What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI personal assistant that has become one of the most starred projects on GitHub, surpassing 250,000 stars with over 360 contributors. Created by Peter Steinberger (known for PSPDFKit), it was originally called Clawdbot, then briefly Moltbot, before settling on OpenClaw.
Unlike web-based AI chatbots that only respond to questions, OpenClaw is an agentic AI - it runs on your own hardware and actually executes actions on your behalf across your devices, apps, and services.
How OpenClaw works
OpenClaw uses a hub-and-spoke architecture with a central Gateway at its core. The Gateway is a WebSocket server that sits between your messaging apps and the AI agent runtime.
Two subsystems do the heavy lifting:
- The Gateway handles message routing, access control, session management, and coordination across every connected channel
- The Agent Runtime handles the AI interaction loop - assembling context, calling the language model, executing tool requests, streaming responses, and persisting state
This means you get one persistent assistant, accessible from any messaging app, with centralized memory and tool access running entirely on your own infrastructure.
What can OpenClaw do?
OpenClaw goes far beyond answering questions:
- Send emails and manage your calendar
- Execute shell commands on your server
- Control a web browser for research and automation
- Read and write files on your system
- Connect to messaging apps - WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, Microsoft Teams
- Run multi-step workflows to complete complex tasks
- Remember context across conversations with persistent memory
Tell it your preferences once, and it remembers. Mention project deadlines, and it tracks them. The assistant gets more useful over time as context accumulates.
Why OpenClaw has gone viral
Several factors explain why OpenClaw has captured this much attention:
It’s fully open source (MIT license). The code is freely available and inspectable. No vendor lock-in, no hidden data collection.
Your data stays on your hardware. OpenClaw runs locally on your machine or VPS. Your emails, files, and personal data never leave your infrastructure. The AI processing uses APIs from providers like Anthropic or OpenAI, but your private data remains under your control.
It actually does things. Most AI tools feel like demos. OpenClaw solves real problems by taking real actions - not just suggesting what you should do.
It works where you already are. No new app to install. You interact with it through WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or whatever messaging platform you already use. Start a conversation on Telegram, continue it on Discord.
Developer community. ClawCon, a standing-room-only event in San Francisco, drew over 700 developers, founders, and investors to see the platform in action.
OpenClaw vs other AI assistants
| Feature | OpenClaw | ChatGPT | Google Gemini | Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Yes | No | No | No |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | No | No | No |
| Takes actions | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Messaging integration | WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, Teams | Web/app only | Web/app only | Apple devices only |
| Persistent memory | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Data stays local | Yes | No | No | Partial |
| Runs 24/7 on your server | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
How to install OpenClaw
The quickest way to get started:
npm install -g openclaw
openclaw onboard
openclawThe onboarding process walks you through connecting your AI provider (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, etc.) and pairing your messaging channels.
System requirements
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | Node.js 22+ | Node.js 22+ |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB+ |
| Storage | 1 GB | 5 GB+ (for memory/logs) |
| OS | macOS, Linux, Windows (WSL) | Ubuntu 22.04+ or macOS |
Running OpenClaw on a VPS
While you can run OpenClaw on your laptop, most serious users run it on a dedicated VPS for:
- 24/7 availability - Your assistant runs even when your computer is off
- Security isolation - Keep the powerful agent separate from your personal machine
- Access from anywhere - Connect via messaging apps from any device
- Consistent uptime - No interruptions from system updates or restarts
Deploy on ServerPoint’s ColossusCloud
- Log into ServerPoint’s Client Portal
- Deploy a VPS with Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS (2 GB RAM recommended)
- Choose your preferred data center location
- Your VPS will be online in under a minute
For detailed setup instructions, see our guide to self-hosting Clawdbot/OpenClaw on a VPS.
Security considerations
OpenClaw’s power comes with responsibility. You’re granting an AI agent access to your email, files, and connected services.
Built-in security features
- Loopback binding - The Gateway binds to
127.0.0.1by default, never exposed to the public internet - Device pairing - Cryptographic key-based pairing for remote clients
- Channel access control - Allowlists and DM pairing require explicit approval before processing messages from unknown senders
- Tool sandboxing - Docker-based isolation for tool execution with configurable resource limits
- Prompt injection defense - Context isolation separates user messages, system instructions, and tool results
Best practices
- Never expose the Gateway to the public internet
- Use SSH tunnels or Tailscale for remote access
- Run on an isolated VPS rather than your main computer
- Use ServerPoint’s Cloud Firewall for network-level protection
- Regularly audit what actions the agent is taking
The plugin system
OpenClaw is designed to be extended without forking the core. Four extension points are available:
- Provider plugins - Add custom or self-hosted LLM providers
- Tool plugins - Register new capabilities beyond the built-in set
- Memory plugins - Swap in alternative storage backends (vector stores, knowledge graphs)
- Channel plugins - Add support for new messaging platforms
Plugins are discovered automatically from the extensions/ directory.
The evolution: Clawdbot to Moltbot to OpenClaw
The project has gone through several name changes:
- Clawdbot - The original name that went viral in early 2026
- Moltbot - A brief rebrand in January 2026
- OpenClaw - The current name, reflecting the project’s open-source nature
If you’ve heard of Clawdbot or Moltbot, they’re the same project. The codebase, features, and community are identical - only the name changed.
What’s next for OpenClaw
The project is actively developed with frequent releases. Recent additions include:
- PDF analysis tools
- Expanded secrets management
- Thread-bound agents for isolated conversations
- Android device capabilities (camera, screen recording, location)
- Enhanced plugin extensibility
With over 250,000 GitHub stars and a growing community, OpenClaw represents a shift in how we interact with AI - from asking questions to delegating tasks, all running on your own infrastructure.
Want to run OpenClaw 24/7? Deploy a VPS on ServerPoint and follow our self-hosting guide. Your ColossusCloud VPS will be online in under a minute.