PipeStitchChecked on September 27, 2026
OpenClaw
A free assistant that runs on your own computer and does email, calendar, and errands from WhatsApp or Telegram.
- What it does
- A free, open-source assistant that runs on your own computer or server. It sorts your inbox, sends emails, keeps your calendar, and checks you in for flights, all from WhatsApp, Telegram, or another chat app.
- Who makes it
- The OpenClaw Foundation, a US non-profit since July 2026. Its donors include OpenAI, where its creator works; OpenClaw says donors don’t control the project.
- What it costs
- Nothing to OpenClaw: there is no paid version. You pay the AI company you connect it to, or run a free model on your own computer.
- Where your data goes
- Chats and history stay on your computer; a daily update check sends only the version and computer type. What the AI company you connect keeps is up to that company. OpenClaw advises letting it draft messages while you approve before sending.
- Setup time
- OpenClaw says 2 to 5 minutes to install, then a few minutes to get started.
- What you need first
- A Mac (macOS 15 or later for the app), Windows 10 or 11, or Linux, and an account with an AI company, or a model on your own computer.
- Where it stands
- An active open-source project since November 2025. The Windows app is in beta.
- Who it suits
Good fit if someone in the shop likes running their own software and wants an assistant that keeps data on their own machine.
Not a fit if nobody will install it, keep it updated, and approve what it sends.
- Checked on
- September 27, 2026