The Hidden Cost of "Free" AI Assistants

Clawdbot (now OpenClaw) is technically free — it's open-source under the MIT license. But users are discovering the real costs can be substantial.

Federico Viticci from MacStories burned through 180 million tokens in his first month. At Claude Sonnet rates, that's approximately $3,600.

Another user reported spending $200 in a single day due to a runaway automation loop.

So what does Clawdbot actually cost? Let's break it down.

Clawdbot Cost Breakdown

There are three cost categories to consider:

1. Software Cost: Free

The Clawdbot/OpenClaw software itself is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. You can download, modify, and deploy it without paying anything for the software.

2. Hosting Costs: $0-12/month

Provider	Specs	Monthly Cost
Local Machine	Your existing computer	$0 (electricity only)
Raspberry Pi	One-time $50-100	$0 ongoing
Linode	1GB RAM VPS	$5/month
DigitalOcean	1GB RAM Droplet	$6/month
DigitalOcean	2GB RAM Droplet	$12/month
Railway	Usage-based	$5-20/month

For most users, a $5-12/month VPS is sufficient. Running locally on existing hardware eliminates this cost entirely.

3. API Token Costs: $10-150+/month

This is where costs add up quickly. Clawdbot requires an LLM provider, and you pay per token:

Provider	Model	Input Cost	Output Cost
Anthropic	Claude Sonnet	$3/million tokens	$15/million tokens
Anthropic	Claude Opus	$5/million tokens	$25/million tokens
OpenAI	GPT-4	$10/million tokens	$30/million tokens
OpenAI	GPT-4 Turbo	$10/million tokens	$30/million tokens

Real User Cost Examples

Here's what actual Clawdbot users are spending:

Power User: Federico Viticci (MacStories)

Usage: Heavy daily automation, constant interaction
Tokens: 180 million in first month
Estimated Cost: ~$3,600/month

Viticci's experience represents the extreme end — he tested every feature extensively and ran complex automation workflows continuously.

Moderate User: Typical Developer

Usage: Regular tasks, daily commands
Tokens: 5-15 million/month
Estimated Cost: $30-70/month

Light User: Occasional Assistant

Usage: Few commands per day
Tokens: 2-5 million/month
Estimated Cost: $10-30/month

Worst Case: Runaway Automation

Issue: Automation loop running uncontrolled
Time: Single day
Cost: $200+ (one user's report)

Why Clawdbot Costs Add Up Quickly

1. Agentic "Thinking" Burns Tokens

Unlike a simple chatbot, Clawdbot is an agent. When you ask it to complete a task, it:

Plans the approach (tokens)
Breaks down steps (more tokens)
Executes each step (even more tokens)
Verifies results (yet more tokens)
Handles errors and retries (additional tokens)

A simple "check my email" command might involve dozens of API calls as the agent reasons through each step.

2. Context Window Usage

Clawdbot maintains conversation context, which means:

Previous messages are included in each request
Longer conversations = more tokens per message
System prompts and tool definitions add overhead

3. Multi-Step Tasks Multiply Costs

When you ask Clawdbot to "organize my calendar for the week," it might:

Read your current calendar
Analyze each event
Check for conflicts
Suggest reorganization
Execute changes
Confirm results

Each step is a separate API call with its own token cost.

Can You Use Claude Max Subscription?

No. This is a common misconception.

Using your Claude Pro or Claude Max subscription with Clawdbot violates Anthropic's Terms of Service. Those subscriptions are for direct use of Claude, not for API access through third-party tools.

You must use API keys directly, which means pay-as-you-go pricing.

How to Control Clawdbot Costs

1. Set Hard Spending Limits

Both Anthropic and OpenAI allow you to set monthly spending caps in your dashboard. Set these BEFORE deploying Clawdbot.

Anthropic: Console → Settings → Usage Limits
OpenAI: Account → Billing → Usage Limits

2. Use Cheaper Models for Simple Tasks

Configure Clawdbot to use:

Claude Haiku for simple queries (cheapest)
Claude Sonnet for moderate tasks
Claude Opus only for complex reasoning

3. Run Local Models via Ollama

For non-critical tasks, use local models through Ollama. This eliminates API costs entirely for those tasks, though results may be lower quality.

4. Start Simple

Begin with basic commands before enabling autonomous features. Complex automation chains burn through tokens rapidly.

5. Monitor Daily

Check your API dashboard daily during the first few weeks. Watch for:

Unexpected spikes
Runaway loops
Tasks taking longer than expected

6. Enable Billing Alerts

Set up alerts at 50%, 75%, and 90% of your budget so you're never surprised.

Is Clawdbot Worth the Cost?

Clawdbot Makes Sense If:

You value time over money
You have specific automation needs
You're comfortable managing infrastructure
You can set and monitor spending limits
You understand the security risks

Consider Alternatives If:

Budget predictability is important
You don't want to manage infrastructure
You need enterprise-grade security
You prefer fixed monthly costs

The Bottom Line

Clawdbot itself is completely free and open-source. However, you'll pay for LLM API usage. Realistic monthly costs are:

Minimum: $10-30/month (light use)
Typical: $30-70/month (regular use)
Heavy: $70-150+/month (power user)
Extreme: $3,600+ (Federico Viticci level)

Set spending limits before you start, monitor usage daily, and consider whether the unpredictable costs are worth it for your use case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clawdbot free?

The software is free and open-source. However, you pay for LLM API usage (typically $10-150/month) and optionally hosting ($0-12/month).

Can I use my Claude Pro subscription with Clawdbot?

No. Using Claude Pro/Max subscriptions with Clawdbot violates Anthropic's Terms of Service. You must use API keys with pay-as-you-go pricing.

How much does Clawdbot cost per month?

Most users spend $30-70/month on API costs plus $0-12/month for hosting. Light users can keep costs to $10-30/month. Heavy users may spend $150+/month.

How do I avoid high Clawdbot bills?

Set hard spending limits in your API provider dashboard, use cheaper models for simple tasks, start with basic automations, and monitor usage daily.

What's the cheapest way to run Clawdbot?

Run locally on existing hardware (no hosting cost), use Claude Haiku for simple tasks, and supplement with local models via Ollama for non-critical operations.

Last updated: January 30, 2026

How Much Does Clawdbot Cost? Real API Costs & Budget Guide [2026]