How to Install Skills for OpenClaw
What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is a free, open-source AI agent developed by Peter Steinberger that runs locally on your machine. Originally named Clawdbot, it was later renamed to Moltbot (after a trademark request from Anthropic), and finally became OpenClaw on January 30, 2026.
Launched in November 2025, OpenClaw reached 157,000 GitHub stars in just 10 weeks—making it the fastest-growing developer tool in history, outpacing React and Kubernetes.
How OpenClaw Works
Built on Node.js, OpenClaw acts as a local message router and agent runtime. It connects to leading AI models including:
- Anthropic Claude (Claude 3.5, Claude Opus 4.5)
- OpenAI GPT (GPT-4, GPT-5)
- DeepSeek
- Local models via Ollama
You interact with OpenClaw through messaging platforms like Signal, Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp—even using voice messages from your phone. OpenClaw can run 24/7 on a dedicated machine, handling entire projects autonomously while you manage it conversationally.
What Makes OpenClaw Unique
OpenClaw isn't just a chatbot—it's a self-improving autonomous agent:
- Persistent memory: Learns your preferences and retains methods across sessions
- Multi-tool coordination: Can direct other agents like Claude Code for coding tasks
- Proactive automation: Takes initiative without waiting for prompts
- 50+ integrations: Email, calendars, file systems, browsers, APIs, and more
- Skill creation: Can autonomously write new skills to extend its own capabilities
"I can completely step away from the programming environment and handle an entire project's development, testing, deployment, launch, and usage—all through chatting on my phone." — Reorx, OpenClaw user
Is OpenClaw Free?
Yes, OpenClaw is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. You can:
- Download it from GitHub
- Run it locally on your own machine
- Use your own API keys for AI models (Claude, GPT, etc.)
- Modify and extend it however you want
There's no subscription, no premium tier, no usage limits. You only pay for the AI model API calls you make (e.g., Anthropic or OpenAI API costs).
Is OpenClaw Safe?
OpenClaw runs entirely on your local machine, which means:
- Your data stays local: No sensitive information is sent to third-party servers (except the AI model APIs you choose)
- You control permissions: OpenClaw only accesses what you explicitly allow
- Open-source transparency: All code is publicly auditable on GitHub
- Community-vetted skills: Skills on agentskill.sh include security scores based on static analysis
However, because OpenClaw is powerful and can execute commands on your system, you should:
- Review skills before installing them
- Be cautious with skills that request broad permissions
- Keep OpenClaw updated for security patches
Security researchers at Cisco have noted that misconfigured OpenClaw instances can pose risks if exposed to the internet. Always run OpenClaw on a secured, private network.
OpenClaw vs Moltbot vs Clawdbot
They're all the same project—just different names at different times:
| Name | Period | Why the change |
|---|---|---|
| Clawdbot | Nov 2025 | Original name |
| Moltbot | Jan 27, 2026 | Renamed after trademark request from Anthropic |
| OpenClaw | Jan 30, 2026 | Final rebrand to avoid confusion |
If you're searching for Moltbot skills or Clawdbot skills, they all work with OpenClaw. The skill format hasn't changed.
Why Use Skills with OpenClaw?
OpenClaw's skill format is the same as the open Agent Skills standard (SKILL.md). This means:
- 100,000+ skills from agentskill.sh work natively with OpenClaw
- Cross-platform compatibility: Same skills work on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Antigravity, and 20+ other platforms
- Curated quality: Security scoring, install counts, and user ratings (vs. ClawHub's 5,700 unrated skills)
- Instant discovery: The
/learncommand searches, previews, and installs skills mid-conversation
How to Install OpenClaw
System Requirements
- Node.js 18+ (20+ recommended)
- macOS, Linux, or Windows (WSL recommended on Windows)
- API key for at least one AI model (Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, or local via Ollama)
Quick Install
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Configure your API keys
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your Anthropic/OpenAI API keys
# Start OpenClaw
npm start
Then connect OpenClaw to your preferred messaging platform (Telegram, Signal, Discord, or WhatsApp) following the setup guide on GitHub.
