What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot, then Moltbot) is an open-source AI agent framework with 196K+ GitHub stars. It runs on your own hardware and connects to messaging channels like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Discord. Unlike chatbots, it takes action — reading email, managing calendars, browsing the web, running commands, and automating workflows.
Is OpenClaw free?
The software is free and open-source (MIT license). You pay for LLM API calls ($10-200/month depending on usage), hardware (Mac Mini $499 or VPS $5-20/month), and optionally professional setup ($499-$4,500) and managed support ($800/month).
Is OpenClaw safe to use?
It can be safe when properly configured. Out of the box, the defaults have known security gaps. 30,000+ instances were found publicly exposed. 138+ CVEs have been documented. 12-20% of ClawHub skills are flagged as suspicious. Security hardening — Docker sandboxing, firewall, OAuth, audit logging — is essential.
Do I need to know how to code?
Not to use OpenClaw once it's set up — you interact through WhatsApp, Telegram, or other messaging apps. But installation and configuration require comfort with the command line. If you're not technical, hiring a professional setup service ($499+) is strongly recommended.
What's the difference between OpenClaw and ChatGPT?
ChatGPT gives advice. OpenClaw takes action. ChatGPT tells you how to check your email. OpenClaw actually checks your email. OpenClaw runs 24/7 on your hardware, connects to your tools, and executes tasks autonomously. ChatGPT runs in a browser tab and requires your active input.
What hardware do I need?
Mac Mini M4 (most popular, $499), any Mac M1+, Linux machine, VPS ($5-20/month), or Windows with WSL2. Minimum: 2GB RAM, Node.js 22+. Recommended: dedicated machine with 4GB+ RAM.
Which AI model should I use?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is the most popular choice — good balance of capability and cost. Claude Opus 4.6 for complex reasoning (1.7x more expensive). GPT-4 as an alternative. Ollama for free local models (requires powerful hardware). OpenRouter for multi-model routing and cost optimization.
How much does it cost per month?
Light personal use: $10-30/month in API costs. Moderate business use: $50-150/month. Heavy automation: $200+/month. These are API costs only — add hardware ($499 one-time for Mac Mini or $5-20/month for VPS).
Can I run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi?
Technically yes, but performance will be limited. A Pi works for light use cases but struggles with heavy automation, multiple channels, or browser skills. Most people who start on a Pi eventually move to a Mac Mini or VPS.
What messaging channels does OpenClaw support?
WhatsApp (Baileys), Telegram (grammY), Slack (Bolt), Discord (discord.js), Signal (signal-cli), iMessage (BlueBubbles), Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, Matrix, IRC, LINE, Mattermost, Nostr, Feishu, Zalo, Twitch, WeChat, and WebChat. 20+ channels total.
Can OpenClaw replace my virtual assistant?
For routine tasks (email triage, scheduling, FAQ responses, reminders): yes, at 70-90% lower cost. For tasks requiring judgment, creativity, physical presence, or emotional intelligence: no. Many businesses use both — OpenClaw for volume, human VA for complexity.
How do I connect WhatsApp?
Enable the WhatsApp channel in openclaw.json, restart the gateway, scan the QR code with your phone's WhatsApp app. Use a dedicated WhatsApp account (not your personal number). Set allowFrom to whitelist specific numbers.
What is ClawHub?
ClawHub is OpenClaw's community skill marketplace with 13,000+ published skills. Skills range from file storage and browser automation to email handling and API integrations. Warning: 12-20% of skills are flagged as suspicious — always review source code before installing.
Can I use OpenClaw for my business?
Yes. Common business use cases include customer communication, lead follow-up, appointment scheduling, email management, internal ops automation, and multi-agent team deployments. Professional setup and security hardening are strongly recommended for business use.
What are SOUL.md and USER.md?
SOUL.md defines your agent's personality, rules, and operating instructions. USER.md contains information about you — your name, preferences, projects, and context. Together, they make your agent personalized and effective. Think of SOUL.md as the agent's job description and USER.md as the employee handbook about their boss.
Additional questions
How do I update OpenClaw? Run 'npm update -g openclaw' or pull the latest Docker image. How do I back up my configuration? Copy the ~/.openclaw/ directory. How do I reduce API costs? Start new sessions regularly, use Sonnet instead of Opus, set token budgets. How do I fix the 'command not found' error? Add npm's global bin directory to your PATH. How do I run multiple agents? Use OpenClaw's workspace isolation and multi-agent routing. Each agent gets its own SOUL.md and channel configuration.