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Moltbot: The Ultimate Personal AI Assistant Guide for 2026

#moltbot

🎯 Core Highlights (TL;DR)

  • Moltbot (formerly Clawdbot) is an open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your own devices
  • Works seamlessly with WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage and more messaging platforms
  • Features proactive communication - it can message you first, unlike traditional AI assistants
  • Supports multi-agent routing, custom skills, and can control your entire digital workflow
  • Community-driven: 30K+ GitHub stars, 8.9K+ Discord members, 130+ contributors
  • Runs locally or on cloud with full control over your data and privacy

Table of Contents

  1. What is Moltbot?
  2. Why Moltbot Changed Its Name from Clawdbot
  3. Key Features and Capabilities
  4. How Moltbot Works
  5. Getting Started with Moltbot
  6. Real-World Use Cases
  7. Security and Privacy Considerations
  8. Moltbot vs Traditional AI Assistants
  9. Community and Ecosystem
  10. FAQ

What is Moltbot? {#what-is-moltbot}

Moltbot is a revolutionary open-source personal AI assistant that fundamentally changes how we interact with AI. Unlike traditional chatbots that wait for your commands, Moltbot is proactive, autonomous, and deeply integrated into your daily workflow.

Core Philosophy

💡 Key Insight

Moltbot isn't just another chatbot - it's a personal operating system for AI. It lives where you already communicate (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord) and can actually do things for you.

What Makes Moltbot Different?

  • Self-hosted: Runs on your own hardware (Mac, Linux, Windows via WSL2, Raspberry Pi)
  • Multi-channel: Connects to 10+ messaging platforms simultaneously
  • Extensible: Plugin-based architecture with a growing skills marketplace (ClawdHub)
  • Proactive: Can reach out to you with reminders, updates, and insights
  • Agent-capable: Supports multi-agent orchestration and autonomous task execution

Why Moltbot Changed Its Name from Clawdbot {#name-change}

Important Naming Update

⚠️ Critical Information

Clawdbot has been officially renamed to Moltbot. All references to "Clawdbot" in older documentation, articles, and social media posts now refer to Moltbot.

The Evolution

Aspect Old Name (Clawdbot) New Name (Moltbot)
GitHub Repository clawdbot/clawdbot moltbot/moltbot
NPM Package clawdbot moltbot
Official Website clawd.bot molt.bot
Documentation docs.clawd.bot docs.molt.bot
Command Line clawdbot moltbot (legacy clawdbot still works)

Why the Rename?

The project evolved from a personal assistant named "Clawd" (a space lobster mascot) to a broader platform called Moltbot - representing the concept of "molting" or transformation, fitting for an AI that continuously evolves and adapts.

Migration Path 

# Old command (still works as compatibility shim)
clawdbot gateway

# New recommended command
moltbot gateway

# Update to latest version
npm install -g moltbot@latest
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Key Features and Capabilities {#key-features}

1. Multi-Channel Communication Hub

Moltbot connects to virtually every messaging platform you use:

Platform Status Integration Type
WhatsApp ✅ Native Baileys (WhatsApp Web protocol)
Telegram ✅ Native Bot API via grammY
Discord ✅ Native Bot API via discord.js
Slack ✅ Native Bolt framework
Signal ✅ Native signal-cli
iMessage ✅ Native imsg CLI (macOS)
Google Chat ✅ Native Chat API
Microsoft Teams ✅ Extension Bot Framework
Matrix ✅ Extension Matrix SDK
BlueBubbles ✅ Extension BlueBubbles API

2. Proactive AI Assistant

Unlike passive chatbots, Moltbot can:

  • Send scheduled reminders based on your calendar
  • Monitor systems and alert you to issues
  • Generate daily briefings with weather, tasks, and priorities
  • Check in during "heartbeats" to see if you need help
  • Execute cron jobs for recurring tasks

3. Tool Integration & Automation 

graph TD
    A[Moltbot Gateway] --> B[Browser Control]
    A --> C[File System Access]
    A --> D[API Integrations]
    A --> E[Email & Calendar]
    A --> F[Smart Home Devices]
    B --> G[Web Scraping]
    B --> H[Form Automation]
    C --> I[Document Processing]
    D --> J[Third-party Services]
    E --> K[Gmail/Outlook]
    F --> L[IoT Control]
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4. Multi-Agent Architecture

💡 Advanced Feature

Moltbot supports agent-to-agent communication via sessions_* tools, enabling complex workflows where multiple AI agents collaborate on tasks.

