OpenClaw

What OpenClaw is

OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant that runs on your devices and meets you in the chat apps you already use. It connects models, tools, channels, and apps through a local Gateway that keeps your data close.

Key features

• Local Gateway - control plane for sessions, tools, and events on your machine.
• Multiple interfaces - control UI, CLI, and TUI.
• Many channels - WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Google Chat, Signal, iMessage.
• Companion apps - voice, Canvas, camera, screen, and device actions.
• Hosted and local models - bring your own provider.
• Extensible tools, skills, and plugins.

Install

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Or via npm for Node 22.22.3+, 24.15+, or 25.9+:

npm install -g openclaw@latest

Use case

OpenClaw is best for personal use where privacy and device-first operation matter. It is less about team collaboration and more about having a single assistant across all your chats and devices.

License

MIT, from the OpenClaw Foundation.

Honest caveat

The breadth of channels and companion apps is impressive, but the local-first setup can be fiddly. Expect to spend time on permissions, model setup, and plugin configuration.