What Is OpenClaw AI? The Self-Hosted Personal Agent Explained (2026)
Paul TherbieoWhat Is OpenClaw AI?
OpenClaw AI is a free, open-source, self-hosted personal AI agent. It runs on your own hardware, whether that is a Mac Mini on your desk, a Linux server in a closet, or a cheap VPS, and connects to the messaging apps you already use every day.
Instead of opening a browser tab to talk to ChatGPT or Claude.ai, you send a message on WhatsApp or Telegram and your agent responds, plans, and executes tasks on your behalf. The difference from cloud AI tools is fundamental: OpenClaw runs on your machine, your data stays on your hardware, and the agent has direct access to your local file system, calendar, email, browser, and terminal.
OpenClaw was created by Peter Steinberger, founder of PSPDFKit. The project went through several names before landing here: it started as Clawd (a play on "Claude," Anthropic's AI model), was renamed to Moltbot, then Clawdbot, and finally settled on OpenClaw. The codebase is MIT-licensed and lives at github.com/openclaw/openclaw.
How OpenClaw AI Works
OpenClaw is built around four core concepts working together.
1. Model-Agnostic LLM Reasoning
OpenClaw does not include its own AI model. You connect it to any large language model you have API access to. Supported providers include:
- Anthropic Claude (Opus 4.6, Sonnet, Haiku)
- OpenAI GPT-4 and later models
- Google Gemini
- Local models via Ollama or LM Studio (Llama, Mistral, Qwen, DeepSeek)
The model handles all natural language understanding, task planning, and decision-making. You configure which model to use in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.
2. Skills
A skill is a plain Markdown file (SKILL.md) that gives the agent new capabilities. Skills contain step-by-step instructions that load into the agent's context. The community-maintained registry ClawHub contains over 5,700 skills covering email management, calendar automation, crypto trading, web scraping, code deployment, and much more. See the complete skills guide.
3. Channels
Once running, OpenClaw exposes a gateway that connects to your messaging platforms. You message the agent exactly as you would message a person. Supported channels include WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage (via BlueBubbles), Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, Matrix, Zalo, and a built-in WebChat.
4. Persistent Memory
OpenClaw maintains memory across sessions. It remembers your preferences, past conversations, and context so you do not have to repeat yourself every time. A special file called SOUL.md in your memory directory lets you define the agent's personality, communication style, and behavioral boundaries.
OpenClaw vs Cloud AI Tools
| OpenClaw | ChatGPT / Claude.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on your hardware | Yes | No |
| Data leaves your machine | Only LLM API calls | Yes, always |
| Persistent memory | Yes, stored locally | Limited |
| Connected to your apps | Yes, 13+ channels | No |
| Executes real tasks | Yes, full tool access | Sandboxed |
| Extendable with skills | Yes, 5,700+ | No |
| Monthly software cost | Free | Subscription |
The key trade-off is setup time. Cloud tools work in seconds; OpenClaw requires a 15-minute installation. For users who care about privacy, automation depth, or long-term cost, that trade-off is almost always worth it.
What OpenClaw AI Can Do Out of the Box
Without any additional skills installed, OpenClaw can:
- Read and write files anywhere on your machine
- Run terminal commands and shell scripts
- Control a dedicated Chrome browser instance
- Send and receive messages across connected channels
- Maintain a persistent memory of your preferences and past work
With skills installed from ClawHub, it can also automate Polymarket trades, manage your email inbox, deploy code to servers, monitor news and summarize it, manage crypto wallets, and execute almost any workflow you can describe in natural language.
Who Is OpenClaw For?
OpenClaw is built for developers, power users, and technically curious people who are comfortable running software from the terminal. The initial setup takes 10 to 20 minutes. After that, it runs as a background daemon and starts automatically when your machine boots.
If you want to get started, read the installation guide or jump to the skills documentation to see what the agent can do.
History: From Clawd to OpenClaw
OpenClaw's naming history is worth knowing because you may still see references to earlier names in tutorials and forum posts:
- Clawd was the original name, a pun on Anthropic's Claude model. Anthropic's legal team requested a rename.
- Moltbot was the first rename, referencing how lobsters molt and grow a new shell.
- Clawdbot was a brief intermediate name.
- OpenClaw is the current stable name and brand.
All of these refer to the same project. If you see an old tutorial using clawd commands, they still work with OpenClaw with minor adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenClaw AI free?
Yes. The OpenClaw software is MIT-licensed and completely free. You pay only for the AI model API calls you make, typically between $5 and $30 per month depending on usage and model choice. Running local models via Ollama is free. See the full cost breakdown.
Does OpenClaw send my data anywhere?
OpenClaw itself does not send your data to any external service. The only external requests are the API calls you explicitly configure, such as sending a message to Anthropic's servers. If you use a local model via Ollama, no data leaves your machine at all.
What hardware does OpenClaw require?
Any modern Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine running Node.js 22 or higher. A Mac Mini with Apple Silicon is a popular low-power host. See the Mac Mini setup guide for hardware recommendations and monthly cost estimates.
How is OpenClaw different from Claude Code or Cursor?
Claude Code and Cursor are developer tools focused on writing code inside your editor. OpenClaw is a general-purpose autonomous agent that lives in your messaging apps, runs 24/7, executes system-level tasks, and can be extended with a community skill library. They serve different use cases.