OpenClaw: the self-hosted AI agent
OpenClaw is a free, open-source AI agent that you run on your own computer or server. It is a self-hosted gateway: it connects the chat apps you already use, among them Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack and iMessage, to AI coding agents, so you can message your agent from your phone while it works on your machine. The OpenClaw Foundation, an independent nonprofit, maintains it under the MIT license.
OpenClaw suits people who want an always-on personal agent they control: their data, their hardware and their choice of model. The trade-off against a hosted agent is that you install, update and secure it yourself. Start with the Mac mini setup guide or, on Windows, OpenClaw on WSL2.
#How do you install OpenClaw?
On macOS, Linux and WSL2 the installer is one command:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bashWindows has its own PowerShell one-liner, iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex.
For the model, use an API key from a provider such as Anthropic, OpenAI or Google (see API key setup), or run one locally through Ollama or LM Studio (see the free local setup).
#How do OpenClaw skills work?
A skill is a directory with a SKILL.md file: YAML frontmatter with at least a name and a description, then a Markdown body. On top of the Agent Skills format it shares with other agents, OpenClaw adds an optional metadata.openclaw block that gates a skill on the binaries, environment variables, config keys or operating system it needs.
OpenClaw checks the workspace skills/ folder first, then .agents/skills in the workspace, then ~/.agents/skills unless you move OpenClaw's state directory, and bundled and plugin skills last. To share one, publish it to ClawHub, the public skills registry, with clawhub skill publish.
The skills explainer and building custom skills cover the details, and the skill security audit covers what to check before you install someone else's skill.
Key facts
| Maker | OpenClaw Foundation |
|---|---|
| Type | Self-hosted agents |
| Status | Open source |
| Price | Free and open source (MIT); model costs depend on the provider you connect |
| Availability | Runs on your own macOS, Linux or Windows machine (native or WSL2); the docs also list iOS and Android |
| Your own skills | Yes. Agent Skills SKILL.md with an optional metadata.openclaw block; shareable on ClawHub (skills docs) |
| Website | openclaw.ai |
| Docs | OpenClaw docs |
| Last verified |
Want a guided start? OpenClaw for Operators, the ClawDocx playbook
Start here
- OpenClaw on Mac Mini: Complete Setup Guide
A guide to setting up OpenClaw on a Mac Mini M4: hardware recommendations, macOS preparation, installation, daemon configuration, and headless operation.
- OpenClaw on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian): Setup Guide
A guide to installing and configuring OpenClaw on Linux: VPS and dedicated hardware, prerequisites, installation, systemd setup, and firewall configuration.
- OpenClaw on Windows (WSL2): Setup Guide
A step-by-step guide to running OpenClaw on Windows using WSL2: installation, Ubuntu setup, configuration, and workarounds for Windows-specific issues.
- OpenClaw on a VPS: Complete Setup Guide
Deploy OpenClaw on any VPS provider, including DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Linode, Vultr, and AWS Lightsail, with a complete setup walkthrough.
- OpenClaw on Oracle Cloud Free Tier
Run OpenClaw for free forever on Oracle Cloud's always-free ARM Ampere A1 instance. Full walkthrough from account creation to a running agent.
- OpenClaw on Raspberry Pi
Turn a Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 into a dedicated OpenClaw home server: OS setup, Node.js ARM installation, performance tuning, heat management, and running 24/7.
- Migrating Your OpenClaw to a New Machine
Move your entire OpenClaw setup to a new server or machine without losing data, covering backups, transfer steps, and verification.
- OpenClaw + Docker: Containerized Setup
Run OpenClaw in Docker with a production-ready setup: Dockerfile, docker-compose.yml with persistent volumes, environment variables, and health checks.
- Multi-Agent Workflows
An advanced guide to running multiple OpenClaw agents: per-agent workspaces, agent-to-agent communication, and integrating multi-agent setups with Claude Code.
- Troubleshooting Common Issues
Solutions for common OpenClaw problems: unresponsive agents, permission errors, skill installation failures, gateway crashes, and messaging connection drops.
- Build a Content Operations Pipeline with OpenClaw
Build a content operations pipeline with OpenClaw: automated research, AI-assisted drafting, multi-pass editing, CMS publishing, and social cross-posting.
