Question 1

What is OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

OpenClaw (formerly Moltbot) is an open-source, self-hosted AI assistant that you can run on your own hardware. It connects to messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord, and can use various AI models including Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, or free local models via Ollama.

Question 2

Why did Clawdbot change its name to OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, requested the name change due to trademark concerns - 'Clawd' was too similar to 'Claude'. Later it rebranded to OpenClaw to emphasize the open-source nature.

Question 3

Is OpenClaw affiliated with Anthropic or OpenAI?

Accepted Answer

No. OpenClaw is an independent open-source project. It can use AI models from various providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Ollama), but has no official affiliation with any of them.

Question 4

Is there an OpenClaw cryptocurrency token?

Accepted Answer

NO. There is no official OpenClaw cryptocurrency. Any token claiming to be associated with the project is a SCAM.

Question 5

Is OpenClaw free?

Accepted Answer

OpenClaw itself is 100% free and open source. However, if you use cloud AI providers (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini), you'll pay for API usage. You can run completely free by using Ollama with local models.

Question 6

How much does it cost to run OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary by usage. Light users (10 messages/day) might spend $1-5/month. Heavy users (100+ messages/day) could spend $20-50/month. Using Ollama with local models costs $0 for AI, just your electricity.

Question 7

What's the cheapest way to run OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

Use Ollama with local models like Llama 3.1 or Mistral. You need a computer with at least 8GB RAM (16GB recommended). A Mac Mini M2 is popular for always-on setups.

Question 8

Are there any hidden costs?

Accepted Answer

No hidden costs. OpenClaw is fully open source. You only pay for: 1) AI API usage (if using cloud models), 2) Your own server/electricity costs. There are no licensing fees, subscriptions, or premium tiers.

Question 9

What hardware do I need to run OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

For API-only mode: Any computer with 2GB+ RAM. For local AI (Ollama): 8GB RAM minimum, 16GB+ recommended. Popular choices include Mac Mini, Raspberry Pi 5 (API only), or a $5 VPS.

Question 10

Can I run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only with API-based models (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini). The Pi doesn't have enough RAM to run local AI models. A Raspberry Pi 4/5 with 4GB+ RAM works well.

Question 11

How do I install OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

The easiest way is: npm install -g openclaw@latest. This works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL). Check our installation guides for detailed steps.

Question 12

Can I run OpenClaw in Docker?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Docker is a great option for easy deployment. We provide official Docker images and docker-compose files.

Question 13

Is OpenClaw safe to use?

Accepted Answer

OpenClaw is as safe as you configure it. Since it's self-hosted, you control your data. Follow our security guide for best practices.

Question 14

Can OpenClaw access my files?

Accepted Answer

Only if you enable file system access. By default, OpenClaw runs in a sandboxed environment. You can configure which directories it can access in the config file.

Question 15

Is my conversation data private?

Accepted Answer

Your conversations are stored locally on your server. They're not sent to OpenClaw's developers. However, messages are sent to your chosen AI provider for processing.

Question 16

How do I secure my OpenClaw installation?

Accepted Answer

1) Enable authentication, 2) Use a firewall to block external access, 3) Store API keys as environment variables, 4) Run in sandbox mode, 5) Use VPN or SSH for remote access.

Question 17

What can OpenClaw do?

Accepted Answer

OpenClaw can: respond to messages on WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord, execute code, browse the web, manage your calendar, send emails, search the web, manage files, and much more through customizable 'skills'.

Question 18

What are OpenClaw skills?

Accepted Answer

Skills are modular capabilities you can add to OpenClaw. Examples include email management, calendar integration, web scraping, and custom automations.

Question 19

Can OpenClaw make phone calls?

Accepted Answer

Yes! There's a voice call plugin that lets OpenClaw make phone calls on your behalf. It uses text-to-speech and can handle simple call scenarios.

Question 20

Does OpenClaw remember previous conversations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenClaw has persistent memory that stores context across conversations. It can remember facts about you, previous requests, and ongoing projects.

Question 21

Which AI models can OpenClaw use?

Accepted Answer

OpenClaw supports: Anthropic (Claude 4/3.5), OpenAI (GPT-4o, o1), Google (Gemini 2.5), and local models via Ollama (Llama, Mistral, etc.).

Question 22

What's the best AI model for OpenClaw?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your needs. Claude 3.5 Sonnet offers the best balance of quality and cost. For free local use, Llama 3.1 8B is excellent.

Question 23

Can I use multiple AI models?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can configure different models for different tasks. For example, use Haiku for quick queries and Sonnet for complex reasoning.

Question 24

What is Ollama?

Accepted Answer

Ollama is a tool that lets you run AI models locally on your own hardware. It's completely free to use and supports models like Llama, Mistral, and Phi.

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