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Clawdbot vs Moltbot vs OpenClaw: What's the Difference?

SetupMyClaw Team
January 10, 2026
3 min read

If you’ve been researching AI assistants lately, you might have stumbled across three different names: Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw.

Here’s the simple answer: They’re all the same project.

Let us explain.

The Name Change Timeline

Late 2025: Clawdbot

The project originally launched as Clawdbot - a clever play on “Claude” (the AI model it primarily uses) and “bot.” The name was catchy and the project quickly gained traction, eventually amassing over 100,000 stars on GitHub.

December 2025: Moltbot

Anthropic (the company behind Claude) reached out with a polite request regarding trademark concerns. The “Clawd” in Clawdbot was a bit too close to “Claude” for comfort.

The community briefly renamed it to Moltbot - referencing how lobsters “molt” their shells. Get it? The claw shed its old shell for a new one.

January 2026: OpenClaw

The final name arrived: OpenClaw. It’s clean, it’s memorable, and it keeps the claw theme alive without any trademark issues. This is the name that’s here to stay.

Why Does This Matter for You?

1. Documentation Confusion

When searching for help, you might find tutorials referencing “Clawdbot” or “Moltbot.” Don’t worry - the commands and concepts are the same. Just mentally substitute “OpenClaw” and you’ll be fine.

2. Package Names

The npm package has been updated:

# Old (no longer works)
npm install -g clawdbot

# Current
npm install -g openclaw

3. Community Resources

Reddit threads, Discord servers, and YouTube tutorials might still use the old names. The main communities have consolidated under the OpenClaw banner:

  • Subreddit: r/OpenClaw (formerly r/Clawdbot)
  • Discord: Same server, renamed channels
  • GitHub: github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Search Tips

When searching for help, try all three names:

  • “openclaw setup tutorial”
  • “moltbot configuration guide”
  • “clawdbot troubleshooting”

Older content under the Clawdbot/Moltbot names is still valid - the underlying code hasn’t changed, just the branding.

The Takeaway

Don’t let the name confusion stop you. Whether you call it Clawdbot, Moltbot, or OpenClaw, you’re getting the same powerful AI assistant that’s taken the tech world by storm.

The current, official name is OpenClaw. That’s what you should use for installations and when searching for the most up-to-date documentation.

Ready to Set It Up?

Now that you know what OpenClaw is, ready to get it running? Check out our complete setup guide or skip the hassle and book a setup session with our team.

Note: SetupMyClaw is an independent service and not officially affiliated with the OpenClaw project or Anthropic.

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