What is ClawMates and what does it do?

ClawMates is a managed hosting platform that deploys AI assistants to Telegram and WhatsApp in under 5 minutes. It wraps the open-source OpenClaw framework so you get a personal AI chatbot powered by GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini — without any coding, servers, or Docker setup.

OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant framework that connects large language models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini to messaging platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord. ClawMates provides managed hosting for OpenClaw so you don't need to self-host.

How much does ClawMates cost?

ClawMates starts with a free 7-day trial. After the trial, plans start at $29.99 per month, which includes all AI API costs — no separate OpenAI or Anthropic bill required.

How long does it take to set up ClawMates?

Setup takes under 5 minutes. You choose an AI model, connect your messaging app (paste a Telegram bot token or scan a WhatsApp QR code), set your assistant's name and personality, and click deploy.

Which AI models does ClawMates support?

ClawMates supports three leading AI models: Claude by Anthropic, GPT-4 by OpenAI, and Gemini by Google. You can also bring your own API key if you prefer to use your own account with any of these providers.

How do I set up a Telegram bot with ClawMates?

Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, send /newbot, and follow the prompts to get a bot token. Then go to clawmates.net/setup, enable Telegram, paste your bot token, choose an AI model, and click deploy. Your bot will be live in under 5 minutes.

How do I set up WhatsApp with ClawMates?

ClawMates supports WhatsApp via two modes: self-chat mode (talk to AI in your own chat) and full bot mode. During setup, enable WhatsApp and scan a QR code — similar to linking WhatsApp Web. No business account or Meta approval needed.

Is there a free trial for ClawMates?

Yes, ClawMates offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card is required to start. You can cancel anytime during the trial without being charged.

Can I cancel my ClawMates subscription anytime?

Yes, you can cancel your ClawMates subscription at any time with no cancellation fees. Your bot will continue running until the end of your current billing period.

Is my data private and secure with ClawMates?

Yes. ClawMates never stores or reads your conversations. Messages go directly between you and the AI provider. Each bot runs in its own isolated container, and all connections are encrypted with TLS.

What happens if I self-host OpenClaw instead of using ClawMates?

Self-hosting OpenClaw requires a Linux server, Docker, SSL certificates, and ongoing maintenance. You'll need to handle updates, uptime monitoring, and troubleshooting yourself. ClawMates handles all of this automatically for $29.99/month.

What is the difference between ClawMates and ChatGPT?

ChatGPT runs on OpenAI's website or app. ClawMates deploys an AI assistant directly into your existing messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp. ClawMates also supports multiple AI models (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini), lets you customize the personality, and includes daily briefings and proactive features.

Can I use ClawMates on multiple platforms at the same time?

Yes. You can connect both Telegram and WhatsApp to the same ClawMates bot simultaneously. Your assistant will be available on all connected platforms with the same personality and capabilities.

Does ClawMates work 24/7?

Yes, your ClawMates assistant runs 24/7 on managed cloud infrastructure. If a container crashes, it automatically restarts. There is no downtime for updates or maintenance.

How do I customize my ClawMates assistant's personality?

During setup, you can write a system prompt that defines your assistant's personality, tone, areas of expertise, and behavior. For example, you can make it formal or casual, tell it to focus on specific topics, or give it a custom name and avatar.

How to Add an AI Assistant to WhatsApp Business in 2026

Why Small Businesses Need an AI Assistant on WhatsApp

WhatsApp has 2 billion+ active users and is the primary customer communication channel for small businesses in most of Asia, Latin America, Africa, and increasingly Europe. If your customers are on WhatsApp, you need to be there too — and you need to be responsive.

The problem: small business owners are busy. You cannot personally answer every WhatsApp message within minutes. Customers expect fast responses. Delayed replies mean lost sales.

An AI assistant on WhatsApp solves this. It responds to customer inquiries instantly, 24/7, handles common questions automatically, and routes complex issues to you or your team. Here is exactly how to set it up in 2026.

What an AI Assistant Can Do for Your WhatsApp Business

Instant FAQ responses: Your AI knows your products, services, hours, location, and policies. When a customer asks "Do you deliver to [city]?" or "What are your opening hours?" — the AI answers immediately, any time of day.

Product information and pricing: Configure your AI with your catalog. Customers can ask about specific products, get pricing, check availability, and request photos or details — all without you or your staff lifting a finger.

Order status updates: Connect your AI to your order management system and customers can check order status, expected delivery dates, and tracking information in natural conversation.

Appointment booking: For service businesses (salons, clinics, repairs), the AI can discuss availability, explain your services, and collect booking information — then hand off to a human for confirmation or connect directly to your calendar.