How to Install Skills on OpenClaw
OpenClaw loads skills from two directories:
- Global:
~/.openclaw/skills/— available everywhere - Workspace:
./skills/— project-specific
Install the /learn Command (Recommended)
The /learn command gives you instant access to 100,000+ skills:
git clone https://github.com/agentskill-sh/learn.git ~/.openclaw/skills/learn
Then in any OpenClaw conversation:
/learn seo # Search for SEO skills
/learn @anthropic/seo-content-optimizer # Install a specific skill
/learn trending # See what's popular
Manual Installation
- Browse skills on agentskill.sh
- Download the skill ZIP
- Extract to
~/.openclaw/skills/[skill-name]/
OpenClaw auto-discovers skills on startup.
Popular OpenClaw Skills
| Skill | Description | Installs |
|---|---|---|
| seo-optimizer | SEO, keyword research, content optimization | 12K+ |
| cold-email | Cold emails using proven frameworks (AIDA, PAS) | 8K+ |
| frontend-design | Production-grade UI components | 6K+ |
| programmatic-seo | SEO pages at scale | 5K+ |
| skill-creator | Create your own Agent Skills | 4K+ |
Official OpenClaw Skills
The OpenClaw team maintains a collection of official skills designed specifically for OpenClaw. These include core utilities, messaging integrations, and automation workflows.
Browse all official OpenClaw skills →
FAQ
Is OpenClaw free?
Yes, OpenClaw is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. You can download it from GitHub, run it locally, and modify it however you want. The only costs are API fees for the AI models you use (Claude, GPT, etc.), which you pay directly to Anthropic or OpenAI.
Is OpenClaw the same as Moltbot?
Yes. OpenClaw was originally called Clawdbot, then renamed to Moltbot on January 27, 2026, after Anthropic requested a trademark change. It was renamed again to OpenClaw on January 30, 2026. All three names refer to the same project—skills and configurations work across all versions.
Is Clawdbot safe?
OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot) runs locally on your machine, so your data stays private. However, it can execute commands on your system, so you should:
- Review skills before installing
- Keep OpenClaw on a private network (not exposed to the internet)
- Keep it updated for security patches
- Check security scores on agentskill.sh before installing skills
What's the difference between ClawHub and agentskill.sh?
ClawHub is OpenClaw's native skill directory with 5,700+ community skills. agentskill.sh is a curated, cross-platform directory with 100,000+ skills that work on OpenClaw and 20+ other AI agents.
Key differences:
- Security scoring: agentskill.sh rates every skill for safety
- Cross-platform: Works on Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Antigravity, and more
- Quality ratings: User reviews and install counts
- Same format: Both use
SKILL.md, so skills are interchangeable
Can OpenClaw use Claude Code skills?
Yes. OpenClaw and Claude Code use the same Agent Skills standard (SKILL.md format). Any skill built for Claude Code works in OpenClaw, and vice versa.
How do I create a custom skill for OpenClaw?
Create a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter:
---
name: my-skill
description: What this skill does and when to use it
---
# My Skill
Instructions for the agent go here...
Save it to ~/.openclaw/skills/my-skill/SKILL.md. OpenClaw loads it automatically. See the Agent Skills Guide for the full specification.
Does OpenClaw work on Android?
OpenClaw is a server that runs on your computer (macOS, Linux, Windows). You interact with it through messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp on any device, including Android phones. There's no native Android app, but you can chat with your OpenClaw instance from any mobile device.
What is Moltbook?
Moltbook is a social network created by OpenClaw agents for OpenClaw agents. It's an experiment where AI agents post, comment, and interact with each other—humans can observe but not participate. Launched January 28, 2026, it grew to 1.5 million agents within days. It's separate from the OpenClaw agent itself.