Clawdbot
Clawdbot was an official former project and software name in the history of OpenClaw. It was not a typo, misspelling, community nickname, or separate unofficial clone. The project's canonical sequence is Warelay, Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw.
The similar term Clawd referred to the lobster assistant or mascot identity. Clawbot, without the d, is the spelling variant. Keeping those three terms separate prevents the official Clawdbot name from being mistaken for a typing error.
If you found an older tutorial, package reference, video, or discussion using that name, you are usually looking at an earlier chapter of the same project rather than a separate modern product.
Quick answer: Clawdbot was the project's official former name. OpenClaw is the current name. Use current OpenClaw documentation for installation, security, skills, and migration information.
Who this is forNon-technical professionals, solopreneurs, and lean teams who want recurring browser, file, research, and monitoring workflows without self-hosting OpenClaw, configuring a server, or keeping a personal computer awake.
What Happened to Clawdbot? The Rename to OpenClaw
The project did not disappear, and Clawdbot was not merely a mistaken spelling. It was an official project name before the brief Moltbot transition and the adoption of OpenClaw.
According to the official OpenClaw introduction, Clawd began as a playful reference to Claude. Anthropic's legal team later asked the project to reconsider that name. The community then used Moltbot briefly before settling on OpenClaw.
The official OpenClaw lore adds an important distinction:
- Clawd was the lobster assistant identity.
- Clawdbot was the official former project and software name.
- Moltbot was the short-lived replacement name.
- OpenClaw became the final public name in that sequence.
Saying “Clawdbot was renamed OpenClaw” is accurate at the project level. The complete sequence includes the brief Moltbot stage, while Clawd belongs to the parallel mascot history rather than the software-name sequence.
Clawdbot → Moltbot → OpenClaw: Timeline & Why It Changed
| Date | Name stage | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Early project period | Warelay | The project began as a WhatsApp gateway under the Warelay or WhatsApp Relay name |
| Late 2025 to January 27, 2026 | Clawdbot | Clawdbot became the official project name associated with the Clawd assistant identity |
| January 27, 2026 | Moltbot | The project changed names after Anthropic requested reconsideration of the earlier name |
| January 30, 2026 | OpenClaw | The team adopted OpenClaw as the final name in the documented sequence |
OpenClaw's official lore separately dates the Clawd mascot identity from November 25, 2025 to January 27, 2026. That date should not be presented as a separately confirmed Clawdbot software release date.
Why the First Name Changed
The official account says the earlier Clawd name was a pun on Claude. Anthropic's legal team sent a request asking the project to reconsider it. Describing this as a trademark-related naming request is supported by the project's own lore.
Why Moltbot Did Not Last
Moltbot emerged from a community naming discussion. The “molt” concept matched the lobster theme and represented growth, but the official announcement says the name did not feel natural enough in use.
What Happened During the Rebrand
The official OpenClaw lore documents a chaotic migration. Automated accounts captured renamed social handles, one account posted a crypto wallet address, fake developer profiles promoted pump-and-dump tokens, and scammers launched another fake token shortly after the OpenClaw name appeared.
This is material context because it created impersonation and fraud risks around abandoned names. It should not be overstated as a separately confirmed cause of the final rename: the official announcement explains that Moltbot did not roll off the tongue and that OpenClaw better represented the project.
Why the Project Chose OpenClaw
The project states that OpenClaw better reflected its open-source identity and broader ambition. It also reports that naming and domain checks were completed before the final move.
The historical dates are stable, but users should still rely on current OpenClaw documentation for present-day setup and features.
What Clawdbot (OpenClaw) Actually Does
Today, the active project is OpenClaw: an open-source personal AI assistant runtime operated on a user's computer or server.
Its documented architecture includes a long-lived Gateway that owns connected messaging surfaces. The runtime can combine model access, agent workspaces, skills, plugins, browser capabilities, files, and supported channels according to the operator's configuration.
