--- title: "Comma vs OpenClaw: an OpenClaw alternative you don't host" description: "Comma vs OpenClaw: two open source AI agents. Compare where each one runs, what always-on work costs, safety on your computer, chat apps, models and price." url: https://comma.surf/alternatives/openclaw language: en --- # Comma vs OpenClaw: an OpenClaw alternative you don't have to host OpenClaw is a free, MIT-licensed gateway that connects your chat apps to an AI agent on hardware you provide, and it works while that machine stays on. Comma is open source too, under AGPL-3.0, and runs where you choose: on a cloud computer of its own in Comma's cloud, or [on your own server](https://comma.surf/self-host) with Docker Compose. Each request becomes a Task, and your decisions wait in Needs Review. [Get started](https://app.comma.surf/) See the comparison - Free to start - Open source (AGPL-3.0) - Self-host with Docker Compose By the Comma team · Updated October 10, 2026 ## At a glance | Feature | Comma | OpenClaw | | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | An open source personal AI agent that works 24/7 | An open source gateway between your chat apps and an AI agent on your machine | | License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT | | Who runs it | Comma, in its cloud; or you, on your server with Docker Compose | You, on your own computer or server. There is no official hosted version | | Works while you are away | Yes. The hosted agent has its own cloud computer, so your Mac can be off | While the machine that runs it stays on | | Watching in the background | Loops wait without calling a large model, and wake the agent only when needed | A heartbeat every 30 or 60 minutes by default, and each one is a full agent turn | | How work is tracked | Tasks on a board; your decisions wait in Needs Review | Chat sessions and scheduled jobs | | Where you talk to it | Mac app, web app, Signal and Telegram. iOS and Android are coming soon | More than 30 chat apps, including WhatsApp, Signal, iMessage, Discord and Slack, and desktop and phone apps | | Your computer | Read-only until you turn on Allow operations | Shell and file tools run on the host, with the sandbox off by default | | Models | Comma's models, your own API key, or your ChatGPT or Claude plan | Your own keys for many providers, local models, or a ChatGPT sign-in | | Price | Free plan US$0; Pro adds credits; free to self-host | Free software; you pay for the machine and the model calls | | Setup | Sign in on the web or in the Mac app; self-hosting uses Docker Compose | An install script or npm, on Node 24 or later | | For teams | Self-hosted Comma has an Admin console for accounts and the models people can use | One trust boundary per gateway; not built for several untrusted users | ## Quick verdict ### Choose Comma if you… - Want the agent to keep working while your own computer is off, without running a server - Want each request tracked as a Task, with your decisions waiting in Needs Review - Want the agent's access to your computer to start read-only - Want to serve one instance to a team, with accounts managed in an Admin console ### Choose OpenClaw if you… - Want to reach your agent from WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord, Slack or many other chat apps - Want a desktop app on Windows or Linux, or phone apps today - Want to run local models, or tune every part of the setup yourself - Prefer the MIT license, a large community and the ClawHub skill library ## Comma vs OpenClaw: Where it runs OpenClaw runs on a machine you provide. Comma runs in its own cloud, or on a server you manage. OpenClaw's gateway runs on your Mac, Windows or Linux computer, a server, or a Raspberry Pi, and its documentation asks for at least 1 vCPU and 1 GB of memory. It works while that machine is on, and there is no official hosted version. Hosted Comma gives each Workspace a cloud computer that starts when a Task needs it and stops a few minutes after the work ends, so your Mac can be closed. To keep your data on your own machine, [self-host Comma](https://comma.surf/docs/self-host/install): Docker Compose starts its web app, Admin console, API and agent runtime beside PostgreSQL, Redis, ClickHouse and object storage. Comma Hosted with its own cloud computer, or self-hosted with Docker Compose. OpenClaw On a computer or server you run, while it stays on. ## Comma vs OpenClaw: Always-on work and its cost Both work without being asked. They differ in what a quiet hour costs. OpenClaw checks in on a heartbeat, every 30 minutes by default, or every hour when it signs in to the model with OAuth, and each check is a full agent turn that uses model tokens. It also has a scheduler for cron jobs that send their results to a chat or a webhook. Comma's agent writes small programs called [Loops](https://comma.surf/docs/salix/loops) that watch your inbox, a repository or a feed. A waiting Loop calls no large model: it asks a fast decision model whether something needs you, and wakes the agent only when it does, so a quiet hour uses no large-model tokens. Routines adds a briefing at the time you set. Comma Loops that wake the agent only when something needs it. OpenClaw A heartbeat turn every 30 or 60 minutes by default, plus cron jobs. ## Comma vs OpenClaw: Safety on your computer OpenClaw trusts the machine it runs on. Comma starts read-only and asks before decisions that are yours. OpenClaw's shell and file tools run on the host, and its documentation says the sandbox is off by default and that prompt injection is not solved. One gateway is one trust boundary, so it is not built for several people who do not trust each other. Comma