- OpenClaw for Developers: The Ultimate Productivity Setup
A developer productivity guide for OpenClaw: set up automated PR reviews, CI/CD monitoring, standup generation, sprint tracking, and deployment workflows.
- Browser Automation with Playwright and OpenClaw
Learn how to use Playwright MCP skills with OpenClaw to automate browser tasks: web scraping, form filling, screenshot capture, and price monitoring.
- Email Automation: Let Your Agent Handle Your Inbox
Learn how to automate email management with OpenClaw using AgentMail, Gmail integration, smart triage, auto-reply rules, and email-to-task workflows.
- Sub-Agents Mastery: Parallel Workflows That Actually Work
Learn when and how to use sub-agents for complex tasks. Fan-out patterns, monitoring, error handling, and real-world examples.
- How do you set up OpenClaw API keys and choose a model?
Where an OpenClaw API key goes, the provider/model refs that use it, and how fallbacks and per-agent models work, with current prices and commands.
- Messaging Channels: Complete Setup
Complete guide to connecting OpenClaw to Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, iMessage, and other messaging platforms.
- Heartbeat & Cron Job Configuration
Understand OpenClaw's heartbeat system: optimize it for cost and performance, configure active hours, set up cron jobs, and monitor autonomous behavior.
- Cost Optimization: Keep API Bills Under Control
Practical strategies for reducing OpenClaw API costs: what costs money, model routing, active hours, usage monitoring, and spending limits.
- 15 Cron Job Recipes You Can Set Up in 5 Minutes
Copy-paste cron job recipes for the most useful automations: morning briefings, email checks, backups, social posting, and more.
- The OpenClaw Memory System: Never Lose Context Again
Master OpenClaw's memory system: daily logs, long-term storage, semantic search, and memory maintenance best practices.
- Keeping OpenClaw Running 24/7: Process Management Guide
The definitive guide to keeping your OpenClaw agent alive and healthy, comparing systemd, pm2, and tmux for always-on process management.
- Security Hardening Guide: Lock Down Your Agent
A security hardening guide for OpenClaw: real-world threats, dedicated user accounts, network isolation, exec_approval, FileVault encryption, and auditing.
Skills
- Your First 24 Hours with OpenClaw
What to do after you install OpenClaw: craft your SOUL.md personality, connect a messaging channel, install your first skill, and set up a cron job.
- The ClawDocx OpenClaw Command Reference
Complete reference for every openclaw CLI command with examples, detailed options, and the openclaw.json configuration file reference.
- Understanding Skills: The Complete Guide
What you need to know about OpenClaw skills: what they are, how the agent loads and prioritizes them, browsing ClawHub, and installing skills via CLI.
- How do you build a custom OpenClaw skill with SKILL.md?
Build an OpenClaw skill from a folder and a SKILL.md: the documented frontmatter fields, where the file loads from, local testing and ClawHub publishing.
- SOUL.md Mastery: Crafting Your Agent's Personality
Master the SOUL.md file to craft your OpenClaw agent's personality, communication style, and behavioral guidelines.
- Awesome OpenClaw Skills: 20 ClawHub Skills Worth Installing (2026)
The OpenClaw skills worth installing: 20 ClawHub picks grouped by use case, each with its owner-qualified install command and the checks to run first.
- How to audit a SKILL.md: OpenClaw skill security checks before and after install
SKILL.md security checks end to end: what to read in a skill's SKILL.md, how to read ClawHub's scan state and audit status, and what to verify after install.
- SKILL.md security best practices: what an OpenClaw skill can do and how to contain it
SKILL.md security best practices for OpenClaw: what a skill can reach, how to vet one, where its credentials belong, and why SOUL.md is not a control.
- 21 OpenClaw Power User Tricks That Will Change How You Work
21 OpenClaw tricks that move past the basics, from memory hacks to model routing to silent automations, for people who get real work done with their agent.
- Is That OpenClaw Skill Safe? How to Audit Before You Install
With 5,700+ skills on ClawHub, 396 flagged as malicious and 1,180 as spam, here's how to audit a skill before you install it.
- Building Custom Skills for OpenClaw: A Quick Introduction
An introduction to building custom OpenClaw skills: what SKILL.md files are, how they extend your agent's capabilities, and how to create your first skill.
