OpenClaw hit 190,000 GitHub stars in just a few months. That’s not hype. That’s developers voting with their stars on what actually works.
Created by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger (originally Clawdbot, renamed January 2026), OpenClaw is an open-source AI agent framework that connects to 23+ messaging platforms and gives you access to over 10,000 community-built skills. And it’s completely free.
This openclaw setup guide walks you through everything: installation, gateway configuration, connecting Telegram, installing skills, and security best practices. By the end, you’ll have a personal AI agent running in your terminal and responding to messages.
What Is OpenClaw and Why Developers Need It
OpenClaw is an open-source AI agent framework that runs locally on your machine. Unlike Claude Code or Cursor, which lock you into specific interfaces, OpenClaw works through any messaging platform you already use.
Here’s what makes it different:
- Platform agnostic: Use Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, iMessage, or 18 others
- Skill ecosystem: 10,000+ community skills via ClawHub
- Free and open source: No subscription fees, full code transparency
- MCP integration: Model Context Protocol is core to the skill system
- Local execution: Your data stays on your machine
The framework connects to your LLM provider of choice—Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or local models via Ollama. You bring the API key, OpenClaw brings the infrastructure.
Prerequisites and System Requirements
Before starting this openclaw setup guide, make sure you have:
- Node.js 18+ installed (check with
node --version) - npm or access to curl for the install script
- An API key from your LLM provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or Ollama for local)
- Port 18789 available (OpenClaw Gateway default)
- ~500MB disk space for the installation
Supported platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows (via WSL2).
Step-by-Step OpenClaw Installation
Installing OpenClaw takes under two minutes. You have two options:
Option 1: npm install (Recommended)
npm install -g openclaw
Option 2: curl install script
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.dev/install.sh | bash
Verify the installation:
openclaw --version # Output: openclaw v2.4.1
If you see the version number, you’re ready to configure.
Gateway Configuration and Daemon Setup
The OpenClaw Gateway is the core service that manages connections to messaging platforms and coordinates skill execution. It runs on port 18789 by default.
Initialize configuration
openclaw config init
This creates a config file at ~/.openclaw/config.yaml. You’ll need to add your LLM provider API key:
# ~/.openclaw/config.yaml llm: provider: anthropic api_key: sk-ant-api03-... model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022
Start the gateway daemon
openclaw gateway start
Check status:
openclaw gateway status # Output: Gateway running on http://localhost:18789
To run the gateway automatically on startup, add it to your shell profile or use your system’s service manager.
Connecting Messaging Platforms (Telegram Focus)
OpenClaw connects to 23+ platforms. Telegram is the most popular choice for developers because it’s free, has excellent bot APIs, and works on all devices.
Setting up Telegram
openclaw channel add telegram
You’ll be prompted for your bot token. Get one from @BotFather on Telegram:
- Message @BotFather with
/newbot - Follow the prompts to name your bot
- Copy the token (looks like
123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrSTUvwxyz) - Paste it into the OpenClaw prompt
Test your connection:
openclaw channel test telegram
You should receive a test message from your bot.
Discord and Slack
The process is similar for other platforms:
# Discord openclaw channel add discord # Requires bot token from Discord Developer Portal # Slack openclaw channel add slack # Requires app token from Slack API
WhatsApp and iMessage require additional setup for business API access or macOS integration.
Installing and Managing Skills from ClawHub
Skills are what make OpenClaw powerful. ClawHub hosts over 10,000 community-built skills covering everything from web search to GitHub management.
Browse available skills
openclaw skill search web
Install essential skills
These are the must-haves for most developers:
# Web search and browsing openclaw skill install web-search openclaw skill install agent-browser # Developer tools openclaw skill install github openclaw skill install git # Productivity openclaw skill install calendar openclaw skill install email
The Composio skill deserves special mention—it provides access to 1,000+ tools including Notion, Linear, HubSpot, and dozens more SaaS integrations.
openclaw skill install composio
Update and remove skills
# Update all skills openclaw skill update --all # Remove a skill openclaw skill uninstall skill-name
Security Best Practices for Skills
Here’s something most guides won’t tell you: before the 2026 security cleanup, 1 in 5 plugins on ClawHub were malicious. The community has improved vetting, but you still need to be careful.
