OpenClaw ClawdBot AI Models: Claude, GPT, Kimi, GLM & Local Support

OpenClaw ClawdBot supports Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5, Kimi K2.5, GLM 5, MiniMax 2.5, local Ollama models, and OpenRouter integration for 300+ models.

OpenClaw ClawdBot Cloud AI Models: 5 Major Providers

OpenClaw ClawdBot is model-agnostic, supporting a wide range of cloud-based AI models from leading providers. Users can choose models based on their specific requirements for capability, speed, cost, and language specialization. The platform uses these models as its "brain" while providing the infrastructure for autonomous actions.

OpenAI GPT

Industry-leading general-purpose models with state-of-the-art performance.

GPT-5
Latest flagship model with state-of-the-art performance
GPT-5.3-Codex
Released Feb 5, 2026 - Most capable agentic coding model, 25% faster
GPT-4o
Optimized for speed and multimodal capabilities
o3-mini
Reasoning-focused compact model
Best for: General tasks, balanced performance, coding, broad domain knowledge

Moonshot Kimi

Massive context window specialist with advanced multimodal capabilities.

Kimi K2.5
Released Jan 2026 - 1 trillion parameter MoE model, 32B active parameters
Context Window
2 million+ tokens - Industry-leading long context processing
Features
Multimodal (vision + language), instant and thinking modes, video generation
Best for: Long documents, extensive context requirements, multimodal tasks, Chinese language

Zhipu GLM

Open-source flagship with significantly improved coding abilities.

GLM 5
Released Feb 2026 - Latest generation with enhanced reasoning
GLM-4-Plus
Previous generation with strong performance
Open Source
Weights available on Hugging Face for custom deployment
Best for: Chinese language tasks, coding, open-source deployment, cost-sensitive applications

MiniMax

Industry-leading multi-language coding specialist from Shanghai.

MiniMax 2.5
Released Feb 2026 - Advanced multi-language coding capabilities
Specialization
Java, Rust, Golang simultaneous processing
Capabilities
Improved context understanding and task execution
Best for: Multi-language coding projects, Rust/Golang development, enterprise applications

OpenClaw ClawdBot Local Models: Ollama Integration

OpenClaw ClawdBot integrates with Ollama (announced February 1, 2026) to enable completely local, offline AI operation. Local models provide privacy benefits, eliminate API costs, and allow OpenClaw to run in air-gapped environments or on devices without internet connectivity.

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Privacy First

All processing happens locally on your device. No data sent to external servers. Complete control over your information and agent interactions.

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Zero API Costs

No per-request charges or monthly subscriptions. One-time hardware investment provides unlimited usage without recurring fees.

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Offline Operation

Run OpenClaw without internet connectivity. Perfect for air-gapped environments, secure facilities, or unstable network conditions.

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Full Customization

Fine-tune models on your own data, adjust parameters, and configure behavior without external limitations or restrictions.

Quick Start with Ollama

ollama launch openclaw

Single command launches OpenClaw with Ollama integration. Models download automatically on first run.

Recommended Local Models (≥64,000 Token Context Required)

Llama 3.3 70B
Popular

Meta's latest open-source model with strong reasoning and coding capabilities. Excellent general-purpose choice for local deployment.

Qwen 2.5 72B (qwen3-coder)
Coding

Alibaba's coding specialist with exceptional performance on programming tasks. Optimized for software development workflows.

DeepSeek R1
Reasoning

Chinese-developed model with advanced reasoning capabilities. Strong performance on complex multi-step tasks.

GLM-5
Open Source

Zhipu AI's latest open model with improved coding and reasoning. Available on Hugging Face for local deployment.

GPT-OSS (20B, 120B)
Community

Open-source GPT variants maintained by community. Available in 20B and 120B parameter versions for different hardware capabilities.

Kimi-K2.5 (Local)
Long Context

Local deployment version of Moonshot's flagship model. Maintains extended context capabilities for long-form processing.

Hardware Requirements

OpenClaw ClawdBot OpenRouter: 300+ Models Unified Access

OpenClaw ClawdBot includes built-in OpenRouter integration, providing unified access to over 300 AI models from multiple providers through a single API. OpenRouter automatically routes requests to the most appropriate model based on task complexity, availability, and cost optimization.

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Unified API

Single integration provides access to 300+ models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Meta, Mistral, Cohere, and more. Switch models without changing code.

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Single Billing

One account, one bill for all providers. No need to manage separate API keys and subscriptions for each model provider.

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Automatic Fallback

Intelligent routing with automatic failover. If primary model is unavailable, OpenRouter switches to backup models seamlessly.

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Load Balancing

Distribute requests across providers for optimal availability and performance. Avoid rate limits and service disruptions.

OpenRouter Auto Model

The openrouter/openrouter/auto model automatically selects the most cost-effective AI based on prompt complexity:

OpenClaw ClawdBot Model Comparison: Performance & Pricing

This comparison helps you choose the right AI model based on your specific requirements for context length, processing speed, cost efficiency, and use case specialization.

