OpenClaw Free Trial: Start for $0, No Credit Card Required
Last Updated: February 2026
Yes — OpenClaw has a free trial. No credit card required.
This page covers exactly what you get, what the limits are, and how to start in under 5 minutes.
The Free Trial (OpenClaw Cloud)
The easiest way to try OpenClaw is via OpenClaw Cloud at cloud.getopenclaw.ai.
- Cost: $0
- Credit card: Not required
- Setup time: Under 5 minutes
- What's included: Core AI assistant features, Telegram integration, basic automations
You sign up, connect your account, and your AI assistant is running. No installation, no server, no config files.
The Other "Free Trial": Self-Hosted
OpenClaw is open source (MIT license). That means you can run it yourself — forever, for free — without it ever expiring.
This isn't a trial. It's just free.
npm install -g openclaw
You pay $0 for OpenClaw. You only pay for the AI API you connect to — Anthropic, OpenAI, Groq, or local models. Typical API cost for personal use: $5–30/month.
If you use a free model tier (like Groq's free API or a local model via Ollama), the total cost is $0.
What's the Difference?
| Cloud Free | Self-Hosted | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | $0 |
| Setup | 5 min, no config | 30 min, some config |
| Usage limits | Yes | No |
| Your data | On cloud.getopenclaw.ai | Your machine only |
| Custom skills | Limited | Unlimited |
| Runs 24/7 | Yes (cloud servers) | Only if machine is on |
For a quick test: Cloud free tier. For power use: Self-hosted with your own API keys.
How to Start the Free Trial
Option 1: Cloud (Fastest)
- Go to cloud.getopenclaw.ai
- Create a free account
- Connect Telegram or another messaging app
- Send your first message
Done. Your AI assistant is running.
Option 2: Self-Hosted (More Control)
- Install:
npm install -g openclaw - Get an AI API key (Anthropic or OpenAI — free tiers available)
- Run
openclaw setupand follow the prompts - Connect Telegram as your interface
Full setup guide: Get Started
Does the Free Trial Expire?
- Cloud free tier: No expiry. Free forever with usage limits.
- Self-hosted: No expiry. Open source software — you own it.
There's no "14-day trial" model here. OpenClaw isn't SaaS with a locked gate. The free version is just free.
FAQ
Do I need a credit card to try OpenClaw?
No. The Cloud free tier requires no payment info. Self-hosted costs nothing either.
What happens when I hit the free tier limits?
On Cloud, you'll be prompted to upgrade. On self-hosted, there are no limits — you control your own usage.
Can I use OpenClaw commercially on the free tier?
Self-hosted: yes, MIT license allows it. Cloud free tier: check the Cloud terms of service.
Is the free trial the same as the paid version?
Self-hosted is full-featured regardless of payment. Cloud free tier has feature limits compared to Cloud paid plans.
Start Free Today
The fastest path: cloud.getopenclaw.ai — account in 2 minutes, no card needed.
If you want full control with no limits: install guide.
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