It's the question that comes up in almost every comment thread about Muse, and it's easy to see why: it's made by Meta, so people assume it comes with Facebook strings attached. The short answer is no. The slightly longer answer has one decision worth making before you tap "sign up" — whether you want Muse living in the same account family as your Facebook and Instagram, or kept apart.
No — but you need a Meta account
A "Meta account" is the login system behind all of Meta's apps. You can sign in with an existing Facebook or Instagram login, or you can create a fresh Meta account with just an email address or phone number. Engadget's reviewer signed up on the web by entering nothing but a phone number.
So: no Facebook account required, no Instagram account required, no WhatsApp account required. An email address you own is enough.
The signup flow, step by step
Based on published walkthroughs (Engadget, Inc., and several setup guides), here's what the first five minutes look like:
- Get it. Search "Muse from Meta" in your phone's app store, or go to muse.ai in a desktop browser. There's also a Mac app (since September 19), and you can message Muse as a contact inside WhatsApp if you'd rather skip the standalone app — that version has a lighter feature set.
- Sign up. Enter an email address or phone number, or connect an Instagram or Facebook account. Each path works; pick the one that matches how separate you want things (more on that below).
- Prove you're 18. Muse is 18+. Reviewers have seen prompts to confirm age with a credit card or a linked Instagram or Facebook account. Meta hasn't published the full list of accepted verification methods, so treat this as what showed up in walkthroughs, not the official menu.
- Meet your agent. An avatar introduces itself and explains what it can do. Then it asks you to name it. Reviewers were offered Hana, Glint, or Muse as starter options; you can pick your own — one reviewer named hers "boo." It's cosmetic, but Meta clearly wants the naming moment to land.
- Connect things — one at a time. Muse will suggest starter tasks and ask permission to connect services like Gmail and Google Calendar. Each connection is opt-in. Nothing is wired up by default.
- Add a payment card. Even on the free tier, setup asks for a card on file. It's the part that surprises everyone; the reasoning is covered in the pricing guide.
The two settings I'd change before doing anything else: under Settings > Permissions, switch from the default "ask for some actions" to "always ask" while you're still learning what the agent does on its own. And under Settings > data controls, decide whether you're okay with Meta using your interactions to train its models — it's on by default, and the toggle is easy to miss.
The trust move: keeping Muse separate from your social accounts
Here's the detail that matters most for the privacy-conscious. Muse's own terms of service say:
"You can keep Muse in a separate Accounts Center by signing up with an email address that is not associated with another Meta account."
Accounts Center is Meta's system for linking your Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta logins together. If you sign into Muse with your Facebook login, they share an Accounts Center. If you sign up with a fresh email address that isn't tied to any other Meta account, Muse stays in its own lane.
This is organizational separation, not anonymity. A separate Accounts Center keeps your social accounts out of Muse's view, but it's still Meta's infrastructure and Meta's account system. If you want zero Meta footprint, Muse isn't the product — a locally-run model is. For everyone else, the separate-email route is the practical middle ground.
The waitlist, the invite code, and the 48-hour clock
Muse launched with a waitlist, and an invite code skips it. Redeeming one also earns 1 billion free tokens for both you and the person who shared it — but only if you redeem within 48 hours of creating your account. Miss the window and the bonus is gone for both of you. The full trap-by-trap walkthrough is in the invite-code guide.
What to watch
Signup is still a moving target for a two-and-a-half-week-old product: Canada joined on September 18, the UK, EU, and India still have no timeline, and Meta hasn't published official documentation for several of the steps above. I'll update this page as the rollout expands and the documentation hardens.
Quick answers
Do I need a Facebook account to use Muse?
No. You need a Meta account, which can be created with just an email address or phone number — no Facebook or Instagram required.
Can I keep Muse completely separate from my Facebook and Instagram?
Yes. Sign up with an email address that isn't associated with any other Meta account, and Muse stays in a separate Accounts Center.
Is there an age requirement?
Yes — 18 and over.
Do I have to download the app?
No. muse.ai works in a desktop browser, and there's a lighter version inside WhatsApp.
Why does signup ask for a payment card?
For age verification and so subscriptions can kick in if your usage rises — even the free tier asks. You're warned before free usage runs out.
If I sign in with my Facebook login, does Muse see my Facebook data?
Signing in with Facebook links the accounts in one Accounts Center. Muse still has to ask before connecting to services — it doesn't get automatic access. But if the linkage bothers you, sign up with a separate email instead.
Can I rename my agent later?
Yes. Just ask it — the name, avatar, and communication style can all be changed after setup.
What if I'm outside the US?
The block is account-level, not IP-based: muse.ai loads from anywhere, but sign-in is restricted to US-based accounts (Canada since September 18). There's no official timeline for other countries. VPN tutorials exist online, but Meta hasn't addressed what happens to accounts created that way.
Does Muse train on my data by default?
Yes — training on interactions is on by default. You can opt out under Settings > data controls.