OpenClaw Claude Setup — Configure Claude AI for Your Assistant (2026)

Learn how to configure Claude AI with OpenClaw (Moltbot)

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Table of Contents

Why Use Claude with OpenClaw

Anthropic's Claude AI is the recommended model for OpenClaw (Moltbot) due to its:

  • Superior Reasoning: Excellent at complex tasks, coding, and analysis
  • Long Context: Handle large documents and extended conversations
  • Safety: Built-in helpful and harmless AI principles
  • Tool Use: Great at using plugins and functions effectively
  • Cost-Effective: Competitive pricing with Claude 3.5 Sonnet

Get Your Anthropic API Key

Step 1: Create an Anthropic Account

  1. Go to console.anthropic.com
  2. Sign up with your email or Google account
  3. Verify your email address

Step 2: Add Payment Method

  1. Navigate to Settings → Billing
  2. Add your credit card (required for API access)
  3. New accounts get $5 free credits

Step 3: Generate API Key

  1. Go to API Keys section
  2. Click "Create Key"
  3. Copy the key immediately — it won't be shown again!
Important: Store your API key securely. Never share it or commit it to version control.

Configure Claude in OpenClaw

Method 1: Interactive Setup

openclaw config

Method 2: Manual Configuration

# Edit your config file
nano ~/.openclaw/config.yaml

Add or update these settings:

ai:
  provider: anthropic
  model: claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022
  api_key: sk-ant-your-api-key-here
  max_tokens: 4096
  temperature: 0.7

Method 3: Environment Variables

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-your-api-key-here"

Choosing the Right Claude Model

Model Best For Cost (per million tokens)
Claude 3.5 Sonnet General use, coding, reasoning $3 input / $15 output
Claude 3 Opus Complex analysis, premium tasks $15 input / $75 output
Claude 3 Haiku High volume, simple tasks $0.25 input / $1.25 output
Recommendation: Claude 3.5 Sonnet is the sweet spot for most OpenClaw users. Excellent reasoning at a reasonable price.

Performance Optimization

Temperature Settings

# Lower = more focused, higher = more creative
# General use: 0.7, Coding: 0.3-0.5
ai:
  temperature: 0.7

Max Tokens

# Limit response length to control costs
ai:
  max_tokens: 2048

Cost Management

Cost-Saving Tips

  • Use Haiku for simple tasks — 12x cheaper than Opus
  • Set max_tokens appropriately — Don't over-provision
  • Enable caching — Reduces repeated context costs

Expected Monthly Costs

Usage Level Est. Monthly Cost
Light (100 msgs/day)$5-10
Medium (500 msgs/day)$20-40
Heavy (1000+ msgs/day)$50-100

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Claude model should I use with OpenClaw?

Claude 3.5 Sonnet is recommended for most users - it offers the best balance of intelligence, speed, and cost.

How do I get an Anthropic API key?

Visit console.anthropic.com, create an account, and navigate to the API section to generate a key.

How much does Claude cost with OpenClaw?

Claude pricing varies by model: Haiku is $0.25/million tokens, Sonnet is $3/million input. Most users spend $10-30/month.

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