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.

OpenClaw vs OpenAI Assistants API: Which Is Right for You?

Two Great Tools — Very Different Purposes

If you want to add AI capabilities to your workflow or product in 2026, two names come up constantly: OpenClaw and the OpenAI Assistants API. Both are powerful. Both give you persistent AI conversations. But they are designed for fundamentally different situations.

This guide breaks down exactly how they compare so you can make the right choice.

What Is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant framework designed to deploy personal AI assistants to messaging platforms. It connects large language models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini) to Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, and Signal.

Key characteristics:

End-user focused: Designed for people who want an AI assistant in their messaging apps
Multi-model: Supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and any OpenAI-compatible API
Messaging-native: Built around Telegram/WhatsApp UX, not a chat widget
Persistent memory: Maintains conversation history across sessions
Open source: MIT licensed, fully auditable, self-hostable

ClawMates provides managed hosting for OpenClaw — deploy in under 5 minutes without touching a server. Start your free trial here.

What Is the OpenAI Assistants API?

The OpenAI Assistants API is a developer-facing API for building stateful AI applications. It gives you:

Thread management (persistent conversation history)
File search and retrieval (RAG over uploaded documents)
Code interpreter (AI can write and run Python)
Function calling (tool use)
Native integration with OpenAI's model lineup

Key characteristics:

Developer focused: Requires API programming knowledge
OpenAI-only: Works exclusively with OpenAI models
Flexible: Can be embedded in any app or workflow
Paid by tokens: You pay per token consumed

Head-to-Head Comparison

Setup Time

OpenClaw (via ClawMates): 4 minutes. Choose a model, paste a Telegram bot token or scan a WhatsApp QR code, click deploy. No coding required.

OpenAI Assistants API: 30 minutes to days. You need to write code to call the API, manage thread IDs, handle streaming responses, build a UI or connect to a platform, and handle error cases.

Winner: OpenClaw for non-developers and anyone who wants something running today.

Platform Support

OpenClaw: Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, Signal. Works wherever your users already are.

OpenAI Assistants API: No built-in platform. You build whatever UI or integration you want — which is powerful but requires engineering work.

Winner: OpenClaw for instant multi-platform deployment. Assistants API wins if you're embedding AI into a custom product.

AI Model Choice

OpenClaw: GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Claude Haiku, Gemini 1.5 Pro, Gemini Flash, and any OpenAI-compatible endpoint (including local models like Llama and Mistral).

OpenAI Assistants API: OpenAI models only. GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, and GPT-3.5 Turbo variants.

Winner: OpenClaw for model flexibility. Assistants API if you're committed to the OpenAI ecosystem.

Pricing

OpenClaw (via ClawMates):

Starter: $9.99/month (500K tokens included)
Pro: $29.99/month (3M tokens included)
Power: $79.99/month (10M tokens + BYOK)
7-day free trial, no credit card required

OpenAI Assistants API:

No platform fee — you pay per token
GPT-4o: $2.50–$10 per 1M tokens
Storage for vector stores: $0.10 per GB/day
Code interpreter: $0.03 per session
At moderate usage (~3M tokens/month), cost is $7.50–$30/month — similar to ClawMates but without platform features

Winner: Comparable cost, but ClawMates includes the platform and hosting. Assistants API can be cheaper at low usage.

Memory and Context

OpenClaw: Full conversation history with configurable context window. New summarization feature (v2026.3) keeps older conversations relevant without losing context.

OpenAI Assistants API: Thread-based persistence. Older messages stay in the thread but may get truncated automatically. File search adds retrieval-augmented memory over documents.

Winner: Tie — both handle memory well. Assistants API wins for document-heavy use cases.

No-Code vs Developer

OpenClaw: Fully no-code for standard use cases. Advanced users can customize system prompts, commands, and webhooks.

OpenAI Assistants API: Requires Python, JavaScript, or another language to call. Not suitable for non-technical users.

Winner: OpenClaw for no-code. Assistants API for developers building custom apps.

When to Choose OpenClaw

Choose OpenClaw (hosted by ClawMates) when:

You want an AI assistant in Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord without coding
You want multi-model flexibility (Claude, Gemini, GPT-4)
You want to get started today — not next week
You're a non-technical user or a solo founder who doesn't want to maintain infrastructure
You want a personal AI assistant that lives in your messaging apps

Deploy your OpenClaw assistant in 4 minutes →

When to Choose OpenAI Assistants API

Choose the Assistants API when:

You're building a product that needs AI embedded in a custom UI
You need code interpreter (AI running Python code)
You need file search/RAG over a large document corpus
You want to use OpenAI function calling in a custom integration
You have a development team that can maintain the integration

The Bottom Line

OpenClaw and the OpenAI Assistants API solve different problems. If you want an AI assistant in your messaging apps — especially without coding — OpenClaw via ClawMates is the fastest, easiest path. If you're a developer building a product with AI embedded in a custom interface, the Assistants API gives you more programmatic control.

Many teams use both: ClawMates for their personal AI assistant, and the Assistants API for their product's backend AI features.

Ready to try OpenClaw? Start your 7-day free trial → No credit card required. Compare alternatives on our comparison page.