Comparison
OpenClaw Launch vs ZeroClaw
A side-by-side comparison of OpenClaw Launch and ZeroClaw — two AI agent platforms with different architectures and philosophies.
Quick Comparison
| OpenClaw Launch | ZeroClaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Managed hosting | Self-hosted framework |
| Language | Node.js (OpenClaw) | Rust |
| Starting price | $3/mo* | Free (open source) |
| Setup time | 30 seconds | 30–60 minutes |
| Server required | No | Yes |
| Visual configurator | Yes | No (TOML config) |
| AI credits included | $1–10/mo | None (BYOK) |
| Skills/Plugins | 5,700+ (ClawHub) | ~200 skills |
| Memory usage | ~300 MB (managed) | ~50 MB (Rust binary) |
| Telegram | Yes | Yes |
| Discord | Yes | Yes |
| Web Chat | Yes | No |
| Docker image | Managed | ~20 MB |
| License | Commercial | Apache 2.0 |
*First month $3, then $6/mo.
What Is ZeroClaw?
ZeroClaw is a Rust-based AI agent framework focused on performance and minimal resource usage. It compiles to a single binary with a very small memory footprint (~50 MB), making it ideal for running on low-power devices like Raspberry Pi or cheap VPS instances.
ZeroClaw supports Telegram and Discord, has a growing skills ecosystem (~200 skills), and uses TOML configuration files. It's designed for developers who prioritize efficiency and want to run on minimal hardware.
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. Configure visually, deploy in 30 seconds, no server or Docker required. AI credits are included in every plan.
Key Differences
Architecture
ZeroClaw is written in Rust for maximum performance and minimal memory usage. OpenClaw is a Node.js application — heavier on resources but with a much larger ecosystem and faster development cycle. With OpenClaw Launch, resource management is handled for you.
Ecosystem
OpenClaw has 5,700+ skills on ClawHub, covering web search, file management, coding, image generation, automation, and more. ZeroClaw has ~200 skills and a growing but smaller community. If you need a wide range of capabilities out of the box, OpenClaw has a significant advantage.
Setup & Ease of Use
OpenClaw Launch deploys from a browser in 30 seconds. ZeroClaw requires compiling from source (or downloading a binary), writing TOML config, and running on your own infrastructure.
Resource Usage
ZeroClaw's Rust binary uses ~50 MB of RAM — excellent for constrained environments. OpenClaw uses ~300 MB. If you're running on a Raspberry Pi or a $2.50/mo VPS, ZeroClaw's efficiency matters. With OpenClaw Launch, resource constraints are a non-issue since hosting is fully managed.
Cost
ZeroClaw is free and open source, but you need a server and your own AI API keys. OpenClaw Launch starts at $3/mo with AI credits included. For most users, the total cost is comparable — but OpenClaw Launch saves hours of setup and maintenance time.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose OpenClaw Launch if you want the fastest setup, the largest skill ecosystem (5,700+), managed hosting, included AI credits, and a visual configurator.
Choose ZeroClaw if you need ultra-low resource usage, want to run on minimal hardware (Raspberry Pi, cheap VPS), prefer Rust, or enjoy managing your own infrastructure.
Bottom Line
ZeroClaw is impressive for its Rust-powered efficiency, but its smaller ecosystem (~200 skills vs 5,700+) and manual setup make it better suited for developers who enjoy hands-on infrastructure. For most users, OpenClaw Launch offers a far richer feature set, instant deployment, and managed hosting starting at $3/mo.