How To Get Your OpenClaw
Everything you need to deploy your first OpenClaw, connect your AI provider, set up channels, and automate your workflows.
No API key required
HandyClaw API gives you instant access to Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, and more — no account setup with AI providers needed. Just pick a plan, deploy, and start chatting in under 60 seconds.
Step 1: Deploy Your Claw
Getting started takes under 60 seconds. No server setup, no Docker, no config files.
Go to your Dashboard and click Get Your OpenClaw.
Pick a plan — Lite, Pro, or Max — based on the compute you need.
Give your Claw a name and choose your AI provider (HandyClaw API or your own key).
Complete checkout. Your Claw deploys automatically.
Once deployed
You'll be redirected to your Claw dashboard where you can open the web chat, connect channels, and configure settings.
Step 2: Choose Your AI Provider
You have two options — use HandyClaw API out of the box, or bring your own API key from any provider.
HandyClaw API (Recommended)
- ✓ No API key needed
- ✓ Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek & more
- ✓ Up to 30–70% cheaper than official rates
- ✓ Pay-as-you-go via credits
Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
- → Use your existing API subscriptions
- → Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter
- → xAI, Groq, Mistral, and more
- → Your key, stored encrypted
Tip: You can switch providers or models anytime from your Claw's Settings page — no redeployment needed.
Step 3: Connect Your Channels
Your Claw comes with a built-in web chat. You can also connect Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, and Slack so you can message your AI from anywhere.
Telegram
Go to Settings → Channels → Telegram. Create a bot via @BotFather, paste the token, and your Claw is live on Telegram.
Discord
Go to Settings → Channels → Discord. Create a bot in the Discord Developer Portal, copy the token, invite it to your server.
Go to Settings → Channels → WhatsApp. Follow the setup flow to connect via the WhatsApp Cloud API.
Slack
Go to Settings → Channels → Slack. Create a Slack app, add the bot OAuth token, and install it to your workspace.
Step 4: Set Up Automations
Your Claw can run tasks on a schedule without you being present. Set up cron jobs for briefings, reports, reminders, or any recurring workflow.
Morning Briefing
0 7 * * 1-5Every weekday at 7am, your Claw compiles headlines from your favorite sources and sends a summary to your Telegram.
Daily Digest Email
0 18 * * *At 6pm each day, summarize everything you bookmarked and send it to your inbox.
Weekly Report
0 9 * * 1Every Monday morning, pull your key metrics and post a summary to your team Slack.
How to set up: Go to your Claw's Settings → Scheduled Tasks. Add a cron expression, write a task description in plain language, and choose where to deliver the result.
Step 5: Run Multiple Claws
You can create multiple Claws, each with its own plan, AI provider, and channel connections. Common setups:
Work Claw
Connected to Slack and Discord, using Claude for coding and research. Higher compute plan for intensive tasks.
Personal Claw
Connected to Telegram and WhatsApp, handling your daily briefing, travel planning, and meal scheduling.
Team Claw
Shared with your team on Discord. Handles support triage, PR summaries, and weekly KPI reports.
Research Claw
Dedicated to long-running research tasks. Monitors competitors, tracks news, and sends daily digests.
Each Claw has its own subscription billed separately. Manage all your Claws from a single dashboard.
Tips & Best Practices
Start with HandyClaw API
No key setup required. Try different models freely and only switch to BYOK if you have specific pricing needs.
Use plain language
Your Claw understands natural language. You don't need special syntax — just describe what you want clearly.
Connect a channel first
The web chat is great, but connecting Telegram makes your Claw 10x more useful — it's always in your pocket.
Automate your mornings
A daily 7am briefing is the single most impactful automation you can set up. Start there.
Give your Claw context
In Settings → System Prompt, tell your Claw who you are, what you work on, and your preferences. It makes every interaction better.
Check your credits
If using HandyClaw API, monitor your credits from the dashboard. Top up anytime — they never expire.
Ready to get started?
Your Claw is ready in under 60 seconds. No API key required.