OpenClaw is a personal agent; OpenCode is a coding agent — different tools for different jobs. Here is what each is for, how they differ, and when to run each (or both). Vote for your favorite.
Pick a winner in each category — you can change your vote anytime.
OpenClawOpenCodeChoose OpenClaw if you are tinkerers who want a self-hosted JARVIS that actually does things. Choose OpenCode if you are terminal users who want a polished AI coding interface with LSP support.
In our editorial scoring, OpenCode leads in 3 of six categories (output quality, reliability and ease of use), while OpenClaw leads in 2 (autonomy and value). On price, OpenClaw runs free (mit) / models via standard compute and is open source; OpenCode runs free (byo api key) / pro via standard compute and is open source.
Give your chosen agent more room to build, test and iterate. Standard Compute stretches your compute through automatic provider selection and smart routing. Plans start at $19/month with $20 in monthly compute. Choose your agent below to connect. Eligible new accounts can try $0.25 of compute with no card.
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Weighing the cost of running it? Compare API plans for OpenClaw · Compare API plans for OpenCode
OpenClaw is the open-source autonomous agent created by Peter Steinberger (it began as Clawdbot in 2025, became Moltbot, then OpenClaw in January 2026 — gaining 60,000+ GitHub stars within days). It runs locally, uses messaging platforms as its main interface, and acts rather than advises: with 100+ skills it browses the web, sends email, manages files, runs shell commands, and drives APIs. Since Steinberger joined OpenAI in February 2026, the MIT-licensed project is stewarded by the independent OpenClaw Foundation.
OpenCode is an open-source terminal AI coding agent with a beautiful TUI (text user interface). It supports multiple LLM providers, has LSP integration for intelligent code understanding, and offers session management for long-running tasks. Designed for developers who live in the terminal.
OpenClaw and OpenCode both run on Standard Compute
