OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot / Moltbot) is an open-source personal AI agent that runs on your own computer, executing tasks autonomously 24/7. Unlike ChatGPT, it doesn’t just chat with you — it actually sends emails, manages your calendar, and replies to customers on your behalf. This guide takes you from zero to a complete understanding of OpenClaw’s core concepts.
A Scenario You’ve Probably Experienced
You tell ChatGPT: “Send an email to my client saying I’ll be 10 minutes late.”
ChatGPT diligently writes a perfect email.
Then what? It tells you to copy it into Gmail and hit send yourself.
This is the fundamental difference between a “chatbot” and an “AI Agent” — ChatGPT gives you advice, OpenClaw executes for you.
Consultant vs. Employee: An Instant Analogy
The fastest way to understand OpenClaw is to imagine you’re hiring someone:
ChatGPT / Claude is like hiring a brilliant “consultant.” It answers any question brilliantly, but it won’t lift a finger to do the work. Close the browser tab, and it’s gone.
OpenClaw is like hiring a “full-time employee.” It sits in your office 24/7 (your Mac Mini or any computer), ready to check your email, manage your schedule, and reply to customers. It’s still working while you sleep.
One is an “AI tool,” the other is an “AI employee.” Tools wait for you to use them; employees take initiative.
Five Key Differences
For a more precise comparison, here are the five major differences between OpenClaw and traditional chatbots:
| Dimension | ChatGPT / Claude | OpenClaw |
| Interaction Mode | Responds only when asked (passive) | Can proactively notify you (active) |
| Runtime | Stops when you close the tab | Runs 24/7 in the background |
| Execution | Only generates text | Actually sends emails, modifies files, runs code |
| Memory | Independent per conversation (or limited memory) | Local storage, memory fully belongs to you |
| Privacy | Data sent to the cloud | Data stays on your computer |
In short: ChatGPT extends your brain, OpenClaw extends your actions. The best approach isn’t choosing one — it’s using both. Let Claude/ChatGPT handle deep thinking while OpenClaw handles execution.
For a deeper dive into the differences between ChatGPT models, check out our complete comparison guide.
What Exactly Is OpenClaw? Three-Sentence Definition
- It’s an open-source AI Agent framework — not a proprietary product. Anyone can download and modify it for free on GitHub. It has accumulated over 215,000 stars.
- It’s controlled through messaging apps you already use — Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, and LINE can all be connected. No new interfaces to learn.
- It has a “heartbeat” mechanism — it doesn’t wait for you to ask. It automatically executes tasks on a schedule and only notifies you of the results.
Originally created by Peter Steinberger (founder of PSPDFKit) in November 2025 under the name Clawdbot. Due to trademark issues with Anthropic, it was renamed to Moltbot, then to OpenClaw. In February 2026, Steinberger announced he would be joining OpenAI, and the project was transferred to an open-source foundation. For more on OpenClaw’s origin story and security controversies, read our in-depth report: What Is OpenClaw? From Moltbot’s Viral Rise to Security Concerns.
Under the Hood: Six Core Components
Understanding how OpenClaw works comes down to understanding how six building blocks fit together. Think of it like a restaurant:
1. Gateway | The Front Door
All messages — whether from Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord — flow through the Gateway. It’s the system’s single entry point, responsible for routing messages, managing connections, and authenticating identities. By default, it binds to 127.0.0.1:18789, accepting only local connections for security.
2. Agent | The Chef
Once the Gateway receives a message, it hands it off to the Agent. The Agent calls a large language model (Claude, GPT, Kimi) to “think,” then decides whether to “act.” This isn’t simple Q&A — it’s a complete loop:
Receive message → Read memory → Call LLM → Decide whether to use tools → Execute action → Reply to you
This loop is what the AI field calls “Agentic AI” — AI that doesn’t just answer questions but autonomously makes decisions and takes action.
3. Memory | The Brain
OpenClaw stores all memory as plain text files (Markdown and YAML) that you can open with any text editor. Four key files:
- SOUL.md: The assistant’s name, personality, and speaking style
- AGENTS.md: Advanced configuration, tool permissions, behavior rules
- MEMORY.md: Long-term memory across conversations
- SCRATCH.md: Work-in-progress notes
This is OpenClaw’s biggest privacy advantage — your memory isn’t on anyone else’s server. It’s right there on your own computer.
4. Skills | Ability Packs
Each skill is a Markdown file, not compiled code. The Agent reads these files at runtime to understand what it “knows how to do.” Installation is instant — no recompiling or restarting needed. ClawHub hosts over 5,700 community-built skills.
However, be cautious: Cisco’s AI security research team found data exfiltration and prompt injection behavior in third-party Skills, so always verify the source before installing.
5. Heartbeat | The Pulse
This is the key mechanism that transforms OpenClaw from a “passive chatbot” into a “proactive assistant.” The Gateway triggers a heartbeat every 30 minutes by default. Each time, the Agent reads the checklist in HEARTBEAT.md, processes each item, and decides whether to notify you. If there’s nothing to report, it silently returns HEARTBEAT_OK.
For example, you might write in HEARTBEAT.md:
– Every morning at 8 AM, check my email and summarize important messages
– Check if the website is running normally every hour
– If a customer message on LINE goes unanswered for 30+ minutes, alert me
6. Cron / Scheduler
Works in tandem with Heartbeat. You can use cron syntax to precisely control when specific tasks trigger. Heartbeat handles “periodic patrols,” while Cron handles “specific time-based tasks.”
