, or messaging apps like Telegram.

Independent reference: HermesAgentAI.org is not affiliated with Nous Research. Official site: hermes-agent.nousresearch.com

Install Hermes Agent Source on GitHub

Made by: Nous Research (source on GitHub, MIT license)
Costs: Free software; you pay for models, optional tools, and optional hosting
Runs on: macOS (Apple Silicon), Windows 10/11, Linux, WSL2, Docker; Android/Termux support is currently broken
Models: Nous Portal, subscriptions like ChatGPT or Claude Max, API keys, or local models
Needs a server?: No — only if you want it online 24/7 for messages and scheduled jobs
Remembers: Small memory files injected each session, plus searchable history of every chat

What makes Hermes different

Most chat assistants start fresh every time and live in one app. Hermes is built to keep context and get better at your recurring work:

Persistent memory

Two small curated files — MEMORY.md for environment facts and USER.md for your preferences — load at the start of every session. Past conversations are stored in SQLite and searched when needed.

How Hermes memory works →

Skills it writes itself

When Hermes works out a multi-step workflow, it can save it as a SKILL.md procedure and reuse it next time. You can also install skills from a hub or write your own.

How Hermes skills work →

One agent, many places

Desktop, terminal, browser, and messaging apps all share the same sessions, memory, and skills. Scheduled jobs can deliver results to Telegram, Discord, Slack, or email.

Connect Telegram →

Ways to use Hermes

Every front end talks to the same agent, so you can start a session in one and continue it in another.

Hermes Desktop

Native app for macOS (Apple Silicon) and Windows; Linux builds through the CLI. Chat, files, artifacts, and settings in one window.

Bot Mode

Built into Desktop: each profile becomes a named bot with its own chat, model, memory, skills, and routines. Bots can message each other.

CLI & TUI

`hermes` for the classic terminal chat, `hermes --tui` for the newer full-screen interface. Same sessions as every other surface.

Web dashboard

`hermes dashboard` opens a browser admin panel on port 9119 for config, keys, sessions, cron, profiles, and channels.

Messaging gateway

One gateway process connects Hermes to Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, email, and 20+ other platforms.

Hermes Cloud

Nous Research's own always-on hosting, billed per day from Nous Portal credits. Optional — self-hosting stays free.

How setup works today

1 · Install
Download the Desktop app on macOS or Windows, or run the one-line installer for the CLI. Install guide
2 · Connect a model
hermes setup --portal signs in to Nous Portal (free plan available), or use hermes model for any other provider.
3 · First chat
Run hermes and give it a small, checkable task. Add messaging, cron, and skills after that works. Setup guide

Command-line install for macOS (Apple Silicon), Linux, and WSL2. Android uses the Termux package instead (pkg install hermes-agent, best effort).

Linux / macOS / WSL Terminal

bash

$curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/install.sh | bash

Installs to ~/.hermes with a pinned, managed Python runtimeNext: reload shell (`source ~/.bashrc` or `source ~/.zshrc`)

Official vs. third-party: Nous Portal and Hermes Cloud are run by Nous Research. Other hosted Hermes services, such as FlyHermes, are independent companies. The hosting guide compares both.

Common questions

What is Hermes Agent?↓

Hermes Agent is an open-source AI agent from Nous Research. It runs on your own computer or server, uses the model provider you choose, keeps small persistent memory files about you and your environment, saves reusable procedures as skills, and can be reached from a desktop app, the terminal, a browser dashboard, or messaging apps such as Telegram, Discord, and Slack.

Is Hermes Agent free and open source?↓

Yes. The software is MIT-licensed and free. What you may pay for is model usage (API keys, a subscription such as Nous Portal, or your own hardware for local models), optional hosted tools, and hosting if you want it online 24/7.

Is Hermes Agent the same as the Hermes 3 or Hermes 4 models?↓

No. Hermes 3 and Hermes 4 are Nous Research language models. Hermes Agent is the agent software, and it can run on models from many providers. Nous's own docs say Hermes 4 is tuned for chat and reasoning and is not recommended as the model inside Hermes Agent.

Do I need a server to run Hermes Agent?↓

No. The desktop app and CLI run on your own machine. You only need an always-on machine — a home server, a VPS, or managed hosting such as Nous Research's Hermes Cloud — if you want Hermes to answer messages or run scheduled jobs while your computer is off.

Is HermesAgentAI.org the official Hermes Agent site?↓

No. HermesAgentAI.org is an independent reference guide and is not affiliated with Nous Research. The official site is hermes-agent.nousresearch.com and the source code is at github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent.