Free, open-source autonomous AI agent that executes tasks via LLMs through messaging platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage) with persistent memory, cron jobs, and system-level computer access.
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Features & details
Full overview from our catalog (read-only reference).
Category (short)
AI Agent
Category
AI Agent
Pricing (CSV)
Free Trial
Directory pricing
Freemium
Sponsored note
no
Target audience
Developers & engineers
Best for
Technical users comfortable with CLI setup, Docker, or VPS management who want a self-hosted personal agent. Not ideal for: non-technical users unwilling to manage infrastructure, enterprise teams needing vendor SLAs, or casual users wanting a simple chatbot app.
Pricing notes
Software: $0 (MIT license, github.com/openclaw/openclaw). Self-hosted: $5–50/mo VPS plus LLM API costs ($5–200+/mo depending on model and usage). Managed cloud options: ~$24–55/mo (third-party hosts) or OpenClaw Cloud ~$49/mo ($39/mo annual). Typical personal user all-in: $15–40/mo. No official permanent free cloud tier. Verified July 2026 at openclaw.ai.
Pros & cons
Editorial notes to help compare fit before opening the vendor site.
Pros
Fully open-source and self-hostable
messaging-platform native
persistent memory and proactive tasks
massive community and skill ecosystem
can use existing ChatGPT/Claude subscriptions.
Cons
Complex setup and maintenance
security risks with system-level access
API costs can spike
frequent breaking changes during rapid development
not suitable for non-technical users without managed hosting.
Review notes
Context from the listing review and editorial research.
NOT OpenAI. Formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot (renamed January 2026). Created by Peter Steinberger; 300K+ GitHub stars. OpenAI acquired Steinberger in February 2026 but project remains open-source under OpenClaw Foundation. Rapid development with frequent renames and updates.
Extended features
In-depth description and capability notes.
— Cross-platform personal AI agent via messaging apps
— Persistent memory and 24/7 proactive background tasks
— Cron jobs, reminders, and scheduled automation
— File system, email, calendar, and app integration
— Skill system for extensible agent capabilities
— Support for Claude, GPT, Gemini, and local models (Ollama)
— ChatGPT and Claude subscription sign-in (no separate API key needed)
Use cases
Power users and developers deploy a always-on AI assistant that manages email, schedules tasks, writes code, monitors systems, and automates workflows through familiar chat interfaces.