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Best models for OpenClaw

OpenClaw lives in your messaging apps and acts on your behalf, so it rewards models with reliable skill use, long sessions, and sane costs. These are the models that pair best with it right now, grouped by what you actually want to spend and weighed against the always-on token bill.

Which model should you run?

As of June 2026, the best model for OpenClaw logoOpenClaw comes down to how much you trust it to run unattended.

OpenClaw logoOpenClaw acts on your behalf in long, always-on sessions, so reliability and a sane token bill matter more than topping a coding benchmark. Pick by how you run it:

  • For most people: ClaudeClaude Sonnet 4.6 for dependable skill use, or OpenAIGPT-5.4 for the best value, both through one OpenRouter key
  • On a budget: GeminiGemini 3 Flash for fast, high-volume messaging traffic, DeepSeekDeepSeek V4 for the cheapest capable pick, or MiniMax M3 for long sessions
  • Self-hosting the whole stack: DeepSeekDeepSeek V4 or MoonshotAIKimi K2.6, both open weights you can serve yourself
  • Maximum capability: ClaudeClaude Opus 4.8, when an unattended mistake costs more than the tokens

We rank ClaudeClaude Sonnet 4.6 first because OpenClaw logoOpenClaw rewards reliable skill use over long, always-on sessions, and Sonnet is the most dependable model that doesn't carry Opus pricing.

OpenAIGPT-5.4 is the best-value alternative: strong agentic work at a mid-tier price, and it routes through the same OpenRouter key as everything else. For high-volume messaging traffic, drop to GeminiGemini 3 Flash or DeepSeekDeepSeek V4, the cheapest capable picks here.

Because OpenClaw logoOpenClaw is self-hostable, MoonshotAIKimi K2.6 and DeepSeekDeepSeek V4 ship open weights you can serve yourself to keep the whole stack in-house. Reach for ClaudeClaude Opus 4.8 only when an unattended mistake would cost more than the tokens.

We also have more in-depth OpenClaw rankings:Best free models for OpenClawBest open-source models for OpenClaw
The ranking
Updated June 2026
Best for most people

What most OpenClaw users should run: dependable skill use over long sessions at mid-tier prices, routed through OpenRouter.

#ModelContextInput
  • 1
    1Claude
    Claude Sonnet 4.6AnthropicThe reliability pick for an always-on agent: strong skill use without Opus pricing.
    Context1M
    Input$3/M
  • 2
    2OpenAI
    GPT-5.4OpenAIThe best-value default for everyday operator work. Route it through OpenRouter or the OpenAI API.
    Context1.05M
    Input$2.5/M
  • 3
    3MoonshotAI
    Kimi K2.6Moonshot AIExcellent agentic ability at open-weight prices, popular with OpenClaw self-hosters.
    Context262K
    Input$0.66/M
Best on a budget

Cheap, fast models for high-volume messaging traffic and routine automations, at a fraction of flagship prices.

#ModelContextInput
  • 1
    1Gemini
    Gemini 3 FlashGoogle DeepMindFast and cheap for high-volume messaging traffic and routine automations.
    Context1.049M
    Input$0.5/M
  • 2
    2DeepSeek
    DeepSeek V4DeepSeekThe cheapest capable pick here, and open-weight if you want the whole stack self-hosted.
    Context1.049M
    Input$0.435/M
  • 3
    3Minimax
    MiniMax-M3MiniMaxA budget all-rounder that holds up well in long agent sessions.
    Context205K
    Input$0.3/M
Maximum capability (unlimited budget)

The most reliable model for hard, multi-step operator tasks. Worth it when an unattended mistake costs more than the tokens.

#ModelContextInput
  • 1
    1Claude
    Claude Opus 4.8AnthropicThe top pick when an unattended mistake costs more than the tokens. Anthropic API only.
    Context1M
    Input$5/M
Intelligence vs. price

Each model's Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index logoArtificial Analysis Intelligence Index score against its blended price per 1M tokens. Toward the top right is more intelligence per dollar.

Full interactive leaderboard on our Intelligence Index page.

Frequently asked questions
What is the best model for OpenClaw?

For most people, ClaudeClaude Sonnet 4.6 is the best model for OpenClaw logoOpenClaw: the most dependable skill use for an always-on operator agent, without Opus pricing. OpenAIGPT-5.4 is the best-value alternative, and both route through one OpenRouter key. For high-volume messaging traffic, GeminiGemini 3 Flash and DeepSeekDeepSeek V4 are the cheapest capable picks.

What is the cheapest good model for OpenClaw?

GeminiGemini 3 Flash at $0.50 per million input tokens is the fastest cheap pick for high-volume messaging traffic, and DeepSeekDeepSeek V4 is the cheapest capable model overall at $0.435 per million, with open weights if you want to self-host. MiniMax M3 is a strong budget all-rounder for long sessions.

How do you actually run each model with OpenClaw?

OpenClaw logoOpenClaw is self-hostable and routes through OpenRouter with a single key, the simplest way to switch between models. OpenAIGPT-5.4 also runs on the OpenAI API, and Claude models (Sonnet 4.6 and Opus 4.8) are Anthropic API only. Open-weight picks like MoonshotAIKimi K2.6 and DeepSeekDeepSeek V4 can be served on your own hardware to keep the whole stack in-house.

Do you need Claude Opus 4.8 for OpenClaw?

No. Opus 4.8 is the most capable model for hard, multi-step operator tasks, but it is the most expensive and overkill for everyday OpenClaw logoOpenClaw work. Most people are better served by ClaudeClaude Sonnet 4.6 or OpenAIGPT-5.4, dropping to GeminiGemini 3 Flash, DeepSeekDeepSeek V4, or MiniMax M3 for high-volume runs. Reach for Opus only when an unattended mistake costs more than the tokens.

More rankings for OpenClaw
OpenClaw logo

Best free models for OpenClaw

Want to run OpenClaw without paying per token? OpenRouter serves plenty of capable models at $0 (rate limits apply). These are the best free models for OpenClaw, grouped by what you run it for: general operator work, coding, and fast high-volume steps.
OpenClaw logo

Best open-source models for OpenClaw

Open-weight models you can inspect, fine-tune, and self-host. A natural fit for OpenClaw, which is a self-hostable operator runtime, so you can keep the whole stack in-house with no per-token bill. We rank a deep bench here because most of OpenClaw's real volume goes to open weights.
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  • Agent

    OpenClaw logoOpenClaw

  • Models

    7

  • Updated

    June 2026
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