Open-source AI assistant (MIT) that you install on your own machine and control from WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack and other messaging apps.
Featured AI agent · Public repository created 24 November 2025
France AvailableDetails
OpenClaw is an open-source gateway (MIT licence) you install on your computer or a server. It connects your messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Signal, iMessage…) to an AI agent that can browse, fill in forms, read and write files or run commands. You choose the AI model (hosted or local).
“OpenClaw Hermes” actually refers to two separate products: OpenClaw (OpenClaw Foundation) and Hermes Agent (Nous Research). Both are open source and often mentioned together.
Who makes it?
OpenClaw Foundation (US non-profit) (United States). Public repository created 24 November 2025 — source: openclaw/openclaw (GitHub) (official, 24 November 2025).
Available in France?
France Available
Available: free software you install yourself (macOS, Windows, Linux).
Source: openclaw.ai (official, 19 October 2026).
Pricing and plans
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Software | 0 € | MIT open source: no subscription, no hosted offer, no paid version |
| AI model | depending on provider | You pay your chosen model provider, or nothing with a local model |
Sources: openclaw.ai (official, 19 October 2026) · GitHub openclaw/openclaw (official, 19 October 2026). Prices in dollars as displayed, not converted. OpenClaw pricing details →
Key features
- Self-hosted: state, memory and credentials stay on your hardware
- Around thirty messaging channels (29 announced)
- Persistent memory across conversations
- Full system access (browser, forms, files, commands) or sandboxed
- Skills and plugins, multi-agent, scheduled tasks (cron, webhooks)
- macOS, Windows, Linux desktop apps; iOS and Android mobile nodes
Limits to know
- Sandbox off by default: turn it on before giving access to other people
- Incoming messages must be treated as untrusted (injection risk)
- Installation and setup are up to you; a model provider API key is required
- Your requests go to the model provider you configure
Source: OpenClaw — Sandboxing (official, 19 October 2026).
Who is it for?
Technical profiles and small teams who want control over their data and model, and are happy to run the tool themselves.
What people do with them
Real uses spotted on X and the web, each with its source. Results as reported by their authors, not independently verified. All OpenClaw uses →
OffbeatMost original
Ordering groceries when the cleaner sends a message
On a simple message from the cleaner, the agent logs into the Albert Heijn supermarket site with credentials shared in 1Password, waits for the SMS login code (read through Beeper’s iMessage bridge and MCP) and fills the basket.
Reported result: Missing products get ordered without lifting a finger.
For a small business: Partly: automatic restocking at an employee’s request, but access to credentials and SMS must be tightly controlled.
Source: @dreetje · 20 Jan 2026
DevelopmentMost original
Fixing a production deploy by voice while walking the dog
OpenClaw agent (“BigC”) installed on a Hetzner server: it reads the failed Railway build logs, finds the cause (wrong build commands), fixes each service’s config, redeploys, checks, then fixes a design flaw and opens a PR. All driven by voice.
Reported result: Deploy fixed and PR submitted without opening a computer.
For a small business: Partly: useful for small businesses with a site or app in production, but you need a server and tightly separated access.
Source: @georgedagg_ · 16 Jan 2026
OffbeatMost original
Two OpenClaw agents working together in a WhatsApp group
Two users put their respective agents in the same WhatsApp group; the agents talk and work together.
Reported result: Demo of agent-to-agent collaboration between two people.
For a small business: Partly: a lead for coordinating two partner companies, with major confidentiality issues.
Source: @danpeguine · 22 Jan 2026
OffbeatMost original
A $35 holographic cube to give an agent a face
Bought a small $35 holographic display connected to OpenClaw to show the agent’s status.
Reported result: It became a sort of tamagotchi, says the author; the most-liked post in the OpenClaw showcase (over 900 likes).
For a small business: No, but a status display idea for a reception desk or open-plan office.
