Are OpenClaw and MyClaw Skills Compatible? Complete Migration Guide (2026)

What Is the Relationship Between OpenClaw and MyClaw?

MyClaw is a managed, hosted AI assistant service built on top of the open-source OpenClaw framework. Think of it as:

• OpenClaw = the open-source engine (free, self-hosted)
• MyClaw = a commercial product built on that engine (paid, managed service)

Because MyClaw is built directly on OpenClaw, there's significant compatibility between the two — but not 100%.

Skill Compatibility: What Works and What Doesn't

✅ Compatible: Standard OpenClaw Skills

Skills that use OpenClaw's standard APIs and have no cloud-specific dependencies work identically on both platforms:

• Web search and browsing skills
• Document processing (PDF, markdown, code)
• Notification and messaging skills
• API integration skills (most third-party services)
• Scheduling and automation skills
• Most skills from ClawHub and SkillHub

⚠️ Partial Compatibility: Skills Using Extended APIs

Some skills use APIs that exist in both platforms but behave slightly differently:

• Skills using persistent storage (MyClaw's cloud storage vs. your local VPS storage)
• Skills using team collaboration features
• Skills with cloud-sync functionality

These skills typically work but may need minor configuration adjustments.

❌ Not Compatible: MyClaw Cloud-Exclusive Features

These MyClaw features don't exist in the open-source OpenClaw:

If you rely heavily on these cloud-exclusive features, factor them into your migration decision.

Cost Comparison: MyClaw vs Self-Hosted OpenClaw

This is typically the main motivation for migration:

Savings range: 60–80% reduction for typical light-to-moderate users.

Heavy users (Pro plan at $39/month) save even more — typically $300–400+ per year.

Migration Guide: MyClaw → OpenClaw Self-Hosted

The migration takes approximately 1–2 hours. Here's the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Export Your MyClaw Configuration

In MyClaw dashboard:

1. Go to Settings → Export Configuration
2. Download the myclaw-config.json file
3. Note which skills you have installed (screenshot or list)

Step 2: Set Up a VPS

Follow Lesson 01: Quick Start to:

1. Rent a VPS (Hetzner CX22 recommended, ~$5/month)
2. SSH into the server
3. Install Node.js and pnpm

Step 3: Install OpenClaw

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install

Step 4: Configure the Model

MyClaw uses Claude or other models under the hood. In self-hosted OpenClaw, you provide your own API key:

# Get an API key from your preferred provider:
# - Anthropic: console.anthropic.com
# - MiniMax: platform.minimax.io (free tier available)
# - DeepSeek: platform.deepseek.com (free tier available)

Add to ~/.openclaw/.env:

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
# or
MINIMAX_API_KEY=sk-...

Step 5: Configure openclaw.json

{
  "gateway": { "mode": "local" },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": { "primary": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6" }
    }
  },
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "anthropic": {
        "apiKey": "${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}",
        "models": [{ "id": "claude-sonnet-4-6" }]
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 6: Reinstall Your Skills

# Install skills one by one
pnpm openclaw skills install web-search
pnpm openclaw skills install pdf-reader
# ... continue for each skill you had in MyClaw

Step 7: Reconnect Telegram

If you used Telegram with MyClaw, your Bot Token works with OpenClaw too:

# Add to .env:
# TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your-existing-token

# Set up the webhook (with your new VPS domain)
pnpm openclaw channels telegram setup-webhook

Step 8: Test and Verify

Start OpenClaw and test that everything works:

pnpm openclaw gateway start
pnpm openclaw gateway status
# Test via WebChat or Telegram

Can I Run Both MyClaw and OpenClaw Simultaneously?

Yes. They're completely independent services. Some users run both during a transition period:

• Keep MyClaw active for a month while validating the self-hosted setup
• Cancel MyClaw once satisfied the self-hosted version meets all your needs

There's no data conflict — they use separate Bot Tokens (or you can create a second Telegram Bot for your self-hosted instance).

FAQ

Will my conversation history from MyClaw transfer to OpenClaw?

No. MyClaw stores your conversation history on its own servers and doesn't provide an export function for chat history. Your configuration and skill list can be migrated, but not the conversation history.

Are MyClaw skills exactly the same as ClawHub skills?

Not always. MyClaw may ship modified versions of some skills with their cloud features added. In most cases the base functionality is identical, but cloud-specific enhancements won't work in self-hosted mode.

What happens to my MyClaw account after I switch?

Nothing — it continues to exist until you cancel it. Cancel your MyClaw subscription from their billing settings once you're satisfied with your self-hosted setup.

The migration sounds complicated. Is there an easier path?

The simplest path: just follow Lesson 01 from scratch without trying to import MyClaw settings. Starting fresh typically takes 30–45 minutes and is often faster than adapting an existing MyClaw config. Install your skills from ClawHub/SkillHub one by one, and reconnect Telegram with your existing Bot Token.