OpenClaw Tutorial: Complete Getting Started Guide in 2026

OpenClaw Tutorial: Complete Getting Started Guide in 2026#

Want to run your own AI assistant across WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and 15+ other platforms? This OpenClaw tutorial walks you through setup in under 20 minutes — from zero to your first working AI agent.

What Is OpenClaw and Why Use OpenClaw for AI Assistants#

OpenClaw Overview: Open-Source AI Assistant Runtime#

OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant runtime platform that lets you deploy a single AI assistant across multiple messaging platforms simultaneously. Unlike cloud-based chatbot builders, OpenClaw runs on your own infrastructure, giving you complete control over your AI assistant's behavior, data, and costs.

Think of OpenClaw as the "operating system" for AI assistants — it handles:

Message routing across 15+ platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, etc.)
Context management with intelligent memory and conversation history
Tool execution for web search, file operations, API calls, and more
Multi-model support for GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, and local models

Why OpenClaw Stands Out Among AI Assistant Platforms#

OpenClaw differentiates itself from alternatives like Dify, Coze, or AutoGPT:

Feature	OpenClaw	Dify	Coze	AutoGPT
Self-hosted	✅ Single process	✅ Complex stack	❌ Cloud only	✅ Python
Multi-platform	15+ native adapters	Webhook forwarding	Limited	None
Memory	Markdown + vector	Vector DB	Cloud	File system
Setup time	20 minutes	1-2 hours	5 minutes	2-3 hours
Extensibility	Plugins + Skills	Visual workflow	Marketplace	Code

OpenClaw's key advantages:

Native platform support: Direct SDK integration, not webhook forwarding
Markdown memory: Human-readable, Git-friendly, zero database dependencies
Single-process architecture: No Redis, PostgreSQL, or message queues required
Production-ready: Built for 24/7 operation with auto-recovery and monitoring

OpenClaw Use Cases: From Personal Automation to Business Operations#

OpenClaw excels in these scenarios:

Personal Productivity:

Cross-platform personal assistant (WhatsApp + Telegram + Discord)
Automated research and information gathering
Task management and reminders
Email and calendar automation

Business Automation:

Customer support across multiple channels
Lead qualification and routing
Order tracking and notifications
Internal team assistance

Development & DevOps:

CI/CD pipeline monitoring
Incident response automation
Code review assistance
Infrastructure monitoring alerts

OpenClaw Prerequisites and System Requirements#

OpenClaw System Requirements for Different Platforms#

Minimum Requirements:

CPU: 2 cores (4 cores recommended)
RAM: 2GB (4GB recommended)
Storage: 10GB free space
OS: macOS 12+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Windows 10+ (WSL2), or Docker

Recommended for Production:

CPU: 4+ cores
RAM: 8GB+
Storage: 50GB+ SSD
Network: Stable internet connection (for AI model APIs)

Supported Platforms:

macOS (native app + CLI)
Linux (CLI + Docker)
Windows (WSL2 + Docker)
Cloud VPS (AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean, etc.)

OpenClaw Dependencies: Node.js, npm, and API Keys#

Before installing OpenClaw, ensure you have:

Required:

Node.js: v18.0.0 or higher
npm: v9.0.0 or higher (comes with Node.js)
Git: For cloning repositories and version control

Optional but Recommended:

Docker: For containerized deployment
Docker Compose: For multi-container setups

Check your versions:

bash

# Check Node.js version
node --version  # Should show v18.0.0 or higher

# Check npm version
npm --version   # Should show v9.0.0 or higher

# Check Git version
git --version   # Any recent version works

If you need to install Node.js:

bash

# macOS (using Homebrew)
brew install node

# Ubuntu/Debian
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

# Windows (download from nodejs.org)
# Visit https://nodejs.org and download the LTS installer

Choosing Your OpenClaw AI Model Provider#

OpenClaw needs an AI model API to function. You have several options:

Option 1: Crazyrouter (Recommended)

Pros: 300+ models, 55% cheaper than direct APIs, unified endpoint, automatic failover
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go, $0.2 free credits
Setup: Single API key for all models
Best for: Production deployments, cost optimization, multi-model strategies

Option 2: Direct Provider APIs

OpenAI: GPT-4, GPT-5 ($20/month for ChatGPT Plus or pay-per-use)
Anthropic: Claude 4.6 (pay-per-use, requires API access)
Google: Gemini 3 (free tier available, then pay-per-use)

Option 3: Local Models

Ollama: Free, runs locally, requires powerful hardware
LM Studio: Free, GUI for local models
Best for: Privacy-sensitive use cases, offline operation

For this OpenClaw tutorial, we'll use Crazyrouter as it provides the best balance of cost, performance, and ease of setup.

