Muse family guide

Muse Spark: Meta's AI Model Explained (1.1 to 1.3)

Muse Spark is the model behind Meta AI and the Muse agent. Here's what changed across versions 1.1–1.3, how it benchmarks, and where to try it free.

Last updated Sep 28, 2026 · What changed: First published5 min readBy the FreeMuseAI team · How we verify

Short answer

Muse Spark is Meta's AI model that powers both Meta AI (in the Meta AI app, Instagram, and WhatsApp) and the Muse agent. It launched in April 2026 and has been updated three times since, most recently to version 1.3 in September 2026, each time scoring higher on independent AI benchmarks.

What Muse Spark actually is

Muse Spark is the AI model Meta built to power its consumer AI products. It's not a product you download by itself — it's the engine running underneath Meta AI (in the Meta AI app, and rolling out to Instagram and WhatsApp) and, since September 2026, the full Muse agent.

Muse Spark's version history

Version	Released	What changed
1.0	Apr 8, 2026	First release, launched Meta AI's Spark upgrade in the US
1.1	Jul 9, 2026	Opened the Meta Model API to developers in public preview
1.2	Aug 5, 2026	Released alongside Muse Code, Meta's coding agent; introduced the cheaper Contributor pricing tier
1.3	Sep 2, 2026	Current version; also powers the Muse agent at launch

Sources: Introducing Muse Spark, Introducing Muse Spark 1.1, developer.meta.com model page

How good is Muse Spark, really?

According to Artificial Analysis, an independent AI benchmarking firm, Muse Spark's Intelligence Index score has climbed with each release — and version 1.3 now scores 61–62 depending on configuration, putting it close behind top-tier models like Claude Opus 5 (63) and roughly level with GPT-5.6 Sol and Grok 4.6 at comparable settings.

That's a meaningfully different result from Muse Glimmer, Meta's free open-weight model in the same family, which scores 35 on the same index. Glimmer is genuinely capable for something you can run yourself, but Spark is the model doing the heavier lifting behind Meta's own products.

Full model comparison and review →

Where you can use Muse Spark today

Meta AI — free, in the Meta AI app, with WhatsApp and Instagram rolling out gradually by country
The Muse agent — powers Muse itself, but only in the US and Canada, and only through a paid or free-tier Muse account
The Spark API — available through third-party marketplaces like OpenRouter, at $0.10–$1.25 per million input tokens depending on tier (full pricing →)
Right here — free, 5 messages a day, no sign-up, working worldwide

Try Muse Spark free

You don't need a Muse account, a supported country, or an API key. Try Muse Spark on this page →

FAQ

Is Muse Spark the same as the Muse agent?

No. Spark is the underlying model. The Muse agent is a full product built on top of it, with the ability to browse, connect apps, and complete tasks. Meta AI's chat features also run on Spark, without the agent's task-completion abilities.

Can I use Muse Spark without the Muse app?

Yes. It already powers Meta AI in the Meta AI app and, in more countries over time, Instagram and WhatsApp. You can also try it free and worldwide right on this page.

Is Muse Spark open source like Muse Glimmer?

No. Spark is Meta's proprietary model. Muse Glimmer is the openly licensed model Meta distilled from it, which you can download and run yourself.

Is FreeMuseAI the official Muse website?

No. FreeMuseAI is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Meta. The official Muse website is muse.ai.

FreeMuseAI is an independent, third-party guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Meta. Facts on this page are checked against official sources where possible; unverified claims are marked accordingly.