Example Use Case: One agent monitors your email, another manages your calendar, and a third coordinates between them to optimize your schedule.

5. Skills Marketplace (ClawdHub)

The community has built 100+ reusable skills:

  • Productivity: Todoist integration, calendar management, email automation
  • Finance: Expense tracking, invoice generation, portfolio monitoring
  • Health: WHOOP data analysis, meditation generation, meal planning
  • Home Automation: Smart thermostat control, 3D printer management, vacuum scheduling
  • Development: GitHub/GitLab integration, CI/CD monitoring, code review automation

How Moltbot Works {#how-it-works}

Architecture Overview 

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Messaging Platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) │
└─────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                  │
                  ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           Moltbot Gateway (Control Plane)        │
│  • WebSocket Server (ws://127.0.0.1:18789)      │
│  • Session Management                            │
│  • Tool Orchestration                            │
│  • Security & Authentication                     │
└─────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                  │
      ┌───────────┼───────────┬──────────┐
      │           │           │          │
      ▼           ▼           ▼          ▼
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌─────────┐
│ Pi Agent│ │ Browser │ │ Canvas │ │  Nodes  │
│  (RPC)  │ │ Control │ │  (UI)  │ │(iOS/Mac)│
└─────────┘ └─────────┘ └────────┘ └─────────┘
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Key Components

  1. Gateway: Central control plane running on your machine
  2. Pi Agent: The AI brain (supports Claude, GPT, local models via Ollama/LM Studio)
  3. Channels: Connectors to messaging platforms
  4. Skills: Modular capabilities you can enable/disable
  5. Nodes: Device-specific agents (iOS/Android apps, macOS menu bar)

Network Model

Mode Description Use Case
Loopback Gateway binds to 127.0.0.1 Single-user local setup
Tailscale Serve Tailnet-only HTTPS access Remote access within your network
Tailscale Funnel Public HTTPS access Share with family/team
SSH Tunnel Secure remote connection Access from anywhere

⚠️ Security Note

By default, Moltbot uses DM pairing - unknown senders must be approved before they can interact with your assistant.

Getting Started with Moltbot {#getting-started}

Prerequisites

  • Node.js ≥ 22
  • macOS, Linux, or Windows (via WSL2)
  • Claude Pro/Max or OpenAI subscription (or local LLM via Ollama)

Quick Installation (5 Minutes) 

# Install globally via npm
npm install -g moltbot@latest

# Run the onboarding wizard
moltbot onboard --install-daemon

# Pair with WhatsApp (shows QR code)
moltbot channels login

# Start the gateway
moltbot gateway --port 18789
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Configuration Example

Create ~/.clawdbot/moltbot.json:

{
  "agent": {
    "model": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5"
  },
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "allowFrom": ["+1234567890"]
    },
    "telegram": {
      "botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"
    }
  },
  "browser": {
    "enabled": true
  }
}
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First Interaction

Send a message via WhatsApp or Telegram:

You: Hey, what can you do?

Moltbot: I'm your personal AI assistant! I can:
• Manage your calendar and send reminders
• Control browser automation
• Search the web and summarize articles
• Execute shell commands (with your permission)
• Integrate with 50+ services via skills

What would you like help with?
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Real-World Use Cases {#use-cases}

🚗 Car Negotiation Automation

User: AJ Stuyvenberg

Result: Saved $4,200 on a $56,000 car purchase

"My Moltbot searched Reddit for pricing data, contacted multiple dealers, and negotiated via email. It played hardball when dealers tried the usual tactics."

🏢 Production Bug Auto-Fix

User: @henrymascot

Result: Bug detected and fixed before the team woke up

"Set up Moltbot as a Slack auto-support system. One night, the bot detected a production bug and fixed it on its own."