OpenClaw Installation: Step-by-Step Setup Guide#

Installing OpenClaw via CLI (Recommended Method)#

The fastest way to get OpenClaw running is via the official CLI installer:

Step 1: Install OpenClaw CLI

bash

# Install OpenClaw globally via npm
npm install -g openclaw

# Verify installation
openclaw --version

Step 2: Run OpenClaw Onboarding Wizard

bash

# Start the interactive setup wizard
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

# The wizard will guide you through:
# 1. Creating a workspace directory
# 2. Configuring AI model provider
# 3. Setting up security tokens
# 4. Choosing messaging platforms

Step 3: Configure AI Model Provider

When prompted for AI provider, select "OpenAI-compatible" and enter:

code

Base URL: https://crazyrouter.com/v1
API Key: sk-your-crazyrouter-key

Get your Crazyrouter API key:

Visit Crazyrouter
Sign up (get $0.2 free credits)
Navigate to Dashboard → API Keys
Create a new key

Step 4: Start OpenClaw Gateway

bash

# Start the Gateway (runs in foreground)
openclaw gateway

# Or run as daemon (background)
openclaw gateway --daemon

# Check Gateway status
openclaw gateway status

You should see:

code

✓ Gateway running on ws://127.0.0.1:18789
✓ HTTP server running on http://127.0.0.1:18789
✓ 0 active sessions

OpenClaw Installation Terminal

OpenClaw Docker Installation for Containerized Deployment#

For production deployments or isolated environments, use Docker:

Step 1: Create Docker Compose File

Create docker-compose.yml:

yaml

version: '3.8'

services:
  openclaw:
    image: openclaw/openclaw:latest
    container_name: openclaw
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "18789:18789"
    volumes:
      - ./workspace:/workspace
      - ./config:/config
    environment:
      - OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE=/workspace
      - OPENCLAW_CONFIG=/config/openclaw.json
      - OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN=your-secure-token-here
    command: gateway --daemon

Step 2: Create Configuration File

Create config/openclaw.json:

json

{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "baseUrl": "https://crazyrouter.com/v1",
      "apiKey": "sk-your-crazyrouter-key"
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": "gpt-4o",
      "temperature": 0.7
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Start OpenClaw Container

bash

# Start OpenClaw
docker-compose up -d

# Check logs
docker-compose logs -f openclaw

# Check status
docker-compose ps

OpenClaw Installation on macOS, Linux, and Windows#

macOS Native App:

bash

# Download macOS app
curl -L https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/latest/download/OpenClaw-macOS.dmg -o OpenClaw.dmg

# Install
open OpenClaw.dmg
# Drag OpenClaw to Applications folder

# Launch from Applications or:
open -a OpenClaw

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

bash

# Install dependencies
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs npm git

# Install OpenClaw
npm install -g openclaw

# Run onboarding
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Windows (WSL2):

bash

# Install WSL2 (if not already installed)
wsl --install

# Inside WSL2, follow Linux instructions
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs npm git
npm install -g openclaw
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Configuring OpenClaw: Essential Settings#

OpenClaw Configuration File Structure#

OpenClaw uses a JSON configuration file located at ~/.openclaw/config.json (or custom path via OPENCLAW_CONFIG).

Basic structure:

json

{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "baseUrl": "https://crazyrouter.com/v1",
      "apiKey": "sk-your-key"
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": "gpt-4o",
      "temperature": 0.7,
      "maxTokens": 4096
    }
  },
  "gateway": {
    "host": "127.0.0.1",
    "port": 18789,
    "token": "your-secure-token"
  },
  "plugins": {
    "slots": {
      "memory": "memory-core",
      "channels": ["whatsapp", "telegram", "discord"]
    }
  }
}

Setting Up OpenClaw AI Model Providers with Crazyrouter#

Crazyrouter provides unified access to 300+ AI models through a single API endpoint. Here's how to configure OpenClaw with Crazyrouter:

Step 1: Get Crazyrouter API Key

Sign up at Crazyrouter
Navigate to Dashboard → API Keys
Create a new key (starts with sk-)

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Edit ~/.openclaw/config.json:

json

{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "baseUrl": "https://crazyrouter.com/v1",
      "apiKey": "sk-your-crazyrouter-key",
      "models": {
        "default": "gpt-4o",
        "fast": "gpt-4o-mini",
        "smart": "claude-opus-4-6",
        "vision": "gemini-3-pro-vision"
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Test Connection

bash

# Test OpenClaw with Crazyrouter
openclaw test-provider openai

# Expected output:
# ✓ Provider 'openai' connected successfully
# ✓ Model 'gpt-4o' available
# ✓ Response time: 1.2s

Why Use Crazyrouter with OpenClaw:

