6 Popular AI‑Agent Tools Reviewed: Which One Should Chinese Beginners Pick in 2026

Introduction

If you are a new-to-AI user based in China, you may feel confused when choosing your first AI-Agent tool. We test six mainstream Agent products, rank them by practicality for domestic beginners, analyze pros, cons and real-world usage limits, and deliver hands-on advice to help you make a wise decision.

Overall Ranking for Chinese New-comers

Here is our final score list for reference. Full score is 5.0:

1. Codex (ChatGPT-powered): 5.0/5
2. WorkBuddy (Tencent official Agent): 4.0/5
3. Z-Code & Trae: 3.5/5 (Tie for third place)
4. Claude Code: 2.5/5
5. OpenClaw / Hermes: 2.0/5

1. Codex (Renamed to ChatGPT-Agent Now, Top Recommendation)

Core Advantages

Codex runs on OpenAI's GPT-5.6 series models including Sol, Terra and Luna. Its model performance is comparable with Claude series models, while it comes with lower pricing and much higher token quota. Unlike Claude Code which is built only for developers, Codex fully considers office-workers' daily demands. It has a huge plugin ecosystem for spreadsheets, PPT documents, Figma design and browser automation. Its Agent harness ability, the capability to control large models properly, stays top-tier in the whole industry.

Practical Setup Steps

1. Prepare network access for overseas services and a valid overseas payment method.
2. Run this command in your local terminal to install the official desktop client:

pip install openai-codex-desktop

3. Log-in with your ChatGPT account, then enable plugins like Computer-Use from the plugin marketplace.

Disadvantages

It still has two obvious barriers for Chinese users: you need stable international network access, and it only accepts overseas payment methods for subscription. If you can solve these two problems, Codex is your No.1 choice. If not, skip it and try WorkBuddy instead.

Important Note: When you connect third-party Chinese models to Codex instead of official GPT models, advanced features such as multi-Agent collaboration and Computer-Use will stop working, and Codex will lose its core advantages.

2. WorkBuddy by Tencent (Best Native-Chinese Option, 4.0/5)

Core Highlights

WorkBuddy is Tencent's official Agent application designed for Chinese users. It supports mainstream open-source Chinese large-models and custom third-party model integration. It connects nearly all Tencent-owned software including WeChat, Lark and QQ. It provides pre-built skills for document processing, Excel analysis, legal consulting and content creation.

Existing Drawbacks

The biggest problem comes from its product-design philosophy: it still follows traditional To-C design rather than To-Agent design. For example, the project guideline file is saved as PDF format, which AI cannot parse directly. If you want AI to read instructions automatically, Markdown format is required. Run this code snippet to convert PDF to AI-friendly markdown:

from pypdf import PdfReader
def pdf_to_markdown(pdf_path, output_md):
    reader = PdfReader(pdf_path)
    text = "
".join(page.extract_text() for page in reader.pages)
    with open(output_md,"w",encoding="utf-8") as f:
        f.write(text)
pdf_to_markdown("asset-guide.pdf","asset-guide.md")

In Codex and Claude Code, about 80% of functions run in the background and are called by AI automatically. But for WorkBuddy, users have to manually select every skill. AI cannot choose suitable skills by itself. Also you are not allowed to customize expert agents. Even with these flaws, WorkBuddy is still the top domestic choice for Chinese beginners if Codex is unavailable.

3. Mid-tier Tools: Trae and Z-Code (3.5/5)

Trae (Developed by Volcano Engine)

Trae supports most popular open-source Chinese models and third-party model addition. But its skill library is far smaller than WorkBuddy, and most available skills are developed by Volcano Engine or open-source community contributors. It works fine for basic document analysis and PPT generation but fails on complicated Agent-driven tasks.

Z-Code by Zhipu AI

Z-Code only defaults to GLM-5.2 and GLM-5 models. If you want to use advanced versions, you need to subscribe to its paid Coding-Plan, which is frequently out of stock. Free users only get 500,000 tokens per day. Run this command to check your remaining token quota:

zcode quota-check

Its only standout feature is native integration with Lark and WeChat. Apart from that, it has no other competitive advantages. You can pick Z-Code only if you are a big fan of Zhipu's models.

