Moltbot to OpenClaw: History, Features & Migration
Moltbot to OpenClaw: The Complete History, Features & Migration Guide
Moltbot was the internet's hottest AI agent for exactly three days — then it was renamed, and the web never caught up. Here's the full story of what Moltbot was, why it changed names, and what Moltbot users should do right now.
Key Takeaways
- Moltbot was OpenClaw's second name — the project launched as "Clawdbot" in November 2025, briefly became "Moltbot" on January 27, 2026, then was renamed "OpenClaw" three days later
- The rename was driven by trademark pressure from Anthropic — not a product change; the underlying software and all features remained identical
- Moltbot users have nothing to migrate — the same codebase runs under the OpenClaw name, and any running instance updated automatically
- OpenClaw has grown significantly since the Moltbot era: 247,000+ GitHub stars, 100+ skills, and 20+ messaging platform integrations
- The easiest way to get OpenClaw running today is a managed service like OpenClawHQ — no server, no setup, $49/month flat with unlimited usage
Contents
- What Was Moltbot and Why Did It Become OpenClaw?
- When Did Moltbot Get Renamed to OpenClaw?
- What Could Moltbot Do?
- How Does Moltbot Compare to Modern OpenClaw?
- Is Moltbot Still Available or Supported?
- What Should Moltbot Users Do Now?
- How Can I Migrate From Moltbot to OpenClaw?
- Does OpenClaw Have All the Features Moltbot Had?
- Get Started with OpenClawHQ
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Was Moltbot and Why Did It Become OpenClaw?
Moltbot was the second name of the open-source AI agent now called OpenClaw. The project launched in November 2025 as "Clawdbot," was renamed "Moltbot" on January 27, 2026 after trademark pressure from Anthropic, and then renamed "OpenClaw" three days later on January 30, 2026. The underlying software never changed — only the branding did.
Austrian developer Peter Steinberger built an autonomous AI agent that lives inside your messaging apps — WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, and 20+ more — and executes real tasks on your behalf. When Anthropic raised trademark concerns over the original "Clawdbot" name, Steinberger renamed it Moltbot. Days later, he landed on "OpenClaw" to better reflect the project's open-source identity.
The internet didn't update nearly as fast as the branding did. Millions of people bookmarked articles, shared links, and saved searches under "moltbot." That's why 27,100 people still search for moltbot every single month — they're looking for the same product, just using an older name.
From Moltbot to OpenClaw: the complete naming history of one of the fastest-growing open-source AI projects.
Key insight: All three names — Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw — refer to the exact same software. If you're searching for Moltbot, you've found it. It's just called OpenClaw now.
When Did Moltbot Get Renamed to OpenClaw?
Moltbot lasted exactly three days. The project was renamed from Clawdbot to Moltbot on January 27, 2026, then renamed again to OpenClaw on January 30, 2026. The sequence was driven by a trademark dispute, not a product pivot — no features were added, removed, or changed during either rename.
The Complete Naming Timeline
| Date | Name | Event |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | Clawdbot | Project launched publicly by Peter Steinberger |
| January 27, 2026 | Moltbot | Renamed after trademark pressure from Anthropic |
| January 30, 2026 | OpenClaw | Final rename to reflect open-source identity |
| March 2026+ | OpenClaw | 247,000+ GitHub stars, 47,700+ forks |
You may also encounter the name Claw Bot — an informal shorthand used by early community members. Alongside Clawdbot, it's another legacy reference to the same underlying software. All roads lead to the same open-source AI agent now called OpenClaw.
What Could Moltbot Do?
Moltbot — now OpenClaw — was not a chatbot. It was an autonomous AI agent that executed real tasks inside your messaging apps. It could browse the web, send emails, fill web forms, manage files, call APIs, and run 100+ pre-built automations (called "skills") — all through a conversation in WhatsApp or Telegram.
This capability was what drove the viral launch. Journalists from Platformer, Lenny's Newsletter, and ChatPRD ran hands-on reviews during the Moltbot window. Their coverage consistently highlighted one thing: this tool actually did things, rather than just answering questions.
