What is the difference between OpenClaw and NanoClaw?

OpenClaw is a full-featured AI agent framework with 5,700+ skills, managed hosting via OpenClaw Launch, and support for Telegram, Discord, and web chat. NanoClaw is a lightweight, self-hosted alternative with fewer features and a smaller plugin ecosystem.

NanoClaw is free and open source (MIT license). However, you need your own server ($5-20/mo for a VPS) and AI API keys. OpenClaw Launch starts at $3/mo with AI credits included.

Which is easier to set up: OpenClaw Launch or NanoClaw?

OpenClaw Launch deploys in 30 seconds from a browser with no technical setup. NanoClaw requires cloning a repo, configuring YAML files, and running on your own server — typically 30-60 minutes.

Can I switch from NanoClaw to OpenClaw?

Yes. If you are using NanoClaw and want to switch to the OpenClaw ecosystem, you can deploy on OpenClaw Launch in 30 seconds. Your chat platform tokens (Telegram, Discord) work the same way.

← All Comparisons

Comparison

OpenClaw Launch vs NanoClaw

A side-by-side comparison of OpenClaw Launch and NanoClaw — two ways to deploy AI agents. Which one fits your needs?

Quick Comparison

	OpenClaw Launch	NanoClaw
Type	Managed hosting	Self-hosted framework
Starting price	$3/mo*	Free (open source)
Setup time	30 seconds	30–60 minutes
Server required	No	Yes (VPS or local)
Visual configurator	Yes	No (YAML/JSON config)
AI credits included	$1–10/mo	None (BYOK)
Skills/Plugins	5,700+ (ClawHub)	Limited plugin system
Telegram	Yes	Yes
Discord	Yes	Community plugin
Web Chat	Yes	No
Auto updates	Yes	Manual (git pull)
Monitoring	Built-in dashboard	Manual (logs)
License	Commercial	MIT

*First month $3, then $6/mo.

What Is NanoClaw?

NanoClaw is a lightweight, open-source AI agent framework. It's designed for developers who want a minimal, self-hosted solution with full control over the codebase. NanoClaw focuses on simplicity — it has a smaller footprint than OpenClaw but also fewer features and a smaller plugin ecosystem.

NanoClaw is best suited for developers comfortable with the command line, YAML configuration, and managing their own servers.

What Is OpenClaw Launch?

OpenClaw Launch is a managed hosting platform for OpenClaw — the most popular open-source AI agent framework with 5,700+ skills. It features a visual configurator, one-click deployment, built-in AI credits, and a monitoring dashboard. No server, Docker, or command line required.

Key Differences

Setup & Ease of Use

OpenClaw Launch deploys in 30 seconds from a browser — select your AI model and chat platform, click deploy, done. NanoClaw requires cloning a repo, installing dependencies, writing YAML config, and running on your own server.

Ecosystem & Skills

OpenClaw has 5,700+ skills on ClawHub covering web search, file management, coding, image generation, and more. NanoClaw has a smaller plugin system — you'll likely need to write custom integrations for many tasks.

Cost

NanoClaw is free and open source, but you need to pay for a VPS ($5–20/mo), your own AI API keys, and spend time on setup and maintenance. OpenClaw Launch starts at $3/mo with AI credits included — total cost of ownership is often comparable or cheaper.

Maintenance

OpenClaw Launch handles updates, monitoring, and uptime automatically. With NanoClaw, you're responsible for keeping the software updated, monitoring for crashes, and managing your server.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose OpenClaw Launch if you want the fastest setup, prefer a visual interface, want included AI credits, need 5,700+ skills, or don't want to manage servers.

Choose NanoClaw if you're a developer who wants a lightweight, self-hosted framework with full source code control, and you're comfortable with YAML config and server management.

Bottom Line

NanoClaw is a solid choice for developers who want a minimal, self-hosted agent. But for most users, OpenClaw Launch offers a dramatically faster setup, a richer ecosystem with 5,700+ skills, and managed hosting — all starting at $3/mo with AI credits included.