Common use cases include:
- Receiving agent requests through supported chat channels
- Researching information across websites and documents
- Working with files and structured outputs
- Using approved tools within configured permission boundaries
- Running recurring or scheduled workflows
- Extending behavior with skills and plugins
This does not mean every installation has every capability enabled. The operator chooses the models, tools, permissions, channels, and environment.
For current requirements, use the official OpenClaw Getting Started documentation. This page intentionally does not duplicate version-specific commands that may change.
Clawdbot Setup vs a Hosted Cloud Claw
Searching for “Clawdbot setup” usually means choosing how to run the current OpenClaw software.
| Consideration | Self-operated OpenClaw | Hosted cloud claw |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | Installed and maintained by the user | Managed by the service provider |
| Host | Personal computer, container host, VM, or server | Managed cloud environment |
| Availability | Depends on the user's host and processes | Designed for persistent cloud operation |
| Updates | Applied by the operator | Handled by the provider |
| Skills and tools | Installed and configured by the operator | Built-in capabilities with supported extensions |
| Primary reason to choose | Infrastructure control and customization | Reduced setup and maintenance work |
Self-hosting may fit when you want source access, local execution, and direct control over the environment.
Managed hosting may fit when your goal is to assign browser, research, file, or scheduled work without running the underlying server yourself.
Is Clawdbot Safe to Run Locally?
The historical name does not determine the security model. The relevant guidance is the current OpenClaw security documentation.
OpenClaw assumes a personal-assistant trust model with one trusted operator boundary per Gateway. Risk depends on who can send instructions, which tools are enabled, and what accounts, files, and browser sessions those tools can reach.
| Risk | Practical control |
|---|---|
| Logged-in browser access | Use a dedicated browser profile without unnecessary personal accounts |
| File or command tools | Limit permissions and use sandboxing where appropriate |
| Shared messaging access | Restrict approved senders and separate personal from team agents |
| Community skills and plugins | Review source, dependencies, and required credentials |
| Remote Gateway exposure | Require authentication and avoid unnecessary public access |
Running locally can increase control, but it also places security decisions on the operator. Local does not automatically mean safe, and cloud does not automatically mean unsafe. The permission model and isolation boundaries matter more than the label.
Clawdbot Alternative: Always-On, No Docker
MoClaw provides an AI-powered personal assistant on a managed cloud computer. It is intended for users who want an always-on agent without installing or maintaining the OpenClaw runtime themselves.
The managed environment supports browser work, files, scheduled tasks, skills, and chat-based task assignment. Docker is not required on the user's computer because the runtime is handled in the cloud environment.
This is a different tradeoff from self-hosting:
- Choose OpenClaw when direct runtime and infrastructure control are priorities.
- Choose MoClaw when you want persistent execution with less operational work.
- Review permissions and connected accounts in either model.
Questions
Is Clawdbot Still a Separate Product?
The active project is OpenClaw. Clawdbot was its official former name, not a separate current product or a misspelling. Current setup and security guidance should therefore come from OpenClaw sources.
Do Old Clawdbot Configurations and Skills Still Work?
Compatibility depends on the age of the material and what changed during migration. Do not assume an old package name, configuration key, or tutorial still applies. Use current migration and skills documentation before reusing older Clawdbot material.
Does Clawdbot Require Docker?
Docker is an optional OpenClaw deployment method, not a requirement for every user. Follow the current official installation documentation for supported setup options.
Can I Use My Own Model Key?
Self-operated OpenClaw supports credentials for configured model providers. MoClaw also offers a BYOK option for supported models; review the current pricing information before connecting a key.
The name changed, but the practical decision remains the same: operate OpenClaw yourself or use a managed cloud environment for the agent.
Want a claw without the setup?
MoClaw is a hosted cloud claw — OpenClaw-style automation, always on, with no Docker, VPS, or server to babysit. Bring your own key.