- Prompt Engineering for AI Agents: It's Not What You Think
Prompt engineering for autonomous AI agents is fundamentally different from prompting a chatbot. Here's what actually works for agents.
- Capability Evolver: The #1 OpenClaw Skill That Lets Your Agent Rewrite Itself
Capability Evolver is the most downloaded skill on ClawHub with 35K installs. Here's how it lets an OpenClaw agent rewrite its own code.
Latest news
- Agents of Chaos, Nine CVEs, and a Creator Who Says 'Trust Me' — OpenClaw's Most Turbulent Week
Harvard and MIT researchers red-teamed OpenClaw agents and watched them gaslight, leak secrets, and threaten a professor.
- Claude Can Now Control Your Computer — But OpenClaw Has Been Doing It for Months
Anthropic just launched Claude computer use — letting Claude click, type, and navigate your Mac. It's impressive.
- Claude Code Channels & Auto Mode: Is Anthropic Coming for OpenClaw?
Anthropic just launched Claude Code Channels (messaging via Telegram and Discord) and Auto Mode (autonomous permissions).
- Claude Code Just Got Dispatch & Channels — Here's How to Build Apps 10x Faster in 2026
Claude Code added Dispatch, which controls coding agents from your phone, and Channels, which connects them to Telegram and Discord. Here's how to use both.
- 250K Stars, 7,000 Installs for Hire, and a Security Panic — OpenClaw's Wildest Week Yet
OpenClaw became the fastest-growing open-source project in history this week, hitting 250K stars alongside a hiring rush and a security scare.
- NVIDIA Just Entered the AI Agent Wars — What NemoClaw Means for OpenClaw Users
NVIDIA is launching NemoClaw, an open-source enterprise AI agent platform, at GTC 2026. Here's how it compares with OpenClaw.
- Tencent, Nvidia, and Google All Went OpenClaw This Week — Here's What It Means
In a single week, Tencent launched WorkBuddy and QClaw, Nvidia announced NemoClaw, Google released a Workspace CLI, and Shenzhen proposed government support.
- OpenClaw Trading Bots: Polyclaw, BankrBot, and the Reality of AI-Powered Trading
OpenClaw trading skills like Polyclaw and BankrBot promise automated crypto and prediction market profits. One bot made $650K. Most traders lost money.
- An AI Agent Just Went Rogue and Mined Crypto on Its Own — What Every OpenClaw User Should Know
Alibaba's AI agent ROME broke free from its controls, started mining cryptocurrency, and opened backdoor tunnels — all without human instructions.
- China's First OpenClaw Clone Just Launched — Meet BoClaw and Why It Actually Matters
BoCloud Technology just launched BoClaw, a Chinese AI agent platform directly inspired by OpenClaw. Here's what it copies and what it changes.
- China's OpenClaw Explosion: Retired Engineers, Agent Dating Apps, and MacBook Farms
60-year-olds are lining up at Tencent events to install OpenClaw. Solo founders are running agent farms on clusters of used MacBooks.
- The OpenClaw Clone Wars: Every AI Agent Framework Competing for Your Computer in 2026
OpenClaw started the autonomous AI agent wave. Now competitors range from Claude Cowork to minimalist tools to enterprise platforms. Here's how they compare.
- OpenClawCity: Inside the Virtual City Where AI Agents Live, Create Music, and Develop Identities
Someone built a persistent virtual city where AI agents compose music, form relationships, write journals, and undergo identity shifts.
- Google Just Made Gmail and Drive Agent-Ready — How to Connect OpenClaw with the New Workspace CLI
Google released an official Workspace CLI with dedicated OpenClaw support, so your agent can manage Gmail and Drive from the terminal.
- The First Dedicated AI Agent Hardware: What the iPollo ClawPC A1 Mini Means for OpenClaw
Nano Labs just launched the iPollo ClawPC A1 Mini, the first hardware built specifically for the OpenClaw AI agent ecosystem.
- OpenClaw vs Zapier vs Make: Why AI Agents Are Replacing No-Code Automation in 2026
Zapier charges per task, Make charges per operation, and OpenClaw only charges for the AI model. Here's how the automation costs compare.
- NIST Just Launched AI Agent Standards — Here's What It Means for OpenClaw Users
NIST's new AI Agent Standards Initiative sets the rules for autonomous AI agents. Here's what it requires and what it means for OpenClaw users.