If you’re interested in automation workflows, we also recommend learning about how Zapier and Make integrate with AI technology for more complex automation.
OpenClaw vs Claude Cowork vs Claude Code
With so many AI tools available in 2026, it’s easy to get confused. These three have entirely different positioning:
| OpenClaw | Claude Cowork | Claude Code | |
| One-line definition | 24/7 background AI employee | Desktop AI file assistant | Terminal AI programmer |
| Runtime | Background daemon, runs without you | Only works when open | Only works when open |
| Control method | Chat apps (Telegram/LINE) | Desktop GUI, drag & drop | Terminal commands |
| Best for | Automating repetitive tasks, monitoring, proactive alerts | Organizing files, analyzing reports | Writing code, debugging, deploying |
| Technical barrier | Medium (basic terminal skills needed) | Low (non-technical users can use it) | High (coding skills required) |
| Data storage | Your computer (fully local) | Your computer (sandboxed) | Your project directory |
For a deeper comparison of AI coding tools, check out our Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-5.3 Codex showdown analysis.
The best strategy is combining all three:
- Use Claude Cowork for organizing data and analyzing documents
- Use Claude Code for development and debugging
- Use OpenClaw to tie everything together with 24/7 automation
Real Use Cases: What Can OpenClaw Actually Do?
Here are real-world scenarios from the OpenClaw community:
Daily Briefing
Set up Heartbeat to run at 7 AM every day: check weather, scan news, summarize unread emails, list today’s calendar — all pushed to your Telegram in one message. Before you’ve brushed your teeth, your day is already organized.
Email Management
Users have OpenClaw manage their inbox: auto-categorize, unsubscribe from spam, draft replies. Community reports include someone clearing thousands of backlogged emails in one session.
Car Negotiation
One user fed all dealer quotes to OpenClaw, had it auto-compare prices and generate negotiation strategies, ultimately saving over $4,000.
Customer Service
Connect WhatsApp or Telegram and let OpenClaw handle basic customer inquiries, escalating complex issues to humans. For small businesses, this is essentially a free extra customer service rep.
Student Learning
University students have OpenClaw auto-connect to course platforms, organize assignments and deadlines, and even summarize research papers.
Want to learn more about how AI is changing our daily interactions? Read our in-depth analysis of ChatGPT’s 700 million users.
Fair Comparison: OpenClaw’s Limitations
OpenClaw isn’t for everything. Here’s where ChatGPT / Claude still wins:
- High barrier to entry: Requires basic terminal skills, unlike ChatGPT which works by simply opening a browser. OpenClaw’s own maintainer even warned on Discord that if you can’t run a command line, this project is too dangerous for you.
- Conversation quality depends on the model: OpenClaw isn’t an AI model itself — it needs to connect to Claude, GPT, or Kimi. Quality depends on which model you choose and how you configure SOUL.md.
- Security risks remain: Because it needs access to email, calendars, and file systems, misconfiguration poses real security risks. According to Wikipedia, a security audit in early 2026 found hundreds of vulnerabilities.
- Not enterprise-ready: No governance framework, no compliance mechanisms. Suitable for individuals and small teams, but not yet ready for large enterprise deployments. Institutional Investor published a dedicated article noting OpenClaw isn’t suitable for regulated industries.
If you’re interested in AI agent security topics, check out how browser-based AI agents like Perplexity Comet handle these challenges.
Should You Use OpenClaw?
Ask yourself one question:
Do you need AI to “keep working for you even when you’re not there”?
If you only occasionally ask questions or write articles, ChatGPT / Claude is enough.
If you want a 24/7 automated AI assistant that handles email, monitors websites, replies to customers, and organizes your workday every morning — you need OpenClaw.
And the best answer isn’t “pick one” — it’s “use both.” Think with Claude, execute with OpenClaw.
FAQ
Q: Is OpenClaw free? A: OpenClaw itself is completely free and open source. However, you’ll need your own AI model API key (Claude, GPT, Kimi, etc.). Kimi K2.5 offers free API keys through NVIDIA build.nvidia.com, making it great for getting started.
Q: What hardware does OpenClaw need? A: Any computer that runs Node.js 22+. The most popular community choice is a Mac Mini (energy-efficient, stable, always-on). Others use Raspberry Pi, Linux VPS, or Windows PCs. DigitalOcean offers one-click deployment, and Cloudflare has open-sourced a Workers-based solution.
Q: Is OpenClaw secure? A: OpenClaw uses a local-first architecture — data doesn’t leave your computer. But since it accesses sensitive services like email and calendars, misconfiguration can create risks. Only install trusted Skills, and regularly run openclaw doctor for health checks. The latest v2026.2.23 release significantly strengthened security protections.
Q: Does OpenClaw support multiple languages? A: Yes. OpenClaw’s language capabilities depend on the underlying AI model. With Claude or GPT connected, conversations and task execution work in any supported language. The latest version (v2026.2.24) also added multilingual stop command support.
Q: Is OpenClaw the same as Moltbot and Clawdbot? A: Yes. Originally called Clawdbot, renamed to Moltbot due to trademark issues, then renamed to OpenClaw. Same project — the community affectionately calls it “Molty” (the lobster). The full renaming story is in Peter Steinberger’s official announcement.