The 100/3 Rule
Only install skills that meet both criteria:
- 100+ downloads — Popular skills have community scrutiny
- 3+ months old — New skills haven’t been battle-tested
VirusTotal Check
Before installing any skill, scan its repository:
openclaw skill verify skill-name
This runs the skill code through VirusTotal and checks for known vulnerabilities.
Permission boundaries
Review what each skill can access:
openclaw skill info skill-name
Never install skills that request unnecessary permissions (like a weather skill asking for file system access).
Key Use Cases for Developers
Once your openclaw setup is complete, here’s what developers actually use it for:
1. Code reviews on demand
@openclaw review this PR: https://github.com/user/repo/pull/123
2. Research and summarization
@openclaw summarize https://example.com/article and extract key points
3. GitHub automation
@openclaw create issue in fungies/repo: "Fix checkout bug"
4. Meeting prep
@openclaw check my calendar for today and draft an agenda
5. Quick calculations and conversions
@openclaw convert 100 USD to EUR and calculate 23% VAT
OpenClaw vs Alternatives: Comparison Table
| Feature | OpenClaw | Claude Code | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $20/mo | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Interface | CLI / Any messaging app | Terminal only | IDE only | IDE only |
| Open Source | Yes (190K+ stars) | No | No | No |
| Skills/Extensions | 10,000+ | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Platforms | 23+ messaging apps | 1 | 1 | 6+ IDEs |
| Self-hosted | Yes | No | No | No |
| Local LLM support | Yes (Ollama) | No | Limited | No |
OpenClaw wins on flexibility and cost. The alternatives win on polish and IDE integration. Many developers use OpenClaw alongside Cursor or Copilot—OpenClaw for automation and messaging, the others for inline coding assistance.
Key Takeaways
- OpenClaw is a free, open-source AI agent framework with 190,000+ GitHub stars
- Installation takes under 2 minutes with
npm install -g openclaw - The gateway runs on port 18789 and manages all platform connections
- Connect to 23+ platforms including Telegram, Discord, Slack, and WhatsApp
- ClawHub offers 10,000+ skills—use the 100/3 rule and VirusTotal checks for security
- MCP integration makes skills modular and interoperable
- Perfect for developers who want automation across multiple platforms without vendor lock-in
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenClaw really free?
Yes. OpenClaw is open source under the MIT license. You only pay for your LLM API usage (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.). If you use Ollama with a local model, it’s completely free.
Can I use OpenClaw with my existing Claude or OpenAI subscription?
Absolutely. OpenClaw is just the framework. You bring your own API keys from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or run local models via Ollama.
How does OpenClaw compare to n8n or Zapier?
n8n and Zapier are workflow automation tools. OpenClaw is an AI agent that understands natural language and can make decisions. You can tell OpenClaw “find me leads on Twitter and add them to my CRM”—it understands the intent and executes the steps. n8n would require you to build that workflow manually.
Is my data safe with OpenClaw?
OpenClaw runs locally on your machine. Your messages and data don’t go through OpenClaw servers—they go directly from your machine to your LLM provider and messaging platforms. For sensitive work, this is actually more private than cloud-based alternatives.
Can I build my own skills?
Yes. Skills are JavaScript/TypeScript packages that follow the MCP (Model Context Protocol) specification. The openclaw skill create command scaffolds a new skill with all the boilerplate. You can publish to ClawHub when ready.
Conclusion
OpenClaw represents a shift in how developers think about AI assistants. Instead of being locked into a single interface or vendor, you get an open framework that adapts to how you already work.
With 190,000 GitHub stars and a community of 10,000+ skills, it’s clear this approach resonates. The setup is straightforward—install Node.js, run the CLI, configure your gateway, connect Telegram, and start installing skills.
Follow this openclaw setup guide and you’ll have a personal AI agent running in under 15 minutes. One that works where you work, respects your privacy, and doesn’t charge a monthly fee.
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