What is OpenClaw
OpenClaw is an open-source multi-channel AI agent framework (MIT license) with over 280,000 GitHub stars. It lets you interact with an AI assistant through 20+ messaging platforms including Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Lark, and more. Think of it as an "AI gateway" — a service running in the background that connects your chosen chat platform to AI models, letting you talk to Claude, GPT, Gemini, and others right from your phone.
OpenClaw was created by Peter Steinberger, originally as a personal project to use Claude on WhatsApp. After going open-source in October 2025, it exploded in the AI community. As of March 2026, it has 1,075+ contributors, 13,729 community Skills, and a global "claw raising" community.
Why Choose OpenClaw
OpenClaw earned 280K+ Stars in just a few months, making it the fastest-growing open-source AI tool project. The key is that it solves a real pain point: bringing AI assistants from "web chat windows" into the messaging tools you use every day.
Use Your Favorite Chat Apps
No need to switch apps. Chat with AI directly in Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Lark, and 20+ other platforms, as naturally as talking to a friend.
Data Sovereignty
Runs on your own server, with conversations never passing through third-party platforms. Self-hosted = you own your data.
Switch Between Models Freely
Supports Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi, and 200+ models, with automatic fallback chains for graceful degradation.
13,729 Community Skills
The ClawHub skill marketplace covers image generation, code review, Notion sync, translation, and more. Install with a single command.
24/7 Online
Deployed on cloud servers, unaffected by your local computer's power state. Supports cron jobs for automated daily briefings, monitoring, and more.
Flexible Cost Control
Combine fallback chains + free models (GLM Flash / Gemini Flash) to keep monthly costs as low as $2-5.
The Chinese community calls running and maintaining an OpenClaw instance "claw raising" (Claw = claw = lobster), and users call themselves "claw raisers." The greeting has become "Are you raising a claw yet?" — this term has spread from tech circles to mainstream media. On March 6, nearly a thousand people lined up at Tencent Cloud's Shenzhen headquarters to install OpenClaw, with news headlines reading "Everyone's Raising Claws."
Core Architecture
Understanding OpenClaw's architecture helps with configuration and troubleshooting. OpenClaw uses a three-layer architecture: Gateway → Node → Channel.
Gateway (Entry Layer)
The system entry point, responsible for authentication, message routing, and session management. Listens on port 18789 by default. All messages (from Telegram, Discord, etc.) pass through the Gateway before being dispatched to Nodes. As of v2026.3.7, authentication configuration is mandatory.
Node (Execution Layer)
The runtime environment for AI Agents. Nodes manage tool calls, the memory system, and Skill execution. A single instance can run multiple Agents, each with its own model configuration and tool permissions. This is where the actual "thinking" happens.
Channel (Messaging Layer)
Adapters for messaging platforms. Each platform (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, etc.) has a corresponding Channel plugin. Channels handle protocol adaptation — sending/receiving messages, processing rich text, and managing group permissions.
Four-Layer Memory System
OpenClaw's memory isn't just simple chat history — it's organized into four layers:
| Layer | File | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| SOUL | SOUL.md | The Agent's "soul" — personality, behavioral guidelines, worldview |
| TOOLS | TOOLS.md | Tool usage guide — which tools are available and when to invoke them |
| USER | USER.md | User profile — what the Agent knows about you, accumulated automatically |
| Session | MEMORY.md | Session memory — key information persisted across conversations |
Core Features
OpenClaw is more than just a chatbot — it's a full-featured AI agent platform:
Skill Ecosystem (ClawHub)
ClawHub is OpenClaw's official skill marketplace, hosting 13,729 Skills as of March 2026. Skills are loaded in three priority levels: user-defined → project-level → global. Install a new skill with a single command:
openclaw plugins install <skill-name>Popular skills include: image generation (DALL-E / Flux), Notion sync, GitHub management, calendar integration, web clipping, translation, code review, and more.
awesome-openclaw-skills curated list.Automated Workflows
- Cron Jobs: daily briefings, monitoring alerts, scheduled backups
- Webhook Triggers: integrate with GitHub, Notion, Lark, and other systems
- Event-Driven (Hooks): automatically execute specific actions when messages arrive
// openclaw.json cron job example
{
"cron": [
{
"schedule": "0 8 * * *",
"prompt": "Summarize today's tech news, limit to 5 items"
}
]
}Multi-Agent Orchestration
OpenClaw supports configuring multiple Agents, each with its own model, personality, and tool permissions. By defining personalities through SOUL.md and pairing them with different models, you can have one assistant handle coding, another for writing, and another for data analysis. Agents can even communicate and collaborate with each other.
