What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw in One Sentence

OpenClaw is a free, open-source AI agent framework that connects leading AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek) to the messaging apps you already use — Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack, Signal, iMessage, and more — turning them into always-on personal assistants that can actually do things for you.

A Brief History

OpenClaw started in late 2025 as Clawdbot, a side project by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger (founder of PSPDFKit). It began as a simple bridge between Claude and Telegram. The project was briefly renamed to Moltbot, then settled on OpenClaw in January 2026. Released under the MIT license, it exploded in popularity — reaching 15,000+ GitHub stars in just a few months, making it one of the fastest-growing open-source projects in 2026.

In February 2026, OpenAI hired Peter Steinberger to work on their AI agent initiatives. OpenClaw remains open source, now maintained through a dedicated foundation.

What Can OpenClaw Do?

Unlike ChatGPT or Claude that live in a browser tab, OpenClaw becomes your always-on assistant that can interact with your entire digital life:

• Workflow automation — Manage email, calendar, reminders, and scheduling
• Code and dev tools — Run tests, refactor code, manage repos
• Browser control — Fill forms, scrape data, monitor websites
• File management — Organize, search, and process documents
• Smart home — Control Home Assistant devices
• App integrations — Connect Slack, Discord, GitHub, databases, and more

With over 5,700 community-built skills available on ClawHub, OpenClaw's capabilities extend far beyond basic chat. Skills let your agent search the web, manage files, handle flight check-ins, monitor competitors, control smart home devices, and much more.

Supported Platforms

OpenClaw connects to 20+ messaging platforms:

Supported AI Models

OpenClaw is model-agnostic — it works with any AI model through provider APIs:

• OpenAI — GPT-5.2, GPT-4o
• Anthropic — Claude Opus 4.6, Claude Sonnet 4.6
• Google — Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 3 Flash
• DeepSeek — DeepSeek V3.2
• Moonshot — Kimi K2.5
• Local models — Via Ollama (Llama, Mistral, etc.)

You can switch models at any time. Most users route through OpenRouter for access to all providers with a single API key.

How Does OpenClaw Work?

OpenClaw runs as a gateway server — a Node.js application that sits between your messaging apps and AI model providers. Here's the architecture:

1. You send a message on Telegram, Discord, or any connected platform
2. OpenClaw receives it through the gateway and routes it to your configured AI model
3. The AI processes your request and can call skills (tools) to take actions — browse the web, run code, manage files, etc.
4. The response comes back to your chat app. OpenClaw maintains context and memory across sessions.

The gateway runs inside a Docker container and reads its configuration from a JSON file at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. It needs to run 24/7 for your AI agent to be always available.

How to Get Started with OpenClaw

There are two ways to run OpenClaw:

Option 1: Self-Host (DIY)

Install OpenClaw on your own server (Mac Mini, VPS, or desktop). Requires Docker, CLI access, and manual JSON configuration. Typically takes 2-6 hours to set up. Full control, but you handle updates, security, and monitoring yourself.

Read our full self-hosting guide →

Option 2: Managed Hosting with OpenClaw Launch

OpenClaw Launch handles everything — servers, Docker, networking, SSL, monitoring, and updates. You configure your bot visually (pick model, pick platform) and click deploy. Your AI agent is live in under 30 seconds.

Is OpenClaw Free?

OpenClaw itself is 100% free and open source (MIT license). You can download, modify, and host it yourself at no cost. However, you'll pay for:

• AI model API usage — Most models charge per token (typically $5–50/month depending on usage)
• Server hosting — If self-hosting, a VPS costs $5–20/month
• Managed hosting — Services like OpenClaw Launch start at $6/month and include hosting + AI credits

Is OpenClaw Secure?

OpenClaw runs on your own infrastructure (or a managed host you choose), so your data stays under your control. Key security features:

• Self-hosted — your conversations never touch third-party servers
• Gateway authentication via secure tokens
• Device pairing for remote access
• Skills run in sandboxed environments

On managed platforms like OpenClaw Launch, each user gets an isolated Docker container with encrypted configuration and automatic SSL. Learn more about our security →

OpenClaw vs ChatGPT vs Claude

OpenClaw is not a replacement for ChatGPT or Claude — it uses them. Think of it as a layer on top of AI models that gives them persistent memory, multi-platform access, and the ability to take real-world actions through skills and integrations.

Learn More

• How to install OpenClaw — Step-by-step setup guide
• OpenClaw AI Agent guide — What your agent can do
• OpenClaw Manual — Chat commands and usage
• Skills Marketplace — Browse 5,700+ skills
• AI Model Pricing — Compare model costs
• GitHub Repository — Source code and documentation