Source: @andrewjiang · 19 Jan 2026
Business & SMEsTop for SMEs
Every morning: emails summarised, tasks created, sent to Slack
Gmail + Supabase skills and a scheduled task every morning: reads the first 10 emails, summarises them, creates to-dos for important messages, posts to Slack, stores in Supabase, plus a small macOS menu bar app.
Reported result: An inbox review turned into a to-do list effortlessly.
For a small business: Yes: one of the easiest cases for a small business to copy.
Source: @dhruvalgolakiya · 12 Jan 2026
Business & SMEsTop for SMEs
Fully automatic weekly SEO analysis
The agent produces a full SEO analysis of the site every week.
Reported result: SEO report delivered every week with no manual work.
For a small business: Yes: weekly SEO tracking for a brochure or e-commerce site.
Source: @xz3dev · 15 Jan 2026
Personal life
A “personal OS”: calendar, weekly review and morning briefing
OpenClaw slots tasks into the calendar by an importance/urgency score, runs a weekly review from meeting transcripts and Notion notes, sends a morning brief (weather, goals, meetings, X/LinkedIn trends, RSS reading), prepares notes on people before each meeting and reminds the couple of their son’s school tests.
Reported result: A single chat interface replaces planning, monitoring and meeting prep.
For a small business: Yes: the morning brief and pre-meeting notes are easy for a small business owner to copy.
Source: @danpeguine · 17 Jan 2026
Development
App QA: notes, report, then coding agents in parallel
The author tests his app and sends screenshots and notes; the agent builds a task list, writes a report, then on “Go” launches Codex agents that open separate PRs; Claude reviews the PRs; the agent writes up what needs retesting.
Reported result: Test → fix → retest cycle documented end to end.
For a small business: Partly: relevant for a small business that makes software.
Source: @nateliason · 23 Jan 2026
Against the other featured agents
Sources
- openclaw/openclaw (GitHub) (official, 24 November 2025)
- openclaw.ai (official, 19 October 2026)
- OpenClaw — Sandboxing (official, 19 October 2026)
Information collected on 19 October 2026. These products change fast: check the offer when you subscribe.
Real cases in small businesses
A small business owner describes what he handed over, task by task, to his OpenClaw assistant running on a Mac mini: read his account.
- Filing health insurance reimbursement claims
- Bank reconciliation in Odoo, with clear rules
- Checking a contract by cross-referencing Excel, PDF, business software and ERP
- Approving in a legacy ERP, even on the road, from WhatsApp
- A dedicated, capped card for small payments
- Recurring invoicing, from the invoice to client follow-up
- From tracked deadlines to decisions to make
- Negotiating a price with a supplier, by email
- Mini IT department: mailboxes and extensions for new starters and leavers
- Mini IT department: domain names and email deliverability
- Mini IT department: local, remote and incremental backups
- Mini IT department: websites, SEO and hosting
In practice
The first paid plan listed by the vendor is: Free (open source); AI model costs extra. OpenClaw offers a permanent free plan. We couldn’t verify whether the site is available in French. European hosting isn’t mentioned on the pages we checked; GDPR mention not verified.
Note
MIT open source, self-hosted: your data stays on your machine; only your chosen model provider receives the requests.
“Not verified”: information not found on the vendor’s website or pricing page, not necessarily false. Our method · Are you the vendor? Report an update
Comparisons
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does OpenClaw cost?
According to its official pricing page, OpenClaw starts at Free (open source); AI model costs extra. A permanent free plan is also available. Information checked on 19 Oct 2026.
Does OpenClaw have a free plan?
Yes: OpenClaw offers a permanent free plan, according to its pricing page.
Is OpenClaw available in French?
Not verified: we couldn’t confirm a French version of OpenClaw’s website.
Where is OpenClaw’s data hosted?
OpenClaw doesn’t clearly state where data is hosted on the pages we checked: ask the vendor. Vendor country: United States.
What are the alternatives to OpenClaw?
In the “Autonomous personal agents” category, the tools that meet the most verified criteria are Hermes Agent and Meta Muse. The table at the bottom of the page compares all the alternatives.
Answers based solely on information published by the vendors and collected on 19 Oct 2026.