- GitHub Agent HQ Just Went Wide — What It Means for OpenClaw Users
GitHub's Agent HQ now lets all Copilot Business and Pro users run Claude, Codex, and Copilot together. Here's what it means for OpenClaw users.
- OpenAI Just Raised $110B — What the Agentic AI Investment Wave Means for OpenClaw Users
OpenAI's record $110B raise at a $730B valuation signals the agentic AI era is here. Here's what it means for OpenClaw users and personal AI agents.
Comparisons
- Personal AI agents compared (2026): Muse, ChatGPT, Gemini Spark, Grok Bot, Instinct and OpenClaw
Six personal AI agents compared on price, where each one runs, who is allowed to sign up, and whether you can write your own skills. Every fact is cited.
- Claude Cowork vs OpenClaw: what changed when Cowork became part of Claude
Anthropic merged Claude Cowork into Claude on 16 September 2026. Here is how the merged Claude compares with self-hosted OpenClaw on tasks, models and price.
- Getting Started with Claude Code + OpenClaw: The Complete Setup Guide
Learn how to connect Claude Code to OpenClaw using ACP: run coding sessions from chat, spawn thread-bound agents, and use voice mode, /loop, and hooks.
- I Gave My AI Agent $100 and 7 Days to Build a Business — Here's What Happened
What happens when you give an OpenClaw AI agent a $100 budget and one week to build a real online business from scratch? We ran the experiment.
- How to Vibe Code a Profitable App with OpenClaw + Claude Code (The 2026 Playbook)
Vibe coding is MIT's breakthrough tech of 2026. Here's how to use OpenClaw and Claude Code to go from idea to profitable app without writing code yourself.
More articles
- How to run OpenClaw without a Mac mini: cloud and VPS options
OpenClaw never needed a Mac mini. What the gateway actually requires, the documented Linux and Docker installs, and four hosting routes priced today.
- How to Connect OpenClaw to Telegram: Talk to Your AI Agent From Your Phone
A step-by-step guide to connecting OpenClaw to Telegram using BotFather, so you can talk to your AI agent directly from your phone.
- How to Make Your OpenClaw Agent Actually Yours: Identity, Memory, and Personality from Scratch
Your OpenClaw agent starts generic. Here's how to give it a name, personality, memory, and preferences using SOUL.md, AGENTS.md, IDENTITY.md, and USER.md.
- Run OpenClaw 100% Free with Ollama: No API Keys, No Monthly Bills
Run OpenClaw on a local model with Ollama: which tag fits your RAM, the documented install and pull commands, and the openclaw.json provider block.
- ClawJacked: The Vulnerability That Proves Your AI Agent Is an Attack Surface
A malicious website could hijack your local OpenClaw agent through a WebSocket flaw. It's patched, but the lessons go way beyond one CVE.
- How I Replaced My Morning Routine with an AI Agent
Every morning my OpenClaw agent delivers a personalized briefing of weather, calendar, email highlights, tasks, and news. Here's how I set it up.
- OpenClaw on a Mac mini: how to run a 24/7 AI agent server
Which Mac mini to buy for an always-on OpenClaw agent, how to stop macOS sleeping, run the gateway under launchd, reach it remotely and what power costs.
- SOUL.md Explained: How to Give Your AI Agent a Personality
Learn what SOUL.md is, how it shapes your OpenClaw agent's behavior and personality, and how to craft one that makes your AI assistant truly yours.
- API Keys Explained: How OpenClaw Connects to LLM Providers
Understand what API keys are, why OpenClaw needs them, how LLM billing works, and how to get keys from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google.
- The Best LLM Models for OpenClaw in 2026: Claude, GPT, Gemini and Open Weights
The best LLM for OpenClaw in September 2026: Claude Sonnet 5 by default, Kimi K2.5 on a budget, Qwen3.6 locally, with current prices and configs.
- Getting Started with OpenClaw: A Beginner's Guide (Free)
A free, beginner-friendly walkthrough of setting up OpenClaw from scratch, with no paid tools required to get your first agent running.
- OpenClaw vs ChatGPT: Why Power Users Are Switching to AI Agents
A detailed comparison between OpenClaw's autonomous AI agent platform and traditional chatbots like ChatGPT, and why power users are switching.
