Tools · Level intermediate

Hermes Agent: what it is, who it’s for and how to install it step by step

A guide to Hermes Agent, Nous Research’s open-source AI agent: requirements, installing the desktop app, first settings, privacy, limits and precautions.

By Cognenza editorial team · Updated 15 October 2026 · 5 min read · Sources cited

What it is

Hermes Agent is an open-source AI agent (open source) created by Nous Research, under the MIT licence. Unlike a chatbot, an agent acts: it runs commands in a terminal, browses the web, creates files, schedules tasks and remembers what it has learned between conversations. According to its official website, it has persistent memory, creates skills from experience and you can talk to it from Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, email or the terminal.

Who it’s for (and who it isn’t)

Yes: technically curious people who want to automate repetitive tasks (reports, backups, scheduled summaries) and understand that an agent can make mistakes.
Better to wait: if you only want to chat or write, an assistant such as ChatGPT is simpler and safer.

Requirements

	According to the official documentation
Desktop app	macOS 12 or later (Apple Silicon only) and Windows 10/11
Linux, macOS, WSL2	Terminal installation with the official installer
Android	Package for Termux (aarch64)
AI model	Your provider, Nous Portal credits or a local model
Price of the program	Free (MIT). The model is paid separately, depending on the provider

Step-by-step installation (no terminal)

Go to hermes-agent.nousresearch.com and download Hermes Desktop for your system.
Windows: open the .appinstaller file; a signed package is installed. macOS: open the DMG and drag Hermes.app to Applications.
Open it. Since version 0.22 (13 October 2026), the first launch starts a setup chat that runs on a free trial model: it asks about appearance, which apps to connect and which plugins to install. You can skip it and run it again later from Settings.
Connect a model provider. If you use a paid one, check its rates first.

With the terminal (Linux, macOS or WSL2)

The official documentation gives this command, which downloads and runs the installer:

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

Then hermes opens the chat, hermes model changes model, hermes tools turns tools on or off and hermes doctor diagnoses problems. Only run commands like this if you trust the source and from the official website.

Safety and privacy precautions

Permissions: by default the installer adds browser and computer-use tools. If you don’t need them, the documentation explains how to skip them (--skip-browser, --skip-computer-use).
Your data goes to the provider: whatever the agent sends to the model reaches the provider you choose, unless you use a local model.
API keys: they are stored on your computer. Don’t share them or paste them into chats.
Messaging: if you connect it to WhatsApp or Telegram, anyone who can message it could give it orders. Limit who can talk to it.
More in AI agents: real risks and what data never to paste.

Limits

An agent makes mistakes and can chain errors together. Check what it does, especially at first.
Model costs grow with long or automatic tasks.
The project changes very quickly (several releases a week): some steps may differ.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hermes Agent free?

The program is free and open source (MIT licence). What you pay for is the AI model you use: your own provider, Nous Portal credits or a local model on your computer.

Does it work on an Intel Mac?

Not according to the official documentation: the macOS installer is for Apple Silicon only and Intel macOS is not a supported platform.

Can I talk to Hermes from Telegram or WhatsApp?

Yes. According to its official website, it works from Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, email and the terminal, with a single memory.

Is it safe to let an agent use my computer?

It carries risks: it can read and change files or run commands. Use it for well-defined tasks, without sensitive data, and read our guide to the risks of AI agents.

Keep reading

Sources

Official sources are linked in their original language.

Hermes Agent: web oficial — Nous Research
Installation (documentación oficial) — Nous Research (GitHub)
Repositorio oficial NousResearch/hermes-agent — GitHub
Hermes Agent v0.22.0: notas de la versión — Nous Research (GitHub)

Change log

15 October 2026: First published with version 0.22.2 (15 October 2026) and the official documentation consulted that day.

Educational content, prepared with the help of AI tools, with sources cited. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Tools change fast: if you spot something out of date, write to us at contacto@cognenza.com. How we work.