Browser & Tool Calling
OpenClaw has built-in browser automation capabilities, enabling web browsing, form filling, and data extraction. Combined with Shell command execution, file I/O, and other tools, Agents can accomplish complex tasks far beyond the scope of chatting — a true "digital employee."
Supported Platforms & Models
International Platforms
Chinese Platforms (via openclaw-china plugin)
Connect in three steps via openclaw plugins install @openclaw-china/channels
AI Model Support
Deployment Options Comparison
OpenClaw supports multiple deployment methods. The Orange Book compares 10+ options in detail. Here's a summary of the main choices:
| Deploy Method | Difficulty | Time | Cost | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clawfy One-Click DeployRecommended | Zero barrier | ~30 sec | Pay-as-you-go | Fully managed |
| Alibaba / Tencent Cloud One-Click | Low | 10-20 min | Server + API | Semi-managed |
| Docker Deploy | Medium | 30-60 min | Server + API | Self-maintained |
| Local npm Install | Low | 10-20 min | API only | Self-maintained |
| 1Panel Dashboard Deploy | Low | 10-15 min | Server + API | Panel-managed |
Deploy with Clawfy in One Click
Clawfy is a managed hosting platform built specifically for OpenClaw. Compared to self-hosting, Clawfy handles all the tedious steps for you — server purchase, Docker installation, image pulling, and environment configuration:
Quick Start Guide
Deploying OpenClaw with Clawfy takes just three steps. The entire process takes under 5 minutes, with no technical background required.
Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot
Find @BotFather on Telegram
Open Telegram and search for @BotFather, Telegram's official Bot management tool.
Create a New Bot
Send /newbot, then follow the prompts to set the Bot's name and username. Once complete, you'll receive a Bot Token (formatted like 123456789:ABCdefGHI...).
Copy the Token
Save this Token — you'll need it in the next step for deployment.
Step 2: One-Click Deploy
Sign in to Clawfy
Visit clawfy.io and sign in quickly with your Google account.
Choose Your Configuration
Select an AI model (Gemini Flash is recommended for beginners — affordable and fast), choose your chat channel (Telegram), and paste your Bot Token.
Click Deploy
Click the "Deploy" button. Clawfy will automatically provision a dedicated server, install, and configure OpenClaw for you. The entire process takes about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Pair and Start Using
Send /start
Find the Bot you just created in Telegram and send /start. The Bot will return a pairing request.
Approve Pairing in Clawfy
Go back to the Clawfy dashboard and click "Approve" on the instance detail page to confirm the pairing.
Start Chatting!
Once paired, you can freely chat with your AI assistant in Telegram. Try asking it anything!
You: Summarize today's top HackerNews articles
AI: Browsing HackerNews...
Here are the top 5 trending articles today:
1. "Rust Compiler Self-Bootstrapping Complete" — The Rust team announced...
2. "GPT-5.4 Released" — OpenAI launches its latest model...
3. "YC W26 Demo Day Highlights" — The most-watched startups this season...
4. "Quantum-Safe Encryption Standard Takes Effect" — NIST publishes...