Model Context Window Speed Cost Best For
Claude Opus 4.6 200K tokens Medium Premium Complex reasoning, autonomous actions, comprehensive tasks
Claude Sonnet 4.5 1M tokens (beta) Fast Moderate Coding, agent workflows, balanced performance
GPT-5 128K tokens Fast Premium General tasks, broad knowledge, creative work
GPT-5.3-Codex 128K tokens Very Fast Premium Agentic coding, software development, debugging
Kimi K2.5 2M+ tokens Medium Moderate Long documents, extensive context, multimodal tasks
GLM 5 128K tokens Fast Budget Chinese language, coding, cost-sensitive projects
MiniMax 2.5 256K tokens Fast Moderate Multi-language coding, Rust/Golang/Java development
Llama 3.3 70B (Local) 128K tokens Medium Free* Privacy-focused, offline operation, no API costs

*Local models require hardware investment but have zero per-request costs. Speed depends on hardware configuration.

OpenClaw ClawdBot Model Configuration: Setup Instructions

Configuring AI models in OpenClaw ClawdBot is straightforward. Follow these steps to set up your preferred models, configure API access, and optimize for your specific use case.

1

Set API Keys in Environment Variables

Store API credentials securely using environment variables. Never hardcode keys in configuration files.

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-claude-key"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-gpt-key"
export MOONSHOT_API_KEY="your-kimi-key"
2

Choose Default Model in Configuration

Select your preferred AI model in OpenClaw's configuration file. This model handles requests by default.

{
"defaultModel": "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6",
"temperature": 0.7
}
3

Configure Fallback Models

Set backup models to ensure reliability. OpenClaw automatically switches if primary model is unavailable.

"fallbackModels": [
"anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5",
"openai/gpt-5",
"openrouter/openrouter/auto"
]
4

Set Usage Limits and Budgets

Control costs by setting spending limits and request quotas. Prevent unexpected bills from runaway agent behavior.

"budgetLimits": {
"dailySpend": 50,
"monthlySpend": 500,
"requestsPerHour": 100
}
5

Enable Model-Specific Features

Activate advanced capabilities like Claude's effort parameter, GPT's function calling, or Kimi's long-context mode based on your model choice.

"modelFeatures": {
"claudeEffort": "high",
"kimiLongContext": true,
"gptFunctionCalling": true
}

OpenClaw ClawdBot Model Selection: Choosing the Right AI

Different AI models excel at different tasks. Use these recommendations to select the optimal model for your specific OpenClaw ClawdBot use case and requirements.

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Claude Opus 4.6

Complex Reasoning & Autonomous Actions

Choose Claude Opus 4.6 when you need the most capable AI for complex multi-step reasoning, comprehensive analysis, strategic planning, and sophisticated autonomous actions. Best for high-stakes tasks requiring deep understanding.

Use cases: Strategic planning, research synthesis, complex code refactoring, multi-system orchestration, advanced problem-solving

GPT-5

General Tasks & Balanced Performance

Choose GPT-5 for general-purpose tasks requiring balanced performance across diverse domains. Excellent broad knowledge, strong creative capabilities, and reliable execution make it ideal for varied workflows.

Use cases: Content creation, general assistance, customer support, data analysis, multi-domain knowledge work
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Kimi K2.5

Long Documents & Extended Context

Choose Kimi K2.5 when working with extensive documents, large codebases, or tasks requiring 2 million+ token context windows. Industry-leading context length enables processing entire books, repositories, or conversation histories.

Use cases: Document summarization, codebase analysis, legal research, extensive conversation history, multi-file projects
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GLM 5

Chinese Language Tasks

Choose GLM 5 for Chinese language processing, bilingual workflows, or cost-sensitive projects. Open-source availability enables custom deployment and fine-tuning for specialized Chinese language applications.

Use cases: Chinese content creation, bilingual support, Chinese coding documentation, cost-optimized deployments, custom fine-tuning
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GPT-5.3-Codex

Agentic Coding & Development

Choose GPT-5.3-Codex for software development workflows requiring advanced coding capabilities. 25% faster than previous versions with exceptional debugging, code generation, and autonomous development features.

Use cases: Code generation, debugging, test writing, code reviews, refactoring, autonomous development
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Local Models (Ollama)

Privacy-Sensitive Work

Choose local Ollama models for privacy-critical applications, air-gapped environments, or zero-cost unlimited usage. Complete data sovereignty with no external API calls or cloud dependencies.

Use cases: Confidential data processing, offline environments, unlimited usage scenarios, custom model fine-tuning, regulated industries

Explore More OpenClaw ClawdBot Resources

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Security

Comprehensive security guide covering vulnerabilities, risks, and safety practices

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Installation

Get started with OpenClaw in under 10 minutes and configure your first model

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Ecosystem

Explore 700+ skills, ClawHub marketplace, and extensible plugin architecture

Features

Discover all OpenClaw capabilities including SOUL.md, messaging, and autonomous actions