Clawdbot Is Now OpenClaw | OpenClawHQ
Clawdbot Explained: What Is It, What Happened, and Where It Is Now
If you searched for "Clawdbot" and landed here, you're in the right place — the name changed, but the product is more powerful than ever.
Key Takeaways
- Clawdbot is the original name for what is now called OpenClaw — an open-source autonomous AI agent that runs inside your messaging apps.
- The product was renamed to Moltbot in January 2026 after a trademark dispute, then to OpenClaw three days later — all three names refer to the same underlying software.
- Every feature originally available in Clawdbot (web browsing, email, calendar, 100+ automations) is available through OpenClaw today, with significant enhancements.
- Users searching for Clawdbot are looking for AI automation across messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Discord — OpenClaw delivers exactly that.
- OpenClawHQ provides a fully managed OpenClaw instance for $49/month flat — no server setup, no coding, no token fees required.
Contents
- What Is Clawdbot?
- How Is Clawdbot Related to OpenClaw?
- Did Clawdbot Get Renamed to OpenClaw?
- What Features Does Clawdbot/OpenClaw Offer?
- Can I Still Use Clawdbot Today?
- What's the Difference Between Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw?
- How Much Does Clawdbot/OpenClaw Cost?
- How to Get Started With OpenClaw if I Used Clawdbot Before?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Clawdbot?
Clawdbot was an open-source autonomous AI agent launched in November 2025 by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger. It ran inside messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and Discord — executing real-world tasks autonomously, including browsing the web, sending emails, managing calendars, and running over 100 pre-built automations called "skills."
Unlike a basic chatbot that only answers questions, Clawdbot reasoned through multi-step tasks. You could tell it "summarize all my unread Slack messages and follow up on any that need a reply" — and it would do it.
It became one of the fastest-growing open-source AI projects ever, reaching 247,000+ GitHub stars and 47,700+ forks within months of launch.
Clawdbot launched in November 2025 and quickly became one of the most-starred open-source AI projects on GitHub.
What Made Clawdbot Different From Other AI Tools?
Most AI tools in 2025 were chat interfaces — you asked a question, got an answer. Clawdbot was an agent: it lived inside your WhatsApp or Telegram and executed tasks with real consequences — sending emails, filling forms, booking appointments — without asking you to switch apps.
Key insight: The "inside your messaging app" design is what made Clawdbot go viral. No new app to download, no new habit to form — it showed up where you already spend your day.
How Is Clawdbot Related to OpenClaw?
Clawdbot and OpenClaw are the same product at different points in time. OpenClaw is the current name. The project launched as Clawdbot in November 2025, was briefly renamed Moltbot on January 27, 2026, and became OpenClaw three days later — a name it has held since. Every feature available in the original Clawdbot works in OpenClaw today.
If you learned about the product under the Clawdbot name and are wondering whether it still exists — it does. It's just called OpenClaw now.
For a full breakdown of what OpenClaw does and how it works today, see What is OpenClaw.
The product has had three names since launch — but the underlying software, features, and community are continuous.
Why Does It Matter That They're the Same Product?
If you bookmarked a Clawdbot tutorial, GitHub issue, or Reddit thread — it's still relevant. The code, the "skills" system, the channel integrations, and the developer community all carried forward into OpenClaw without interruption.
The GitHub repository at timolins/clawdbot now redirects to the OpenClaw organization. Community discussions reference all three names interchangeably.
Did Clawdbot Get Renamed to OpenClaw?
Yes — Clawdbot was renamed twice in rapid succession. The first rename (to "Moltbot") lasted only three days before becoming "OpenClaw" permanently. The full naming history follows a specific sequence tied to a trademark event in January 2026.
Here's the complete naming timeline:
| Date | Name | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | Clawdbot | Original launch. Viral growth begins immediately. |
| January 27, 2026 | Moltbot | Renamed after receiving trademark pressure from Anthropic over the "Claude" reference in "Clawdbot." |
| January 30, 2026 | OpenClaw | Renamed again — "Moltbot" didn't stick with the community. "OpenClaw" chosen as the permanent, community-approved name. |
| March 2026 onward | OpenClaw | Current name. 247,000+ GitHub stars. Stable branding. |
What Was the Trademark Issue?
The original name "Clawdbot" phonetically referenced "Claude" — Anthropic's AI model family. Anthropic reached out about trademark concerns, leading to the first rename to Moltbot.
The community reaction to "Moltbot" was lukewarm — users continued using the Clawdbot name in posts and discussions. Three days later, Peter Steinberger settled on "OpenClaw," which the community adopted quickly and has stuck ever since.
