FastClaw vs OpenClaw: which agent runtime fits you?
OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant you run yourself. FastClaw is a Go agent runtime for many users and apps. Compare install, multi-tenancy, API, license.
| At a glance |  FastClaw | OpenClaw |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Agent runtime for many users and integrating apps | Personal AI assistant, also usable as a shared team deployment |
| Runtime | Single Go binary | Node.js (installer script or npm) |
| Storage | SQLite by default, Postgres for multi-pod | Local files and configuration (see OpenClaw docs) |
| Users and roles | Accounts, roles, admin / user / agent API keys | Single owner by default; team use via configuration |
| End-user isolation for apps | X-Fastclaw-End-User mints isolated sessions, memory and files | Not its main design goal |
| App-facing API | OpenAI-compatible /v1 with agent CRUD, usage and files | Gateway protocol; check OpenClaw docs for HTTP APIs |
| IM channels | 9 built in, incl. Feishu, WeCom, WeChat and LINE | 20+ including Signal, Teams and Google Chat |
| Native apps | Web console and terminal chat | macOS, iOS, Android, Windows and Linux apps |
| Sandbox | Docker or E2B; enforced for every call on hosted deploys | Host by default for the main session; sandboxing configurable |
| Usage metering | Per-turn tokens, usage event feed, billing hold | Not a focus |
| License | Source-available (Apache 2.0 + conditions) | MIT |
Same idea, different center of gravity
Both run AI agents on your own hardware and reach users through chat apps. OpenClaw centers on a personal assistant; FastClaw centers on agents as a service for many users.
Single Go binary
FastClaw ships as one binary with SQLite built in. OpenClaw is installed with an installer script or npm and runs on Node.js.
Multi-tenant by design
FastClaw has accounts, roles, three API key tiers and per-end-user namespaces, so one deployment can serve a whole product’s users.
Compatible where it counts
FastClaw reads OpenClaw skill metadata, imports OpenClaw-style workspace folders, and can bridge OpenClaw tool and channel plugins.
Two answers to "run my own agents"
OpenClaw describes itself as an open-source AI assistant that runs on your own computer and talks to you through the messaging apps you already use. It has a large ecosystem of channels, native apps and plugins shared through ClawHub.
FastClaw starts from a different question: what does it take to run agents for other people? It treats agents, users and API keys as first-class records in a database, so one deployment can host many agents for many people and be called from your own product over the runtime API.
Where FastClaw is stronger
- Serving an app's users. End-user namespaces, agent CRUD over
/v1, per-turn usage and billing hooks are built in. See AI agent backend for SaaS builders. - Operations. One Go binary, env-only bootstrap, SQLite or Postgres, Redis-coordinated replicas for scale-out.
- Untrusted users. On hosted deploys every tool call is locked into the sandbox; on self-hosted installs guests are always sandboxed.
- Chinese IM platforms. Feishu, WeCom and WeChat connect by QR code from the console.
Where OpenClaw is stronger
- Personal assistant experience. Native apps for desktop and mobile.
- Channel breadth. OpenClaw lists more than twenty messaging platforms; FastClaw has nine.
- License. OpenClaw is MIT. FastClaw is source-available; most uses are free, but hosting it as a multi-tenant SaaS for unrelated organizations needs a commercial license (see pricing).
Already running OpenClaw and hitting multi-user limits? Read the OpenClaw alternative guide.
Frequently asked questions
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Try it on your own agents
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