30+ OpenClaw Tools Compared: Find the Right One for You
The OpenClaw ecosystem has exploded. Over 30 tools now help you deploy, host, and manage AI agents. But they are not all the same. Some host your agent for you. Some help you build it. Some do both. This guide breaks them into categories so you can pick the right one.
Three Ways to Run OpenClaw
Before comparing individual tools, it helps to understand the three approaches to running an OpenClaw agent. Each comes with different trade-offs in convenience, cost, and control.
Hosted (Managed)
Someone else runs the server. You sign up, configure your agent, and it runs on their infrastructure. Easiest to start, but you pay monthly and depend on the provider.
Self-Hosted (DIY)
You run OpenClaw on your own server or VPS. Full control, no monthly platform fees, but you handle setup and maintenance yourself.
Config + Deploy
A tool helps you configure the agent visually, then gives you a ready-to-run package for your own server. You own the result. One-time cost instead of monthly.
Comparison Table
Here are the most notable tools in the OpenClaw ecosystem, grouped by approach.
| Tool | Type | You Own It | Channels | Config UI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrewClaw | Config + Deploy | Yes, forever | Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, Discord | Visual wizard |
| SimpleClaw | Hosted | No (hosted) | Telegram | Basic |
| ClawdHost | Hosted | No (hosted) | Telegram | No |
| EveryClaw.ai | Hosted | No (hosted) | Telegram | No |
| EasyClaw | Hosted | No (hosted) | Telegram | No |
| ClawWrapper | SaaS Template | Yes (code) | Custom | No |
| LaunchClaw | Hosted | No (hosted) | Telegram, WhatsApp | No |
| soulstack | Self-hosted | Yes | Telegram | No |
| SafeClaw | Hosted | No (hosted) | Telegram | No |
| lobsterfarm | Self-hosted | Yes | Telegram, Email | No |
Table includes the most established tools. 20+ additional hosted platforms exist with similar features.
Hosted Platforms: Convenience First
The majority of OpenClaw tools are hosted platforms. SimpleClaw, ClawdHost, EasyClaw, EveryClaw.ai, Molty, ClawSimple, CloudClaw, and over a dozen others all offer the same basic promise: sign up, paste your SOUL.md or configure an agent, and they run it on their servers.
This is the fastest way to get started. No server, no Docker, no SSH. But there are trade-offs. You pay monthly for as long as you want the agent running. Your agent data lives on someone else's server. And if the platform shuts down or changes pricing, you need to migrate.
Best for:
- - Non-technical users who want to try OpenClaw without any setup
- - Quick experiments and proof-of-concept agents
- - Users who prefer monthly costs over upfront configuration
Self-Hosted: Full Control
Tools like soulstack and lobsterfarm help you deploy OpenClaw on your own VPS. You get a script or Docker setup that installs everything on a server you control. The advantage is full ownership and no recurring platform fees. The disadvantage is you need to be comfortable with terminals, SSH, and basic server management.
You can also skip third-party tools entirely and install OpenClaw directly from the official repository. The trade-off is more manual configuration, but it gives you the most flexibility.
Best for:
- - Developers comfortable with Linux servers and Docker
- - Users who want full data privacy and control
- - Long-term deployments where monthly hosting fees add up
Config + Deploy: Build It, Own It
This is a newer category. Instead of hosting your agent or giving you a blank terminal, config-and-deploy tools guide you through creating the agent visually, then hand you a complete package to run on your own server.
CrewClaw is the primary tool in this category. You use a step-by-step wizard to pick a role, configure personality and skills, choose monitoring schedules, and select communication channels. CrewClaw then generates a complete deploy package: SOUL.md, Dockerfile, docker-compose.yml, Telegram bot code, and a setup script. You deploy it to your server with a single command.
curl -sL crewclaw.com/api/deploy?session_id=YOUR_ID | bashThe script creates the directory, downloads all files, asks for your tokens, and starts Docker. Agent is live in under 2 minutes.
Best for:
- - Users who want a guided setup without writing SOUL.md from scratch
- - Anyone who wants to own their agent with no monthly platform fees
- - Teams that need multiple agents with different roles and skills
How to Choose
Ask yourself these questions:
Do you have a server or VPS?
Yes → Self-hosted or config+deploy tools save money long-term.
No → Hosted platforms are your fastest option. A $5/month VPS (DigitalOcean, Hetzner) is enough if you want to try self-hosted.
How important is data ownership?
Very → Self-hosted or config+deploy. Your data stays on your server.
Not critical → Hosted platforms are fine. Most are small startups, so check their privacy policy.
Do you want to customize your agent beyond basic settings?
Yes → Self-hosted or config+deploy gives you access to all configuration files.
No, basic is fine → Any hosted platform will work.
Do you need multiple channels (Telegram + Slack + Discord)?
Yes → Check channel support carefully. Most hosted platforms only support Telegram. CrewClaw and self-hosted setups support all OpenClaw channels.
Just Telegram → All tools support Telegram.
Build Your Agent Now
Use the CrewClaw wizard to configure your AI agent visually. Pick a role, set personality and skills, deploy to your server with one command. No monthly fees.
Build Your Agent →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to deploy OpenClaw?
The easiest way depends on your technical comfort. If you want zero setup, hosted platforms like SimpleClaw, ClawdHost, or EasyClaw let you deploy in one click with no server needed. If you want ownership and control, CrewClaw generates a Docker package you deploy to your own server with a single curl command. Both approaches get you a running agent in under 5 minutes.
Should I use hosted or self-hosted OpenClaw?
Hosted is better if you want convenience, have no server, or want to avoid Docker and SSH. Self-hosted is better if you want full ownership, lower long-term cost (no monthly fees), data privacy, or need to customize the agent beyond what hosted platforms allow. Most hosted platforms charge monthly, while self-hosted is a one-time setup cost.
How much does it cost to run OpenClaw?
OpenClaw itself is free and open-source. Your costs come from two things: the server (a $5/month VPS is enough) and the LLM API calls (varies by usage, typically $5-20/month for moderate use). Hosted platforms add their own fee on top, usually $5-15/month. Self-hosted with Ollama and local models can run entirely free.
Can I switch between OpenClaw tools later?
Yes. Your agent configuration lives in a SOUL.md file, which is portable across all OpenClaw tools. If you start with a hosted platform and want to move to self-hosted later, you just take your SOUL.md and deploy it on your own server. The agent configuration format is the same everywhere.
What is the difference between CrewClaw and other OpenClaw tools?
Most OpenClaw tools focus on hosting, giving you a managed server to run your agent. CrewClaw focuses on agent configuration and ownership. You use a visual wizard to design your agent's personality, skills, and behavior, then get a complete deploy package (Docker, bot code, SOUL.md) that runs on your own infrastructure. No monthly hosting fees, no vendor lock-in.