Bottom line: Three names, one product. If you find content about Clawdbot, Moltbot, or OpenClaw — it's all the same tool. Only the name changed.
What Features Does Clawdbot/OpenClaw Offer?
OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot) operates as an autonomous AI agent that runs inside 20+ messaging apps and executes real-world tasks on your behalf. It supports 100+ pre-built automations called "skills" — from web browsing and email management to calendar scheduling, file management, and API calls.
The core feature set includes:
- Web browsing — search, summarize, and extract data from any website
- Email — send, reply to, and summarize emails from your messaging app
- Calendar management — create, edit, and check events
- File management — read, organize, and create files
- API calls — connect to external services and trigger automations
- Form filling — fill and submit web forms
- Task scheduling — set reminders, queue recurring tasks
- Lead and message management — auto-reply, qualify, and follow up
Which Messaging Apps Does OpenClaw Support?
This is one of OpenClaw's biggest advantages over every other AI agent tool. It supports:
WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Signal, BlueBubbles, IRC, Microsoft Teams, Matrix, Feishu, LINE, Mattermost, Nextcloud Talk, WeChat, Zalo, Twitch, and more.
You don't need a new app. OpenClaw lives in the apps your team and customers already use.
For platform-specific guides, see OpenClaw on Telegram, OpenClaw on Slack, and OpenClaw Browser Relay for browser automation capabilities.
OpenClaw integrates with 20+ messaging platforms, executing real automation tasks from a single managed instance.
How Does OpenClaw Compare to Other Automation Tools?
| Feature | OpenClaw | Zapier / Make | Traditional Chatbot |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI reasoning | Yes — autonomous multi-step | No — rule-based flows | Limited |
| Messaging app native | Yes — WhatsApp/Telegram/Slack | No — separate app | Varies |
| Web browsing | Yes | No | No |
| Skills library | 100+ built-in | Connectors | Limited |
| Managed option | Yes ($49/mo flat) | Yes (subscription) | Varies |
By the numbers: OpenClaw has 247,000+ GitHub stars as of March 2026 — more than LangChain, CrewAI, and most major AI agent frameworks. The community and skill ecosystem are extensive.
Can I Still Use Clawdbot Today?
Yes — Clawdbot, now called OpenClaw, is actively maintained and more capable than ever. You can run it yourself (free, open-source, requires technical setup) or use a managed service like OpenClawHQ ($49/month flat, no coding required).
The self-hosted path is free but requires Node.js 24 on a dedicated machine, CLI setup, per-channel authentication, and ongoing maintenance. If you previously self-hosted Clawdbot, the migration to OpenClaw was backward-compatible — update the package name and you're on the current version.
What If I Want It Running Without Setup?
That's where OpenClawHQ comes in. You skip the server, the Node.js configuration, and the ongoing maintenance entirely. For small businesses especially, the time saved versus self-hosting is significant — see OpenClaw for Small Business for how teams are deploying it without a technical hire.
What's the Difference Between Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw?
Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw are all the same underlying software — the open-source autonomous AI agent created by Peter Steinberger. They represent three naming phases of a single product, driven by a trademark dispute in January 2026. No features changed between names, and all three names refer to the same GitHub codebase.
| Name | Active Period | Why It Changed |
|---|---|---|
| Clawdbot | Nov 2025 – Jan 27, 2026 | Original launch name. Trademark pressure from Anthropic. |
| Moltbot | Jan 27–30, 2026 | Emergency rename post-trademark. Community rejected it within 3 days. |
| OpenClaw | Jan 30, 2026 – present | Community-approved permanent name. Still active. |
Search volume for all three names remains significant:
- "clawdbot" — 60,500 searches/month
- "moltbot" — 27,100 searches/month
- "openclaw" — 165,000 searches/month
If you've seen any of these names used online, they all lead to the same place.
How Much Does Clawdbot/OpenClaw Cost?
The OpenClaw software itself is free and open-source. Running it, however, requires a dedicated server and AI model API access — both of which cost money. OpenClawHQ offers a fully managed OpenClaw instance for $49/month flat, including unlimited AI usage and zero setup.
Here's the real cost breakdown:
Self-Hosting OpenClaw (Free Software, Not Free to Run)
Running OpenClaw yourself typically costs: $3.99–$20/month for a VPS, plus $20–$100+/month in LLM API tokens for active business use, plus 2–6 hours of setup time.
Total monthly cost for an active business: $25–$120+, before counting your own technical time.