What the Platform Could Execute
- Web browsing: Search the web and retrieve real-time information
- Email management: Draft, send, and organize emails
- Web form automation: Fill out forms on websites autonomously
- File management: Organize, retrieve, and manage documents
- API calls: Connect to external services programmatically
- Scheduling and reminders: Manage appointments and set timed tasks
- Content summarization: Digest documents, URLs, and articles
- 100+ pre-built skills: Expandable automations for common business workflows
At peak Moltbot-era engagement, the project had crossed 200,000 GitHub stars — one of the fastest growth trajectories ever recorded for an open-source AI repository.
How Does Moltbot Compare to Modern OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is feature-identical to Moltbot — it is the same codebase with the same capabilities. The difference is everything that happened after the rename: expanded platform support from 12+ to 20+ messaging apps, a larger skills library, improved documentation, and a much more active community under a stable brand.
Moltbot and OpenClaw are the same software at different points in its naming history.
Feature Comparison: Moltbot Era vs. OpenClaw Today
| Feature | Moltbot (Jan 2026) | OpenClaw (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Core AI agent capabilities | Full | Full (same codebase) |
| Messaging platform support | ~12 platforms | 20+ platforms |
| Pre-built skills | ~60 skills | 100+ skills |
| Community size | Rapidly growing | 247,000+ GitHub stars |
| Documentation quality | Early-stage | Comprehensive |
| Managed hosting options | None | Multiple (OpenClawHQ + others) |
| Active development | Yes | Yes (actively maintained) |
The rebrand to OpenClaw accelerated — not interrupted — development. A stable brand name attracted broader community contributions and made it easier for businesses to evaluate and adopt the platform.
By the numbers: OpenClaw reached 247,000+ GitHub stars and 47,700+ forks — growing from the Moltbot viral moment to one of the most-starred AI agent projects in open-source history.
Is Moltbot Still Available or Supported?
Moltbot is no longer an active product name. The software is alive and actively developed under the name OpenClaw. The GitHub repository, official documentation, and all community channels use the OpenClaw name exclusively. Any site or service still branding itself as "Moltbot" is unofficial and unaffiliated with the original project.
Third-party sites using the Moltbot name exist, but they are not the official OpenClaw project. The official project lives at openclaw.ai, and the GitHub repository is under the OpenClaw organization.
What "Moltbot" Means Today
- The name is no longer used by the official project
- All GitHub releases, changelogs, and documentation are under "OpenClaw"
- Third-party "Moltbot" services are unofficial and not endorsed by Peter Steinberger or the OpenClaw team
- If you're looking for Moltbot functionality, OpenClaw is exactly where you find it
For documentation writers, tech journalists, or businesses that still have "Moltbot" references in their materials — updating to OpenClaw is the accurate reference.
What Should Moltbot Users Do Now?
If you set up an instance during the three-day Moltbot window, your setup is already running OpenClaw — the software updated automatically with the rename. New users searching for Moltbot should go directly to the OpenClaw project, which provides all the same functionality with significant additions since January 2026.
Before choosing how to run it, understanding what OpenClaw does today is the right first step. The platform has expanded well beyond the Moltbot launch snapshot.
Your Two Options for Running OpenClaw
Option 1 — Self-host: Download OpenClaw from GitHub and configure it yourself. Requires Node.js 24, a server that runs 24/7, CLI setup, channel authentication (WhatsApp QR scan, Telegram BotFather token, etc.), and ongoing maintenance. Free to run, but technically demanding — most non-technical users hit a wall within the first 15 minutes.
Option 2 — Managed hosting: Skip the setup entirely. A managed service handles the server, configuration, updates, and uptime. You just talk to your OpenClaw instance through your messaging app. For a full breakdown of available options and pricing, see our OpenClaw managed hosting comparison.
Bottom line: The Moltbot you heard about is OpenClaw. Whether you self-host or use a managed service, the capabilities are identical — the only difference is how much technical work you want to take on yourself.
How Can I Migrate From Moltbot to OpenClaw?
What Moltbot users get with OpenClaw — and how OpenClawHQ makes the upgrade seamless.
Migrating from Moltbot to OpenClaw requires no data migration — it was a naming change, not a platform switch. If you already had the software running during the Moltbot window, it's already OpenClaw. New users simply sign up for OpenClaw directly; there is no legacy Moltbot account system to transfer from.
