About OpenClaw
OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI assistant platform. Run Claude, GPT-4, Gemini — or any LLM — on your own server, connected to Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, and more.
What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI assistant platform that lets you deploy a personal AI agent on your own infrastructure. Instead of signing up for a hosted AI service, you run OpenClaw on your own server — a VPS, Mac mini, Raspberry Pi, or local machine — and connect it to the LLM providers and messaging channels you already use.
Your conversations stay on your server. Your data never passes through third-party infrastructure beyond your chosen LLM provider. You control the model, the integrations, and the behavior.
claw.mobile is the official information and documentation site for OpenClaw, maintained by the OpenClaw community and distributed by Kade AI.
Who Is OpenClaw For?
Developers
Build custom AI workflows with the Skills plugin system. Script automations, connect APIs, and extend capabilities without limits.
Founders & Operators
Automate repetitive tasks, manage communications, and get an AI assistant that knows your context — without paying for enterprise subscriptions.
Privacy-First Users
Keep your conversations and data off third-party servers. Full sovereignty over your AI assistant, with no usage tracking or data harvesting.
How It Works
OpenClaw sits between your chosen LLM provider and your messaging apps. It handles context, memory, skills, and routing — all running on your own server.
OpenClaw vs Hosted AI
See how OpenClaw compares to ChatGPT and Claude.ai
| Feature | OpenClaw | ChatGPT | Claude.ai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Data privacy | ✅ Your server | ❌ OpenAI servers | ❌ Anthropic servers |
| Choose your LLM | ✅ Any model | ❌ GPT only | ❌ Claude only |
| Messaging app integration | ✅ Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord... | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ No |
| Open source | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Monthly cost | ✅ ~$5–20 (API only) | 💰 $20+/month | 💰 $20+/month |
| Custom automations | ✅ Skills system | ⚠️ GPTs (limited) | ⚠️ Limited |
| Vendor lock-in | ✅ None | ❌ Locked to OpenAI | ❌ Locked to Anthropic |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI assistant platform. It runs on your own server and connects any major LLM (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, etc.) to messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord.
Is OpenClaw free?
Yes, the OpenClaw software is free and open source. You pay only for your chosen LLM API usage — typically $5–20/month for personal use.
Who is OpenClaw for?
OpenClaw is for developers, founders, and power users who want a private AI assistant without giving their data to hosted AI services. If you care about data sovereignty and want full control over your AI, OpenClaw is for you.
What LLMs does OpenClaw support?
OpenClaw supports Claude (Anthropic), GPT-4/GPT-4o (OpenAI), Gemini (Google), Grok (xAI), Kimi (Moonshot), and 100+ models via OpenRouter.
What messaging apps does OpenClaw work with?
OpenClaw currently supports Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Signal, iMessage, and IRC, with more channels being added regularly.
Where can I host OpenClaw?
You can run OpenClaw on any VPS (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, AWS), a Mac mini, a Raspberry Pi, or your local machine. It runs anywhere Node.js runs.
How is OpenClaw different from ChatGPT or Claude.ai?
ChatGPT and Claude.ai are hosted services — your data is processed and stored on their servers. OpenClaw runs on YOUR infrastructure. Your conversations stay on your server. You choose which LLM to use, and you can switch models anytime without losing your setup.
What are Skills in OpenClaw?
Skills are OpenClaw's plugin system. They extend your AI assistant's capabilities — things like reading emails, managing tasks, checking weather, deploying code, and much more. You can install community skills or write your own.
Built by the Community
OpenClaw is built by the OpenClaw open-source community. Distributed by Kade AI.
Questions, partnerships, or feedback?
hello@claw.mobile