Cost savings: 55% cheaper than direct APIs
Reliability: Automatic failover across multiple upstream providers
Simplicity: One API key for 300+ models
Flexibility: Switch models without changing configuration

OpenClaw Gateway Configuration and Security Settings#

Security Best Practices:

Set Gateway Token (required for remote access):

json

{
  "gateway": {
    "token": "generate-a-strong-random-token-here"
  }
}

Generate a secure token:

bash

# Generate random token
openssl rand -hex 32

Restrict Network Access:

json

{
  "gateway": {
    "host": "127.0.0.1",  // Localhost only
    "port": 18789
  }
}

For remote access, use SSH tunnel:

bash

# From remote machine
ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 user@your-server

Enable Device Pairing:

json

{
  "gateway": {
    "devicePairing": {
      "enabled": true,
      "autoApproveLocal": true,
      "autoApproveRemote": false
    }
  }
}

Configuring OpenClaw to Messaging Platforms#

OpenClaw WhatsApp Integration Setup#

OpenClaw uses the Baileys library for WhatsApp integration (no official API required).

Step 1: Enable WhatsApp Channel

Edit config.json:

json

{
  "plugins": {
    "channels": {
      "whatsapp": {
        "enabled": true,
        "qrCode": true
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 2: Start Gateway and Scan QR Code

bash

# Start Gateway
openclaw gateway

# Open Web UI
openclaw dashboard

# Navigate to Channels → WhatsApp
# Scan QR code with WhatsApp mobile app
# (Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device)

Step 3: Test WhatsApp Connection

Send a message to your WhatsApp number:

code

Hello OpenClaw!

OpenClaw should respond with a greeting.

OpenClaw Telegram Bot Configuration#

Step 1: Create Telegram Bot

Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
Send /newbot
Follow prompts to create bot
Copy the bot token (looks like 123456:ABC-DEF1234ghIkl-zyx57W2v1u123ew11)

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Edit config.json:

json

{
  "plugins": {
    "channels": {
      "telegram": {
        "enabled": true,
        "token": "123456:ABC-DEF1234ghIkl-zyx57W2v1u123ew11"
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Restart Gateway

bash

# Restart to apply changes
openclaw gateway restart

# Or if running manually:
# Ctrl+C to stop, then:
openclaw gateway

Step 4: Test Telegram Bot

Search for your bot in Telegram
Send /start
Send a message like "Hello!"

OpenClaw Discord Integration Guide#

Step 1: Create Discord Bot

Visit Discord Developer Portal
Click "New Application"
Go to "Bot" tab → "Add Bot"
Copy bot token
Enable "Message Content Intent"

Step 2: Invite Bot to Server

Go to "OAuth2" → "URL Generator"
Select scopes: bot, applications.commands
Select permissions: Send Messages, Read Message History, Use Slash Commands
Copy generated URL and open in browser
Select server and authorize

Step 3: Configure OpenClaw

Edit config.json:

json

{
  "plugins": {
    "channels": {
      "discord": {
        "enabled": true,
        "token": "your-discord-bot-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 4: Test Discord Bot

In your Discord server:

code

@YourBot hello!

Your First OpenClaw AI Assistant#

Creating Your First OpenClaw Session#

Once OpenClaw is running and connected to at least one messaging platform, you can start interacting:

Via Web UI:

bash

# Open OpenClaw dashboard
openclaw dashboard

# Browser opens at http://localhost:18789

In the dashboard:

Click "New Session"
Select a channel (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord)
Start chatting!

Via Messaging Platform:

Simply send a message to your connected bot on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.

OpenClaw Commands and Basic Interactions#

OpenClaw supports various commands:

Basic Commands:

code

/help           - Show available commands
/status         - Show OpenClaw status
/models         - List available AI models
/switch <model> - Switch to different model
/clear          - Clear conversation history
/memory         - Show memory summary

Tool Commands:

code

/search <query>     - Web search
/fetch <url>        - Fetch webpage content
/exec <command>     - Run shell command (if enabled)
/file <path>        - Read file

Example Interactions:

code

You: What's the weather in Tokyo?
OpenClaw: [Searches web] The current weather in Tokyo is...

You: /switch claude-opus-4-6
OpenClaw: Switched to model: claude-opus-4-6

You: Explain quantum computing
OpenClaw: [Using Claude] Quantum computing is...

