What Is OpenClaw? (The AI Agent Previously Known as Clawdbot)

OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot or Moltbot) is an open-source AI agent that runs on your own devices and connects to the messaging apps you already use — Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, and more. Unlike ChatGPT or Claude, which you interact with in a browser tab, OpenClaw lives on your computer or VPS, runs 24/7, and can actually do things: browse the web, send messages, manage files, run code, and remember everything.

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What Is OpenClaw? (Formerly Clawdbot and Moltbot)

OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI assistant framework. You install it on a Mac, Linux machine, Raspberry Pi, or VPS, connect it to your AI provider (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, or Google Gemini), and then message it through Telegram or another platform you already use.

The project went through several names:

• Clawdbot — the original name when it launched in 2024
• Moltbot — briefly renamed in 2025 as the project expanded
• OpenClaw — the current name, reflecting its open-source nature and extensibility

If you searched for "claude bot" and ended up here, that's likely how someone described OpenClaw — as a self-hosted Claude bot. The name stuck in communities even after the rebrand.

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How Is OpenClaw Different from ChatGPT?

The key difference: ChatGPT is a chat interface. OpenClaw is an autonomous agent. It doesn't wait for you to open a browser tab — it runs in the background and can proactively execute tasks, manage your schedule, and respond to messages automatically.

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What Does OpenClaw Actually Do?

OpenClaw's capabilities come from its Skills system — modular plugins that extend what the agent can do:

• Browse the web and summarize pages or research topics
• Manage Gmail and Google Calendar — draft emails, check your schedule
• Read and write Apple Notes, Reminders, iMessage (macOS only)
• Execute shell commands and automate your computer
• Search and summarize documents from your local files
• Post to social media — Twitter/X, LinkedIn
• Monitor websites for changes and alert you
• Run code — Python, JavaScript, shell scripts

The skills system is open — anyone can build and share new capabilities.

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Who Made OpenClaw?

Peter Steinberger, an Austrian software developer, created OpenClaw. He previously founded PSPDFKit (now Nutrient), a PDF SDK used by NASA, Dropbox, and thousands of enterprise companies. After selling PSPDFKit, he built OpenClaw as a personal productivity tool that eventually went public and open-source.

In February 2026, Reuters reported that Steinberger joined OpenAI. OpenClaw continues as an independent open-source project maintained by the community and by GetOpenClaw.ai — the official guide, hosting, and cloud platform.

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How to Get Started with OpenClaw

Option 1: OpenClaw Cloud (2 minutes, no technical setup)

The easiest way to try OpenClaw. We host it for you.

1. Go to cloud.getopenclaw.ai
2. Create an account
3. Connect your Telegram (or other messaging app)
4. Start chatting with your AI assistant

Option 2: Self-host (30–60 minutes)

For developers who want full control:

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw init
openclaw gateway start

Runs on Mac, Linux, Windows, or any VPS. Pair with your own Anthropic or OpenAI API key.

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Is OpenClaw Free?

The core OpenClaw software is completely free and open source (MIT license). You can self-host it at zero software cost — you only pay for the AI API calls (Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google).

OpenClaw Cloud ($59/month, or try with 50% off first month) is the hosted version — we run the infrastructure so you don't have to. Ideal for non-technical users or anyone who doesn't want to manage a server.

Try OpenClaw Cloud →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is claude bot? "Claude bot" is a common nickname for OpenClaw, the self-hosted AI agent built around Anthropic's Claude AI model. OpenClaw (formerly called Clawdbot) connects to Claude via the Anthropic API and runs on your own devices, giving you a personal AI assistant that's always on and works in Telegram or WhatsApp.

What is Clawdbot? Clawdbot was the original name for OpenClaw — a self-hosted AI assistant that connects to Claude and other AI models. It was renamed to Moltbot in 2025, and then to OpenClaw. All three names refer to the same project. If you see old Reddit posts or GitHub issues mentioning "Clawdbot," they're talking about what is now called OpenClaw.

What is Moltbot? Moltbot was a transitional name for OpenClaw used in mid-2025. The project started as Clawdbot, was briefly named Moltbot, and is now called OpenClaw. The renaming happened as the project expanded beyond just Claude support to include OpenAI, Google Gemini, and other AI providers.

Who created OpenClaw? OpenClaw was created by Peter Steinberger, an Austrian developer who previously founded and sold PSPDFKit (now Nutrient). He started OpenClaw as a personal project and open-sourced it. In February 2026, he joined OpenAI. The project continues independently at github.com/openclaw/openclaw and getopenclaw.ai.

Is OpenClaw free? Yes, the open-source version of OpenClaw is free. You self-host it and pay only for AI API calls (typically $5–20/month for normal use). OpenClaw Cloud is a paid hosted version starting at $59/month — no setup required, everything managed for you. Get started with Cloud →