For Self-Hosted Users From the Moltbot Era
If you installed the software in late January 2026:
- Run
openclaw update(ormoltbot updateif your older install still uses the legacy CLI alias) to pull the latest version - Verify your daemon is running:
openclaw status - Check your channel connections are still authenticated — WhatsApp and Telegram sessions occasionally require re-authorization
- Browse the updated skills library; 100+ skills are now available versus the ~60 from the Moltbot launch
For New Users Who Searched "Moltbot" and Want the AI Agent
The fastest path is a managed hosting service. OpenClawHQ gives you a fully configured, always-online OpenClaw instance:
- Sign up at openclawhq.io — 30 seconds, email and password
- Choose your messaging platform: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, or others
- Complete the web-based setup — no command line, no server, no API keys required
- Your OpenClaw instance is live and responding within minutes
No technical knowledge needed. No migration. Just start using the AI agent that Moltbot always was.
Does OpenClaw Have All the Features Moltbot Had?
Yes — OpenClaw has every feature Moltbot had, plus significant additions. The codebase is continuous from the Clawdbot and Moltbot era. Nothing was removed during either rebranding. The current version includes expanded messaging platform support (20+ apps), a larger skills library (100+), and improved community-contributed automations.
Your path from Moltbot searcher to active OpenClaw user — in minutes.
Messaging Platforms Supported Today
WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, Signal, BlueBubbles, IRC, Microsoft Teams, Matrix, Feishu, LINE, Mattermost, Nextcloud Talk, WeChat, Zalo, Twitch, and more.
iMessage, Matrix, and several additional platforms were added after the Moltbot window. Platform support has grown from roughly 12 at launch to 20+ today.
The naming evolution — Clawdbot to Moltbot to OpenClaw — mirrors the project's growth from indie experiment to serious AI infrastructure. For a side-by-side look at how the two historical renames compare in terms of features and community traction, a detailed clawdbot vs. openclaw comparison covers both naming arcs in full.
Get Started with OpenClawHQ
If you searched for Moltbot and landed here, you've found what you're looking for. The AI agent that went viral as Moltbot is OpenClaw — and the easiest way to get your own instance running without any technical setup is OpenClawHQ.
Not ready to start yet? Read what OpenClaw can do for your business first — then come back when you're ready to get your own instance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moltbot's new name?
Moltbot was renamed to OpenClaw on January 30, 2026 — three days after it was first renamed from the original "Clawdbot." The OpenClaw name reflects the project's open-source identity and has remained stable since. All Moltbot functionality, the GitHub codebase, and community activity exist under the OpenClaw name.
Who owns Moltbot (now OpenClaw)?
OpenClaw was built by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger and is open-source software available on GitHub under a public license. The project has 247,000+ stars and is community-maintained. OpenClawHQ is a separate managed hosting service operated by Hyathi Technologies Private Limited — it provides hosted OpenClaw instances for businesses that want the platform without technical setup.
What can Moltbot (OpenClaw) do?
OpenClaw acts as an autonomous AI agent inside your messaging apps. It browses the web, sends emails, fills web forms, manages files, calls APIs, runs scheduled tasks, summarizes documents, and executes 100+ pre-built skills. Unlike a chatbot, it takes real actions rather than just answering questions — making it suitable for business automation and personal task management.
Is Moltbot really good?
Moltbot — now OpenClaw — received strong coverage from Platformer, Lenny's Newsletter, and ChatPRD during its January 2026 launch window. With 247,000+ GitHub stars and 47,700+ forks, it is one of the most-starred AI agent projects on GitHub. Community consensus is that it delivers genuinely autonomous task execution that rule-based chatbots and simpler AI tools cannot replicate.
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).
Is there a managed version of Moltbot/OpenClaw?
Yes. OpenClawHQ provides a fully managed OpenClaw instance for $49/month flat — no server setup, no Node.js installation, no API keys required. You get unlimited usage, 100+ pre-installed skills, and a private dedicated instance that's always online. It's the complete alternative to self-hosting OpenClaw on your own VPS or cloud server.
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.