4. Claude Code (Only 2.5/5 for Chinese Users)

Claude Code is the pioneer of modern Agent systems, powered by Fable 5 and Opus 4.8 models, which outperforms GPT-series models in most benchmarks. Its Agent-harness capability sets the industry standard.

Critical Barriers for Chinese Users

1. It needs stable overseas network access.
2. It only accepts international payments.
3. The strictest restriction from Anthropic: its system continuously detects users' regional information. Once it confirms you are from China, your account will get banned permanently even if you have paid money.

Its desktop UI is built for professional developers with full-English interfaces. Most functions are hidden from the graphical interface, making it extremely confusing for new-comers. We do not recommend regular users to try it.

5. OpenClaw / Hermes (2.0/5, Only for Advanced Users)

OpenClaw and Hermes became popular recently, but they have a steep learning curve. Although desktop versions are available, you must install a standalone app.

# Install Hermes desktop version via command-line
brew install hermes-desktop

It can connect with WeChat and instant-messaging tools so you can assign tasks with one-sentence prompts. However, most users cannot find practical daily scenarios to make full use of its features. Try Codex or WorkBuddy first. Only after you master basic Agent usage should you consider OpenClaw for advanced exploration.

Final Practical Selection Guide

1. If you can handle overseas network and payment issues: choose Codex without hesitation;
2. If overseas access is impossible: WorkBuddy is your primary option;
3. If you just want lightweight AI assistance: pick Trae or Z-Code;
4. Avoid Claude Code and OpenClaw at your early-learning stage to prevent account loss and wasted time.

常见问题

Why is Codex ranked #1 for Chinese users despite its access barriers?

Because if you can overcome the network and payment barriers, Codex delivers objectively the best experience by a wide margin. The GPT-5.6 model family (Sol, Terra, Luna) matches or beats Claude on most benchmarks, the plugin ecosystem covers virtually every office task, and the "approve for me" mode makes Agent automation smooth and safe. The ranking reflects product quality, not accessibility. The guide is explicit: if you can't solve the access issues, skip to #2 WorkBuddy. This isn't a ranking of "easiest to access" — it's a ranking of "best tool for the job if you can use it."

What's the practical difference between Trae and Z-Code at the same 3.5 rating?

They're tied because they have complementary strengths and weaknesses. Trae supports third-party models (not locked to one provider) but has a tiny skill library. Z-Code has native Lark/WeChat integration (genuinely useful for Chinese office workers) but is locked to GLM models and the paid plan is frequently unavailable. Choose Trae if model flexibility matters. Choose Z-Code if you already use Lark/WeChat daily and are in the Zhipu ecosystem. If neither factor matters much to you, WorkBuddy at 4.0/5 is the better pick at a similar accessibility level.

Is Claude Code really that bad for Chinese users?

The 2.5/5 rating isn't about Claude Code's quality — it's arguably the most sophisticated Agent system on the market. The rating reflects the catastrophic risk for Chinese users: Anthropic actively detects and bans users from unsupported regions, including China. You can pay for a subscription, use it for weeks, build workflows — and lose everything overnight with a permanent account ban. For developers who understand the risk and use it with appropriate precautions (API-only access via third-party services), Claude Code is excellent. For beginners who might invest time building projects and workflows, the risk of sudden account loss makes it unsuitable. The guide's advice to avoid it at the early-learning stage is a risk-management recommendation, not a quality judgment.

Can I switch between these tools later, or am I locked in?

You're not locked in — these tools are independent applications, not platforms with vendor lock-in. Many professionals use multiple tools: Codex for heavy development, WorkBuddy for Chinese office tasks, and Claude Code for specialized coding work. The skills you learn (prompt engineering, workflow design, Agent orchestration) transfer between tools. The guide recommends starting with one tool that matches your access level, mastering it, then adding others as needed. The only thing you can't transfer is project-specific configuration (agent.md files, skill configurations, automation setups) — those are tool-specific and need to be recreated if you switch.