can read files on a connected computer, and changes them or runs commands only after you turn on Allow operations for that computer. Apps connect with scoped permissions that you can revoke, and agents never see your raw credentials. Inside a Task, a decision that is yours waits in Needs Review, and an email or an event that a Loop reads cannot change the Loop's code. Comma Read-only by default, scoped app access, and your decisions in Needs Review. OpenClaw Tools on the host, with the sandbox off by default. ## Comma vs OpenClaw: Chat apps and devices OpenClaw reaches more chat apps. Comma puts all the work on one Task board. OpenClaw connects to more than 30 chat apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, iMessage, Discord, Slack and Microsoft Teams. It has desktop apps for macOS, Windows and Linux, phone apps for iOS and Android, and a browser control panel. Comma has a Mac app and a web app, and takes requests from Signal and Telegram; its iOS and Android apps are coming soon. Whichever way you ask, the work lands on the same Task board, with the same memory and context on every device. Comma Mac and web apps, plus Signal and Telegram. OpenClaw More than 30 chat apps, and apps on five platforms. ## Comma vs OpenClaw: Models Both let you bring your own model. OpenClaw also runs local models. OpenClaw works with Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, xAI and other providers through your own keys, with local models through Ollama, LM Studio or vLLM, and with a ChatGPT or Codex sign-in. Comma uses its own models by default. You can bring your own API key, use your ChatGPT or Claude plan, choose a model for each role, or let Codex or Claude Code do the work on a computer you connect. On a self-hosted Comma, you set one model for the whole instance, or each person adds a private model. Comma Comma's models, your own key, or your ChatGPT or Claude plan. OpenClaw Your keys for many providers, or local models. ## Pricing side by side ### Comma - Free US$0 / month Unlimited chat. Bring your own key (BYOK) for advanced models. - Pro [See pricing](https://comma.surf/pricing) About 300–600 agentic tasks a month. - Enterprise Custom Credits and billing set with you. - Self-hosted US$0 No plan or card. You pay for your machine and your model provider. ### OpenClaw - Software US$0 MIT licensed, with no paid edition. - Your machine Varies A computer you own, or a server you rent. - Model calls Varies Billed by your model provider, heartbeat turns included. Prices as each product lists them on October 10, 2026. OpenClaw has no official hosted plan. See Comma's current Pro price on the [pricing page](https://comma.surf/pricing). ## Try Comma beside OpenClaw Start on the Free plan in your browser or the Mac app, with no server to keep running. If you would rather host it yourself, the [self-host guide](https://comma.surf/docs/self-host/install) starts Comma with one Docker Compose command. [Get started](https://app.comma.surf/) [Self-host guide](https://comma.surf/docs/self-host) ## FAQs ### Is Comma a good OpenClaw alternative? If you want an open source agent that you do not have to host, yes. Comma runs in its own cloud with a cloud computer for your Workspace, and you can still self-host it with Docker Compose. Every request becomes a Task you can follow, and your decisions wait in Needs Review. ### Is Comma open source like OpenClaw? Yes. Comma is open source under AGPL-3.0, and OpenClaw under MIT. Both let you read and change the code. If you serve a changed version of Comma to other people, the AGPL asks you to keep its source available to them. ### Do I need my own server to run Comma? No. Use Comma in the web app or the Mac app, and its agent works on Comma's cloud. To keep your data on your own machine, self-host it with Docker Compose. ### Does Comma work in WhatsApp or iMessage? Not today. You can hand work to Comma from Signal and Telegram, and use the Mac app and the web app. OpenClaw reaches more chat apps, WhatsApp and iMessage among them. ### What does a quiet hour cost? In Comma, a waiting Loop calls no large model: it asks a fast decision model whether something needs you, so a quiet hour uses no large-model tokens. OpenClaw's heartbeat runs a full agent turn every 30 or 60 minutes by default, and each turn uses tokens from your model provider. ### Which models can Comma use? Comma uses its own models by default. You can also bring your own API key, or your ChatGPT or Claude plan, and choose a model for each role. On a self-hosted Comma, you set one model for the whole instance, or each person adds a private model. ## More comparisons [Comma vs Instinct Comma vs Instinct: an invite-only assistant you text, and an open source agent you can self-host. Compare access, how work gets done, apps, privacy and price.](https://comma.surf/alternatives/instinct) [Comma vs Muse Comma vs Muse by Meta: both run an AI agent on a cloud computer. Compare where it works, how it gets work done, models, privacy, pricing and self-hosting.](https://comma.surf/alternatives/meta-muse) [Comma vs Grok Bot Comma vs Grok Bot: both run AI agents on a cloud computer. Compare how each one uses your apps, how work is organized, models, price and self-hosting.](https://comma.surf/alternatives/grok-bot) [Comma vs Hermes Agent Comma vs Hermes Agent: two open source AI agents. Compare where each one runs, how you work with it, safety on your computer, models, chat apps and cost.](https://comma.surf/alternatives/hermes) OpenClaw is a trademark of its owners. Comma is not affiliated with OpenClaw or the OpenClaw Foundation. ## Try Comma, Now. [Get started](https://app.comma.surf/)