Lead qualification: When new potential customers reach out, the AI asks qualifying questions, collects contact information, and identifies hot leads to escalate to your sales team immediately.

After-hours support: Your AI works while you sleep. Customers in different time zones or night owls browsing late get immediate responses instead of a "we'll reply during business hours" message.

Multilingual support: AI models like Claude and GPT-4 support 90+ languages fluently. If you serve customers who speak different languages, your AI handles them all without additional staffing.

Two Ways to Add an AI to WhatsApp Business

Option 1: ClawMates (Recommended for Most Small Businesses)

ClawMates deploys an AI assistant to your WhatsApp in minutes using the WhatsApp Web pairing protocol — the same technology as WhatsApp Web. No Meta Business API approval required, no business verification process, and no developer needed.

Setup process:

Get a dedicated WhatsApp number. This can be a regular phone number (not your personal one). A cheap SIM card or VoIP number works. This becomes your business AI assistant's number.
Install WhatsApp on the number. Set up WhatsApp normally on this number.
Go to clawmates.net/setup and start a new bot.
Choose WhatsApp as your platform and follow the QR code pairing process (exactly like connecting WhatsApp Web).
Choose your AI model. For customer service:
- GPT-4o — Best all-rounder, handles complex questions well
- Claude Sonnet — More thoughtful, better for nuanced customer interactions
- Gemini Flash — Fastest and cheapest, great for high-volume simple queries
Write your system prompt. This tells the AI who it is and what it knows. Example:

"You are the customer service assistant for [Your Business Name]. We sell [products/services] and are located at [address]. Our hours are [hours]. Our pricing is [pricing]. You help customers with questions about our products, orders, and services. Be friendly, professional, and helpful. For complex issues or complaints, say you'll connect them with a team member and collect their contact info."
Deploy. Your AI is live on WhatsApp in under 5 minutes.

Cost: From $9.99/month (Starter, 500K tokens). For a small business with moderate customer volume, the Pro plan at $29.99/month (3M tokens) handles hundreds of daily customer interactions.

Option 2: WhatsApp Business API (For High-Volume or Enterprise Use)

The official Meta WhatsApp Business API is designed for businesses needing high-volume, structured messaging. It requires:

A verified Meta Business Manager account
Business verification (1-2 weeks)
A dedicated phone number (cannot use personal WhatsApp)
Per-message pricing ($0.005-0.08 per conversation depending on country)
Developer resources to build the integration or a third-party platform like Twilio, WATI, or 360dialog

For a small business just starting with WhatsApp AI, this process is overkill. The verification alone takes weeks, and the per-conversation pricing adds up quickly.

Recommendation: Start with ClawMates. If you scale to enterprise volume (tens of thousands of daily conversations), migrate to the official API then.

Writing a Good System Prompt for Customer Service

The system prompt is the single most important configuration for your AI customer service assistant. A well-written system prompt means your AI represents your business accurately, handles edge cases gracefully, and escalates appropriately.

Core elements of a customer service system prompt:

You are [Bot Name], the customer service assistant for [Business Name].

ABOUT US:
[2-3 sentences about your business, products, and what makes you unique]

OUR PRODUCTS/SERVICES:
[List key products/services with brief descriptions and pricing if applicable]

BUSINESS INFORMATION:
- Hours: [operating hours, including timezone]
- Location: [address if applicable]
- Website: [URL]
- Email: [customer service email]

HOW TO HANDLE COMMON QUESTIONS:
- For order status: [explain what information you can/cannot check]
- For complaints: Apologize, collect order/contact details, say a team member will follow up within [timeframe]
- For returns: [your return policy]
- For pricing: [direct them to website or give standard pricing]

ESCALATION RULES:
- For complex complaints or refund requests, always say: "I'll connect you with a team member who can help. May I have your name and order number?"
- Never promise specific resolutions without human approval
- For urgent issues, provide [emergency contact method]

TONE: Be friendly, professional, and helpful. Use the customer's name when they provide it.

Measuring Success

Once your AI assistant is live, track these metrics weekly:

Response rate: What percentage of messages does the AI handle without escalation?
Escalation rate: How often does it hand off to a human?
Customer satisfaction: Are customers getting their questions answered? (Ask them directly)
Time savings: How many hours per week is the AI saving your team?

Most small businesses find their AI handles 60-80% of incoming WhatsApp messages without human intervention. That's 60-80% of your customer service time freed up.

Getting Started Today

Add an AI assistant to your WhatsApp Business in under 5 minutes. Start with a ClawMates free trial — 7 days, no credit card required. Configure your system prompt, test it with a few messages, and you're live.

For more on WhatsApp AI setup, see our guide to connecting WhatsApp to your AI assistant and the complete WhatsApp AI chatbot comparison for 2026.