Managed OpenClaw Services Comparison
| Service | Hosting Fee | AI/Token Cost | Typical Monthly Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| KiloClaw | $9/mo | Variable inference fees | Unpredictable — can exceed $30+ |
| xCloud / MyClaw | $16/mo | BYOK (bring your own API keys) | $16 + your API bills |
| Blink Claw | $45/mo | Included but capped | $45 for limited usage |
| Self-hosted VPS | $3.99–$9.99/mo | BYOK | VPS + full API bills + setup |
| OpenClawHQ | $49/mo flat | Included, unlimited | $49 always |
Bottom line: OpenClawHQ is the only managed service with flat unlimited pricing. For businesses using OpenClaw actively, the variable token fees at other services frequently push costs above $49 anyway — but without the predictability.
OpenClawHQ gives you a fully configured OpenClaw instance running in minutes — no server, no command line, no token anxiety.
How to Get Started With OpenClaw if I Used Clawdbot Before?
Whether you're new to OpenClaw or migrating from a Clawdbot setup, OpenClawHQ gets your instance running in minutes with a guided web setup — no command line, no server, no API keys required. The process takes 3–7 minutes depending on your chosen messaging channel.
The onboarding process:
- Sign up at openclawhq.io — email and password, 30 seconds
- Choose your channel — WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, or others
- Follow the guided wizard — web-based, no terminal (WhatsApp: QR scan; Telegram: bot token; Discord/Slack: click Authorize)
- Your instance is live — send a message to test it
- Activate skills from the dashboard and start using OpenClaw like a human assistant
What About My Old Clawdbot Configuration?
With OpenClawHQ, you start fresh — but setup takes minutes, and all 100+ skills are pre-installed. Re-authenticating your channels is the longest step, and even that takes under 10 minutes.
Key insight: Users who previously gave up on self-hosting Clawdbot after hitting Node.js or daemon issues are the exact users OpenClawHQ was built for. The technical barrier is gone.
Get Started with OpenClaw
If you're searching for Clawdbot, you're looking for the autonomous AI agent that acts as a business assistant inside your messaging apps. OpenClaw is exactly that — and OpenClawHQ gets it running for you in minutes, no technical setup required.
Not ready yet? Start for $49/month — No Setup Required — unlimited usage, no token fees, private instance deployed within minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clawdbot now called?
Clawdbot is now called OpenClaw. The project launched as Clawdbot in November 2025, was briefly renamed Moltbot on January 27, 2026 after trademark pressure from Anthropic, and then renamed OpenClaw three days later on January 30, 2026. The current official name is OpenClaw, and it remains actively maintained and growing.
What happened to Clawdbot?
Clawdbot was renamed, not discontinued. After trademark concerns arose over the "Claude" phonetic similarity in "Clawdbot," the project renamed to Moltbot (January 27, 2026) and then OpenClaw (January 30, 2026). All features, the codebase, the GitHub repository, and the community carried forward. Nothing was lost — the name changed, the product evolved.
What is the difference between OpenClaw, Clawdbot, and Moltbot?
They are all the same tool at different points in time. The project launched as "Clawdbot" in November 2025, was briefly renamed "Moltbot" in January 2026 after a trademark dispute, and then renamed "OpenClaw" three days later — the name it carries today. OpenClawHQ provides managed hosting for OpenClaw (all names refer to the same underlying software).
How much does Clawdbot/OpenClaw cost to use?
The OpenClaw software itself costs nothing. But running it requires infrastructure and AI model API access. OpenClawHQ makes this simple: $49/month flat covers your private instance, all infrastructure, and unlimited AI usage — no hidden token fees. Other managed services charge $9–$45/month for hosting PLUS variable token fees on top.
Can I still use Clawdbot today?
Yes — as OpenClaw. The software is still free, open-source, and actively developed. You can self-host it (requires Node.js 24, a dedicated server, and CLI setup) or use a managed service like OpenClawHQ for $49/month flat with no technical setup required. Everything that worked in Clawdbot works in OpenClaw today.
What is OpenClawHQ?
OpenClawHQ is a fully managed hosting service for OpenClaw — the viral open-source AI agent. It gives non-technical users and business owners their own private OpenClaw instance, fully configured and running in minutes, with unlimited usage for $49/month flat. No server setup, no coding, and no separate token fees required.
What can I do with OpenClaw for my business?
OpenClaw acts as an AI employee inside your messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and 20+ others). It can answer customer questions automatically, follow up on leads, summarize documents, browse the web, send emails, and execute 100+ pre-built automations called "skills." OpenClawHQ delivers this fully configured for $49/month — no technical setup required.