OpenClaw

OpenClaw is a self-hosted personal AI assistant designed to be available wherever you work and communicate. Instead of keeping your AI inside a single chat application, OpenClaw runs on your own machine and connects models, tools, skills, messaging platforms, and optional device nodes through one Gateway.

You can interact with OpenClaw through WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, and WebChat, with additional channels available through official plugins. OpenClaw also supports media such as images, audio, video, and documents, as well as device nodes and browser-based control interfaces.

Because it is self-hosted, OpenClaw is aimed at users who want more control over where their assistant runs and where its state is stored. It also supports extensibility through tools, skills, plugins, and ClawHub, making it possible to customize the assistant around individual workflows.

Key features

• Runs on your own machine — supports macOS, Windows and Linux.

• Multi-channel AI assistant — interact through WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, WebChat and many more channels.

• Extensible skills and plugins — add tools, skills and integrations to expand what the agent can do.

• Multi-agent routing — route work between isolated agent sessions.

• Media support — images, audio, video and documents.

• Device integration — iOS and Android nodes plus desktop/device capabilities.

• Browser and control interfaces — includes browser Control UI and other companion interfaces.

• Model flexibility — can work with hosted, subscription-backed, gateway or local models.

• Persistent local state — OpenClaw's website states that state lives on the user's machine rather than a vendor cloud.

• Automation-friendly architecture — connects models, tools, channels and companion apps through a central Gateway.

Pros

+ Open source and self-hosted
+ Runs across major desktop operating systems
+ Works inside existing communication apps
+ Highly extensible through skills and plugins
+ Supports multiple AI models
+ Strong fit for automation and power users
+ Can integrate with devices and media workflows

Cons

− Setup is more technical than using a typical SaaS chatbot
− Self-hosting requires configuration and maintenance
− Giving an agent access to messages, files or system tools requires careful permission and security configuration
− Some advanced workflows can have a steeper learning curve

OpenClaw itself is open-source and self-hosted. Your costs may depend on the AI models, providers, infrastructure, or third-party services you choose to connect.