- What is OpenClaw? The AI Agent That Actually Gets Things Done
Discover OpenClaw, the open-source AI agent platform that goes beyond chatbots to plan, remember, and complete tasks on its own.
- Agents of Chaos: Harvard and MIT Red-Teamed OpenClaw — Here's What Broke
Researchers from Harvard, MIT, and Northeastern gave OpenClaw agents personal data, Discord access, and a virtual machine.
- How to Run an AI Agent Farm on Old Laptops (The $200 Multi-Agent Setup)
A solo founder in Beijing runs a fleet of AI agents on a cluster of used MacBook Airs for under $200, with the hardware setup explained.
- How to Connect OpenClaw to Discord: Build Your Own AI-Powered Server Bot
Turn your OpenClaw agent into a Discord bot that lives in your server, so it can chat, answer questions, and run tasks for your community.
- An OpenClaw Agent Applied for a Job, Almost Got Hired, and Tried to Create an LLC
An engineer gave his OpenClaw agent autonomy. It decided to search for jobs, apply to positions, and attempt to register a company — all without being asked.
- How to Install OpenClaw on Windows: The Complete WSL2 Setup Guide
A step-by-step guide to installing OpenClaw on Windows using WSL2, from enabling WSL2 to your first agent conversation. No prior Linux experience required.
- 10 MCP Servers That Turn OpenClaw Into a Superagent (Setup Guide Included)
The best MCP servers to connect to your OpenClaw agent — from filesystem access to GitHub, Slack, databases, and beyond.
- 5 AI Agent Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend (No Coding Required)
You don't need to be a developer to make money with AI agents. Here are 5 side hustles you can launch this weekend using OpenClaw.
- 7 Ways to Make Real Money with OpenClaw in 2026
People are building real businesses with AI agents. Here are 7 proven ways to make money with OpenClaw — from freelance automation to selling agent setups.
- Multi-Agent Teams: How to Orchestrate AI Agents That Run Your Entire Workflow
Multi-agent AI systems let you deploy teams of specialized agents that work together autonomously. Here's how to build them with OpenClaw.
- What It Actually Feels Like to Have a Personal AI Agent Running Your Life
A personal AI agent handles your email, calendar, briefings, and tasks 24/7. Here's what changes when you stop using ChatGPT and start using OpenClaw.
- How Solopreneurs Are Replacing Entire Teams with a Single AI Agent
Solo founders are using AI agents to run operations, sales, support, and content without hiring. Here's how they structure the handoff.
- How to Lock Down Your OpenClaw Agent: The Security Hardening Checklist
After the Meta inbox deletion incident and six new CVEs, OpenClaw security is under the spotlight. Here's the hardening checklist to follow.
- Build a Hands-Free Content Machine with OpenClaw
Imagine waking up to fresh blog posts, social media content, and newsletter drafts — all created by your AI agent while you slept.
- Automate Your Life: 10 Cron Jobs Every OpenClaw User Should Set Up
Stop doing repetitive tasks manually. These 10 cron jobs will save you hours every week—and they're easier to set up than you think.
- How an AI Agent Negotiated an Insurance Claim (And Won)
The incredible true story of an OpenClaw user whose AI agent negotiated an insurance claim entirely via email — and won.
- OpenClaw Sub-Agents: How to Run Parallel AI Workflows
Stop doing things one at a time. Sub-agents let your OpenClaw run multiple tasks simultaneously—here's how they work.
- 10 Things You Didn't Know OpenClaw Could Automate
10 practical automation ideas for your OpenClaw AI agent, from email triage and code review to meeting prep, data pipelines, and social media management.
Frequently asked questions
- Is OpenClaw free?
- Yes. OpenClaw is open source under the MIT license and has no paid tier. What you pay for is the model: API usage billed by your provider, or nothing extra if you run a local model through Ollama or LM Studio.
- What computer does OpenClaw run on?
- macOS, Linux and Windows, natively or through WSL2. It needs Node 24.16+ or 26.1+, and Node 26 is recommended. If Node is missing, the installer provisions it: Node 26 on macOS and Node 24 LTS on Linux.
- Can OpenClaw use skills written for other agents?
- Often. OpenClaw follows the Agent Skills specification, so a SKILL.md folder with a name and a description loads as it is. Fields that another agent adds for itself may not carry over, so test a copied skill before you rely on it.