OpenClaw: The Complete Guide for Beginners

Do you want the AI to not just talk, but really work: clean the mail, book tickets, run scripts and remind you about business while you sleep? OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot → Moltbot) The most viral open-source autonomous agent of 2026.

## What is it

OpenClaw is your personal digital employee who lives on your hardware and works 24/7.

• It runs locally (Mac, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Mac Mini).
• Communicates with you through the usual messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, Signal and others.
• Has a permanent memory, remembers all your preferences forever.
• It can independently perform actions**: open a browser, fill out forms, send letters, manage files, run shell commands, control a smart home, etc.
• Expands through Skills – the community has already made hundreds of ready-made plugins.

It's not a chatbot. An agent who thinks, plans and does. As a real colleague, he does not ask for a salary and does not go on vacation.

Official website: https://openclaw.ai GitHub: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

## How it works

1. You write on Telegram/WhatsApp: "OpenClaw, book me a ticket to Berlin on March 5th cheaper.".
2. Agent:
   • remember your preferences (class, luggage, favorite airlines),
   • looking online,
   • compare prices,
   • opens the browser,
   • fill out the form,
   • confirmation of reservation (if given permission).
3. Everything happens through *Gateway - it connects messengers with LLM and tools.
4. For complex tasks, the agent can break the task into steps and use tools (browser, shell, email, calendar, etc.).

Models: Claude Opus 4.6 (recommended), GPT-5.2, Gemini, MiniMax, local models.

## Approximate tariffs and expenses (real data as of February 2026)

*OpenClaw itself is completely free..

Main expenses:

• Brave Search – 2,000 searches per month.
• Many save 90–97% using OAuth connection to Claude Pro (not API) or cheap models.
• Iron: If you buy a separate Mac Mini M4 – a one-time expense of $600-800.

## How to install (5-15 minutes)

The easiest way:

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

The script will install Node.js 22+ and everything else.

** Alternative via npm:**

npm install -g openclaw@latest
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

After installation:

1. Run openclaw gateway (or it will run as a service).
2. Go to the browser on http://127.0.0.1:18789/
3. Add model API keys (Claude/OpenAI/OpenRouter).
4. Connect the messenger:
   • Telegram - create a bot from @BotFather
   • WhatsApp - scanning the QR code
5. openclaw pairing approve - confirm your number.

Done! Now write the agent in person.

** For advanced:**

• Docker/Podman
• Cloudflare Workers (free of charge)
• Sandbox mode (so that the agent cannot break the system)

## How to use (first steps)

1. Write on Telegram: Привет, я новичок. Расскажи, что ты умеешь и настройся под меня.XX
2. Try simple commands:
   • Do a daily briefing at 8:00
   • "Check your email and delete your spam."
   • Find the cheapest Mac Mini in Europe
   • Create a skill to control the temperature in the room

Useful team chat with agent:

• /status – How much does the last answer cost
• /usage full - detailed cost statistics
• /model list - Change the model

*Safety *

• By default, the agent starts with full access to your system.
• Use sandbox (non-main mode) for unfamiliar skills.
• Turn on dmPolicy: "pairing" - no one else can write.
• Don’t give your agent bank passwords without a separate sandbox.
• Do openclaw doctor regularly.

## What's next?

After installation, I recommend:

1. Install 5-10 popular skills from ClawHub.
2. Set up daily tasks (morning briefing, checking ticket prices, etc.).
3. Run a second specialist agent (for example, only for coding).