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.

Telegram vs WhatsApp for AI Bots: Which Should You Choose?

Two Billion Users on Each — But Very Different Platforms

Telegram and WhatsApp are two of the world's most popular messaging apps, each with over a billion active users. Both can run a personal AI assistant through ClawMates. But they work very differently, and the better choice depends on how you communicate, what features you need, and your privacy priorities.

This is not a generic "Telegram vs WhatsApp" comparison. This is specifically about which platform is better for running an AI assistant bot in 2026.

The Fundamental Difference: Open Bot API vs Web Pairing

The biggest difference between Telegram and WhatsApp for AI bots is architectural.

Telegram has a fully open Bot API. Anyone can create a Telegram bot, give it a username (like @MyAssistantBot), and have it receive and send messages through Telegram's servers. There is no approval process, no fees, and no restrictions. Telegram designed bots as a core feature of the platform — they are first-class citizens.

WhatsApp uses web pairing (for personal use). The official WhatsApp Business API exists for large-scale business use, but for a personal AI assistant, ClawMates uses the same mechanism as WhatsApp Web — a QR code scan that links your existing WhatsApp account to the assistant. This means your AI bot runs as a connection to your own WhatsApp account, not as a separate bot username.

This architectural difference affects everything: setup, discoverability, privacy, and features.

Setup Comparison

Telegram Setup with ClawMates:

Open Telegram, message @BotFather
Send /newbot, choose a name and username
Copy the bot token BotFather provides
Paste token into ClawMates and deploy
Total time: 2-3 minutes

Your bot gets its own username. Anyone can message it if they know the username. You can add it to groups. It is a completely separate entity from your personal Telegram account.

WhatsApp Setup with ClawMates:

Go to ClawMates, enable WhatsApp
Scan the QR code with your WhatsApp (Settings > Linked Devices)
Total time: under 30 seconds

The AI assistant runs "through" your existing WhatsApp account. There is no separate bot username — conversations happen in your WhatsApp, and the AI responds as if it were you (from your number's perspective) or as a separate presence in a dedicated conversation window.

Winner: WhatsApp has a slightly faster setup (no BotFather step), but Telegram's setup is cleaner conceptually. Roughly tied.

Privacy Comparison

Telegram:

End-to-end encryption only in "Secret Chats" — regular chats are encrypted in transit but stored on Telegram's servers
Your AI bot conversations go: Your Telegram → Telegram servers → Bot API → ClawMates → AI model (Claude/GPT-4/Gemini) → back
Telegram bots can technically see all messages sent to them

WhatsApp:

End-to-end encryption by default for all messages (including linked device connections)
Your AI conversations are encrypted between your phone and WhatsApp's servers
However, WhatsApp is owned by Meta (Facebook), which has a less privacy-respecting business model
Message metadata (who you talk to, when, how often) is collected by Meta even though content is encrypted

Winner: For content privacy, WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption is stronger. For metadata privacy and corporate trust, Telegram is generally considered better. If you are concerned about Meta's data collection, Telegram wins. If you want message content fully encrypted, WhatsApp wins. This is genuinely a draw depending on your threat model.

Features for AI Assistants

Telegram Advantages:

Bot groups. You can add your Telegram AI bot to any group chat. Your team, family group, or community can all message the AI assistant in a shared space. This is extremely powerful for shared productivity.

Bot commands. Telegram bots support slash commands (/briefing, /translate, /help). Users can discover available commands directly in the chat interface, making the bot feel more like a dedicated tool.

Inline mode. Advanced Telegram bots can be invoked inline — type @yourbotname in any chat and get AI responses without leaving the conversation.

File handling. Telegram bots can receive and send files, voice messages, photos, documents, and more with fewer restrictions than WhatsApp.

No phone number required. You can create a Telegram account with just a username. Your AI bot gets its own username. Neither the bot nor other users need to know your phone number.

WhatsApp Advantages:

Ubiquity. WhatsApp has over 2 billion users with higher penetration in many markets, especially outside the US. If your contacts are all on WhatsApp but not Telegram, WhatsApp is the obvious choice for a shared assistant.

No new app to download. If your contacts already use WhatsApp, there is nothing new for them to install. Your AI assistant is just another contact.

Familiar interface. WhatsApp's interface is familiar to billions of people. Using an AI in WhatsApp feels natural and low-friction.

Better mobile experience. WhatsApp's mobile app is generally more polished than Telegram on certain devices, particularly on iOS.

Group Usage

Telegram: Your AI bot can be added to any group. Other group members can message it, query it, and get responses — all in the shared group chat. This is ideal for team productivity bots, community Q&A bots, or family assistant bots.

WhatsApp: Adding an AI to a WhatsApp group is more complex with the web pairing approach. It works, but the experience is different — the AI is more like "you responding with AI assistance" than a distinct bot persona in the group.

Winner: Telegram is clearly superior for group AI use cases. If you want an AI bot that a group can share, use Telegram.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Telegram if:

You want a bot that feels like a distinct AI assistant with its own identity
You use it in group chats or want to share it with others
Privacy from Meta/Facebook matters to you
You want bot commands and advanced Telegram features
You are comfortable with Telegram's interface

Choose WhatsApp if:

WhatsApp is your primary messaging app and Telegram is not
You want the AI in the platform you already use most
Your contacts are on WhatsApp but not Telegram
You prefer end-to-end encrypted content
You want the simplest possible setup

Use Both (Recommended): ClawMates lets you run the same AI assistant on Telegram and WhatsApp simultaneously. Your bot maintains context and memory across both platforms. This is the best setup for most users — use whichever app you happen to have open, and the AI is always there. See our guide to setting up Telegram in 5 minutes and our WhatsApp connection guide to get started on both.

Summary

| Feature | Telegram | WhatsApp | |---------|----------|----------| | Bot API | Open (designed for bots) | Web pairing (not official bot API) | | Setup time | ~3 minutes | ~30 seconds | | Group bots | Excellent | Limited | | End-to-end encryption | Secret Chats only | All chats | | Corporate trust | Independent | Meta (Facebook) | | Bot commands | Yes | No | | User base | ~950M | ~2B | | Best for | Power users, groups | Existing WhatsApp users |

The bottom line: Telegram is the better platform for AI bots on technical merit — the open Bot API, group support, and bot commands make it more powerful. But WhatsApp wins on user base and familiarity. The right choice is whichever app you and your contacts already use daily.

Deploy your AI assistant on both at clawmates.net/setup. Free 7-day trial, plans from $9.99/month.