5. "SpaceX 20th Recovery Landing" — Setting a new record...Model Selection Guide
The Orange Book provides a detailed comparison of 14+ models by price and characteristics. Here's a quick reference table sorted by input price (price per million tokens):
| Model | Input /1M | Output /1M | One-Line Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ollama / LM Studio | Free | Free | Uses local compute only |
| GLM Flash / ERNIE Speed | Free | Free | Cloud-based free tier |
| Doubao 1.5 Lite-32k | $0.042 | — | Cheapest cloud conversations |
| DeepSeek-V3.2 | $0.14 | $0.28 | Best value for money |
| Qwen 3.5 Coder | $0.22 | $1.00 | Best value for code |
| Gemini 3 Flash | $0.50 | $3.00 | Affordable, strong multimodal |
| Kimi K2.5 | $0.60 | $3.00 | Chinese language flagship |
| GLM-5 | $0.80 | $2.56 | Top Chinese code model |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | $1.00 | $5.00 | Lightweight international |
| Gemini 3 Pro | $2.00 | $12.00 | Google flagship |
| GPT-5.4 | $2.50 | $15.00 | OpenAI flagship |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3.00 | $15.00 | Best for agentic tasks |
| Claude Opus 4.6 | $5.00 | $25.00 | Most capable, most expensive |
Five Recommended Configurations
Option 1: Ultra Budget (avg <$5/mo)
- Primary: DeepSeek-V3.2 ($0.14/$0.28)
- Fallback: Qwen 3.5 Plus ($0.40/$1.20)
- Heartbeat/Cron: GLM-4.5-Flash (Free)
- Reasoning: DeepSeek-R1 ($0.55/$2.19)
Ideal for individual developers and exploration
Option 2: Chinese Model Value (avg $5-15/mo)
- Primary: GLM-5 ($0.80/$2.56)
- Fallback: DeepSeek-V3.2 ($0.14/$0.28)
- Reasoning Boost: Kimi K2.5 ($0.60/$3.00)
- Simple Tasks: GLM-4.5-Flash (Free)
Best for Chinese-language users prioritizing stability
Option 3: International Balanced (avg $10-30/mo)
- Primary: Claude Sonnet 4.6 ($3.00/$15.00)
- Lightweight: Claude Haiku 4.5 or Gemini Flash
- Complex Tasks: Claude Opus 4.6 (on demand)
- Heartbeat/Cron: Gemini Flash (free tier)
For optimal Agent performance with sufficient budget
Option 4: Optimal Hybrid (avg $5-20/mo, Recommended)
- Complex Tasks: Claude Sonnet 4.6
- Daily Chat: DeepSeek-V3.2
- Heartbeat/Cron: Gemini Flash or local Ollama
- Fallback Chain: Sonnet → Haiku → DeepSeek
Best choice for most users, balancing quality and cost
Cost Optimization Strategies
The Orange Book specifically warns: API costs are the biggest expense of running OpenClaw. Horror stories of "waking up to a $1,100 API bill" are common in the community. Here's why:
- Each Agent "thought" involves multi-step reasoning — a simple task may trigger 5-10 API calls
- Skill descriptions are injected into the system prompt, increasing input tokens per request
- The memory system (MEMORY.md + Daily Logs) attaches context to every request
- Agents run 24/7, with cron jobs continuously triggering API calls
- Multi-step reasoning + multi-tool calls can consume tens or even hundreds of times more tokens than traditional chat
Core Cost-Saving Strategy: Fallback Chains
Fallback chains are OpenClaw's most important cost-saving mechanism. When the primary model is unavailable, it automatically degrades to a cheaper model — but the smarter approach is to proactively use this to control costs:
{
"agents": {
"defaults": {
"model": {
"primary": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
"fallbacks": [
"anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5",
"deepseek/deepseek-chat"
]
}
}
}
}| Strategy | Relative Cost |
|---|---|
| All Claude Sonnet | 100% (baseline) |
| Sonnet + Haiku Fallback | ~50-60% |
| Sonnet → Haiku → DeepSeek (three-tier) | ~5-20% |
| Pure DeepSeek-V3 | ~5% |
| Local Ollama | 0% (electricity only) |
Setting Budget Limits
We strongly recommend all users set a daily budget cap — even if money isn't an issue, a $5 daily limit can protect your wallet when an Agent enters a reasoning loop:
{
"agents": {
"defaults": {
"budget": {
"maxTokensPerDay": 500000,
"maxCostPerDay": 5.00
}
}
}
}Security Advisory
OpenClaw's security model is built on "trust nothing by default," but creator Peter himself admits: "This is all vibe code. Prompt injection hasn't been solved. There are absolute risks." In less than 5 months of history, OpenClaw has already experienced at least 7 major security incidents.
CVE-2026-25253: Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVSS 8.8/10 (High severity). WebSocket origin header bypass allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code on OpenClaw instances. Fixed in v2026.3.2.
ClawHavoc Supply Chain Attack
135,000+ devices affected. About 20% of Skills on ClawHub were confirmed malicious at peak. We recommend only installing highly-starred Skills and using the awesome-openclaw-skills curated list.
30,000+ Unauthenticated Exposed Instances
Security researchers discovered over 30,000 OpenClaw instances exposed on the public internet with no authentication configured. As of v2026.3.7, Gateway authentication is now mandatory. Make sure to check that your instance has authentication configured.
Anthropic OAuth Ban / Google Account Suspensions
In January 2026, Anthropic banned Claude Pro/Max subscription accounts from connecting to OpenClaw via OAuth. In early February, Google mass-suspended OpenClaw users' Google accounts (including Gmail, Drive, and all other services). Using Anthropic requires API Keys, and Google-related Skills should use a dedicated Workspace account.