Testing OpenClaw AI Responses Across Platforms#

Test OpenClaw's multi-platform capabilities:

Test 1: Cross-Platform Memory

Send message on WhatsApp: "Remember my favorite color is blue"
Send message on Telegram: "What's my favorite color?"
OpenClaw should remember across platforms

Test 2: Tool Execution

code

You: Search for "OpenClaw GitHub repository"
OpenClaw: [Executes web_search tool]
Found: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Test 3: Multi-Model Comparison

code

You: /switch gpt-4o
You: Explain AI in one sentence
OpenClaw: [GPT-4o response]

You: /switch claude-opus-4-6
You: Explain AI in one sentence
OpenClaw: [Claude response]

OpenClaw Dashboard Interface

OpenClaw Troubleshooting Common Issues#

OpenClaw Connection Problems and Solutions#

Issue: Gateway won't start

bash

# Check if port is already in use
lsof -i :18789

# Kill existing process
kill -9 <PID>

# Or use different port
openclaw gateway --port 18790

Issue: Can't connect to Gateway

bash

# Check Gateway status
openclaw gateway status

# Check logs
tail -f ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log

# Verify firewall settings
sudo ufw allow 18789  # Ubuntu

Issue: WhatsApp QR code not appearing

bash

# Clear WhatsApp session
rm -rf ~/.openclaw/sessions/whatsapp

# Restart Gateway
openclaw gateway restart

OpenClaw API Key Errors and Fixes#

Issue: "Invalid API key" error

Verify API key in config:

bash

cat ~/.openclaw/config.json | grep apiKey

Test API key directly:

bash

curl -X POST https://crazyrouter.com/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model":"gpt-4o-mini","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"test"}]}'

Regenerate key at Crazyrouter Dashboard

Issue: "Rate limit exceeded"

Check your Crazyrouter usage at Dashboard
Upgrade plan or add credits
Implement request throttling in config:

json

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "rateLimits": {
        "requestsPerMinute": 20
      }
    }
  }
}

OpenClaw Performance Optimization Tips#

1. Enable Response Caching:

json

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "cache": {
        "enabled": true,
        "ttl": 3600
      }
    }
  }
}

2. Optimize Context Window:

json

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "maxTokens": 2048,  // Reduce for faster responses
      "compaction": {
        "enabled": true,
        "threshold": 0.8
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Use Faster Models:

json

{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "models": {
        "default": "gpt-4o-mini",  // Faster and cheaper
        "smart": "gpt-4o"           // Use only when needed
      }
    }
  }
}

4. Monitor Resource Usage:

bash

# Check OpenClaw resource usage
openclaw stats

# Monitor in real-time
watch -n 1 openclaw stats

OpenClaw Pricing and Cost Optimization#

OpenClaw Open-Source Licensing#

OpenClaw itself is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. You can:

Use it for personal or commercial projects
Modify the source code
Deploy unlimited instances
No licensing fees or restrictions

AI Model API Costs with OpenClaw#

The main cost of running OpenClaw is AI model API usage. Typical costs:

Direct Provider Pricing:

GPT-4o: $2.50/1M input tokens,$ 10/1M output tokens
Claude Opus 4.6: $15/1M input,$ 75/1M output
Gemini 3 Pro: $1.25/1M input,$ 5/1M output

Example Monthly Costs (1000 messages/day):

Light usage (short messages): $50-100/month
Medium usage (conversations): $150-300/month
Heavy usage (long contexts): $500-1000/month

Reducing OpenClaw Operating Costs with Crazyrouter#

Crazyrouter offers 55% cost savings compared to direct APIs:

Crazyrouter Pricing:

GPT-4o: $1.13/1M input,$ 4.50/1M output (55% off)
Claude Opus 4.6: $6.75/1M input,$ 33.75/1M output (55% off)
Gemini 3 Pro: $0.56/1M input,$ 2.25/1M output (55% off)

Cost Comparison (1000 messages/day):

Provider	Direct API	Crazyrouter	Savings
GPT-4o	$150/mo	$68/mo	$82/mo (55%)
Claude Opus	$450/mo	$203/mo	$247/mo (55%)
Gemini 3 Pro	$75/mo	$34/mo	$41/mo (55%)

Additional Crazyrouter Benefits:

No minimum commitment
Pay-as-you-go pricing
$0.2 free credits to start
Automatic failover (no downtime costs)
Unified billing across all models

Ready to deploy your OpenClaw AI assistant? Crazyrouter provides unified API access to 300+ AI models with 55% cost savings. Check our pricing to find the best plan for your OpenClaw deployment.

Related Articles:

Resources:

OpenClaw Documentation: https://docs.openclaw.ai
OpenClaw GitHub: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
OpenClaw Community Discord: https://discord.com/invite/clawd
Crazyrouter Dashboard: https://crazyrouter.com/dashboard

OpenClaw Tutorial: Complete Getting Started Guide in 2026