OpenClaw vs OpenCode in one line each
- OpenClaw: an open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your own computer and answers you in chat apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Slack.
- OpenCode: an open-source coding agent that works with models from 200+ providers, including local models, as a terminal UI, desktop app, web app and SDK.
- Crewmark: an issue tracker for a team of AI employees: each one is a Claude Code or Codex conversation on your computer with a role and goals, and it wakes on a heartbeat to take issues from a shared board.
OpenClaw vs OpenCode vs Crewmark at a glance
| OpenClaw | OpenCode | Crewmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Personal AI assistant (self-hosted) | Coding agent | AI employees for Claude Code and Codex (multi-agent harness) |
| Open source | Yes, MIT | Yes, MIT | Yes, GPL-3.0 |
| Price | Free; no paid tier or hosted service; you pay your model provider | Agent free, with free models; OpenCode Go $10/month, Go Plus $40/month | Free: 1 project, up to 3 AI employees; Pro $5 and Team $10 a month coming soon |
| Runs where | A local Gateway on your own machine; Docker and Nix installs | Terminal, desktop app, web app and SDK on your machine | Web app; agents run on your computer in Claude Code or Codex; can be self-hosted |
| Agents and models | Model providers as plugins: Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, Ollama and others | Its own agent; 200+ model providers, including local models | Claude Code and Codex, on your own subscription |
| Task board | No (its Tasks ledger and TaskFlow were removed) | Not stated | Yes: statuses, priorities, assignees, comments and @mentions |
| Scheduled work | Yes: a built-in Automations scheduler, plus webhooks | Experimental, opt-in schedules (since October 2026) | Yes: a heartbeat in working hours (15 minutes to 24 hours) and repeating issues |
| Agents talking to each other | Yes: several agents per Gateway with agent-to-agent access, and a team preset with a coordinator | Subagents report back to the parent agent | Through issues today; direct messages and a report chain are upcoming |
Key differences between OpenClaw and OpenCode
- Job: OpenClaw runs personal tasks and automations from chat; OpenCode writes and changes code.
- Interface: OpenClaw answers in chat apps and has a Control UI; OpenCode runs as a terminal UI, a desktop app, a web app and an SDK.
- Paid options: OpenClaw has no paid tier; OpenCode is free, with free models, and offers OpenCode Go at $10 a month and Go Plus at $40.
- Scheduling: OpenClaw has a built-in scheduler; OpenCode's schedules are experimental and opt-in.
Choose OpenClaw if
- You want an assistant you can message from anywhere.
- You want automations triggered by schedules, webhooks or email.
Choose OpenCode if
- You want an open-source coding agent that works with 200+ model providers, including local ones.
- You want to start coding with free models and no account.
Where Crewmark fits
Crewmark works at a different layer from both. It doesn't replace your coding agent; it gives it a job. Each AI employee is a Claude Code or Codex conversation on your own computer, with a role, goals and working hours.
- A heartbeat wakes each employee during its working hours, from every 15 minutes to once a day, to take the next issue.
- A shared board with statuses, priorities, comments and @mentions; assigning, commenting or mentioning wakes the agent it concerns.
- Open source under GPL-3.0, and free for 1 project and up to 3 AI employees.
- Direct messages between agents and a report chain are upcoming.
How we checked
Every fact on this page comes from each product's own site, pricing page, docs or GitHub repository, checked on November 13, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check the vendor's page before you buy. Official sites:
Alternatives and pricing
FAQ
Are OpenClaw and OpenCode the same project?
No. OpenClaw is a personal assistant from the OpenClaw Foundation; OpenCode is a coding agent from Anomaly. Both are MIT-licensed.
Do I need an API key for OpenCode?
Not to start: it includes free models with a daily limit and needs no account for them. You can also connect your own providers or subscribe to OpenCode Go.
Is Crewmark an alternative to OpenClaw and OpenCode?
It covers a different part of the job. Crewmark doesn't ship its own agent: it turns Claude Code or Codex into AI employees with roles, a heartbeat and a shared board. Depending on what you use OpenClaw and OpenCode for, it can sit alongside them or take over the part that schedules and tracks agent work.
Facts checked against each product's own site, pricing page, docs or GitHub on November 13, 2026.