China Ecosystem
The "cloud claw raising" community has over 100,000 users, government support policies have been issued, and OpenClaw's adoption in China has exceeded all expectations. On March 8, 2026, the Shenzhen Longgang AI (Robotics) Bureau published a draft support policy for OpenClaw usage, and on March 6, nearly a thousand people lined up at Tencent Cloud headquarters to install it.
Chinese Claw Products Overview
Major Chinese tech companies have launched their own "lobster" products. As of March 2026, there are 10+ options available:
| Product | Company | Default Model | Key Selling Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| MaxClaw | MiniMax | M2.5 | 18-sec deploy, lowest price |
| AutoClaw | Zhipu AI | GLM-5 | 96 preset Skills, free |
| QClaw | Tencent | Kimi-2.5 | WeChat/QQ direct connect |
| ArkClaw | ByteDance/Volcano | Seed 2.0 | Deep Lark integration |
| WorkBuddy | Tencent | Hunyuan/GLM etc. | Free, WeCom/QQ integration |
| LobsterAI | NetEase Youdao | Multi-model | GUI interface, sandboxed |
| CoPaw | Alibaba Tongyi | Qwen/Ollama | Edge + cloud dual deploy |
| miclaw | Xiaomi | MiMo | Native mobile, Mi Home IoT |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenClaw free?
OpenClaw itself is MIT open-source and free. However, running it requires two costs: a server (local computer or cloud server) and AI model API fees. If you use local models (Ollama), API costs can also be zero. In short: the software is free, but compute is not.
How is OpenClaw different from ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an "advisor" (you ask, it answers), while OpenClaw is an "employee" (it proactively executes tasks). OpenClaw can connect to your messaging platforms, manage emails and calendars, operate browsers, execute Shell commands, and your data stays entirely in your own hands. The tradeoff is that you need to deploy and maintain it yourself.
I'm not technical. Can I use Clawfy?
Absolutely! Clawfy is designed specifically for non-technical users. All you need is a Google account and Telegram, and you can deploy in 30 seconds. All server management, Docker configuration, and environment setup is handled automatically by Clawfy.
How much does it cost per month?
It depends on your usage patterns and model choices. Reference ranges: completely free (local models) → $2-5/mo (DeepSeek primary) → $5-15/mo (GLM-5 primary) → $10-30/mo (Claude Sonnet primary). The biggest cost trap is that OpenClaw's multi-step tool calls consume large amounts of tokens — always set spending limits.
Is it secure? Will my data leak?
OpenClaw is self-hosted, with data stored on your own server by default. However, be aware of three security risks: (1) CVE-2026-25253 RCE vulnerability (fixed, make sure to update); (2) ClawHavoc supply chain attack (review source code before installing third-party Skills); (3) Gateway exposed to the public internet needs authentication configured.
Can I use Chinese models? How do they perform?
Absolutely. DeepSeek-V3 ($0.14/M input) and GLM-5 ($0.80/M input) are the most popular choices among Chinese users. GLM-5's coding ability approaches Claude Opus 4.5 level, while DeepSeek-V3 offers extreme value. We recommend mixing them with the Fallback mechanism.
How is Clawfy different from SimpleClaw?
SimpleClaw uses a flat monthly fee ($49/mo) + BYOK model, where you need to register and manage your own API Keys. Clawfy uses pay-as-you-go Credits — no API Key management needed, lower starting cost, and you only pay for what you use.
Can OpenClaw and Claude Code be used together?
Yes, and it's actually a recommended setup. The community has developed openclaw-claude-code-skill, which bridges the two via the MCP protocol. OpenClaw handles messaging platform integration and life automation, while Claude Code handles programming tasks. Together, they form the most complete AI-driven workflow of 2026.
Can it connect to WeChat?
Yes, but not directly to personal WeChat. Through the openclaw-china plugin's WeCom (enterprise WeChat) self-built app approach, you can indirectly connect to personal WeChat. DingTalk and QQ Bot are the easiest to set up. Lark is one of the most popular integration channels in China.
Related Resources
OpenClaw Official Website
The AI that actually does things
OpenClaw Use Case Showcase
31 real-world use cases from the official site
Official Documentation
Setup, configuration, channels, API reference
OpenClaw Discord
140K+ members, real-time support
ClawHub Skill Marketplace
13,729 community Skills
Moltbook
AI Agent social network, 32K+ Agents
awesome-openclaw-skills
5,494 curated Skills, 31.4K Stars
awesome-openclaw-usecases
Community use case collection, 21K Stars
Every OpenClaw Use Case (85+)
Comprehensive real-world use case catalog by Graham Mann