🏠 Smart Home Orchestration

User: Nimrod Gutman (@ngutman)

Result: Intelligent boiler control based on weather patterns

"Moltbot checks weather patterns and decides when to heat the house - not based on a schedule, but based on whether heating actually makes sense."

📊 Daily Briefing System

User: Federico Viticci (MacStories founder)

Result: 180 million tokens used in one month

"Moltbot has completely changed my perspective of what it means to have an intelligent, personal AI assistant in 2026."

🍷 Wine Cellar Management

User: @prades_maxime

Result: 962 bottles catalogued and searchable

"Fed Moltbot a CSV file and now have conversational access to my entire wine collection. 'What should I open with lamb tonight?' gets a proper answer."

🛒 Grocery Automation

User: @marchattonhere

Result: Weekly meal plan + automated grocery delivery

"Built the 'Tesco Shop Autopilot' - it generates a weekly meal plan, then books the grocery delivery. No APIs involved, just browser automation."

Security and Privacy Considerations {#security}

Default Security Model

Session Type Execution Environment Risk Level
Main (You) Host machine ⚠️ High trust
Groups Docker sandbox (optional) ✅ Isolated
Unknown DMs Pairing required ✅ Protected

Recommended Security Setup 

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "sandbox": {
        "mode": "non-main",
        "allowedTools": ["bash", "read", "write"],
        "deniedTools": ["browser", "nodes", "cron"]
      }
    }
  },
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "allowFrom": ["+1234567890"],
      "dmPolicy": "pairing"
    }
  },
  "gateway": {
    "auth": {
      "mode": "password",
      "password": "your-secure-password"
    }
  }
}
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Security Best Practices

✅ DO

  • Use DM pairing for unknown senders
  • Run group sessions in Docker sandboxes
  • Set up Tailscale for remote access
  • Regularly review moltbot doctor output
  • Keep allowlists updated

⚠️ DON'T

  • Expose port 18789 to the public internet
  • Grant shell access without understanding risks
  • Install unverified skills from unknown sources
  • Use dmPolicy: "open" without allowlists

Common Vulnerabilities

  1. Prompt Injection: If Moltbot accesses untrusted web content, malicious prompts could hijack behavior
  2. Supply Chain: Downloadable skills could contain malicious code
  3. Auto-Update: Automatic updates could introduce vulnerabilities
  4. Exposed Ports: Port 18789 found exposed on many instances

Mitigation: Use Tailscale Serve/Funnel, enable authentication, review skills before installation.

Moltbot vs Traditional AI Assistants {#comparison}

Feature Moltbot ChatGPT Siri Google Assistant
Self-hosted ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
Proactive messaging ✅ Yes ❌ No ⚠️ Limited ⚠️ Limited
Multi-channel ✅ 10+ platforms ❌ Web/app only ❌ Apple only ❌ Google only
Browser control ✅ Full CDP ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
Custom skills ✅ Unlimited ⚠️ GPTs only ❌ No ⚠️ Actions
Local LLM support ✅ Ollama/LM Studio ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
Multi-agent ✅ Yes ⚠️ Limited ❌ No ❌ No
Open source ✅ MIT License ❌ Proprietary ❌ Proprietary ❌ Proprietary
Cost 💰 $25-150/mo (API) 💰 $20/mo 💰 Free 💰 Free
Privacy ✅ Full control ❌ Cloud-based ⚠️ Apple servers ❌ Google servers

Why Choose Moltbot?

💡 Key Advantage

"A megacorp like Anthropic or OpenAI could not build this. Literally impossible with how corpo works." - @Dimillian

Moltbot represents a paradigm shift from cloud-dependent assistants to infrastructure you control. It's not just a chatbot - it's a personal operating system for AI.

Community and Ecosystem {#community}

Project Statistics (January 2026)

  • GitHub Stars: 30,000+
  • Discord Members: 8,900+
  • Contributors: 130+
  • Skills on ClawdHub: 100+
  • Daily Active Users: Growing rapidly

Community Highlights

"After years of AI hype, I thought nothing could faze me. Then I installed Moltbot. From nervous 'hi what can you do?' to full throttle - design, code review, taxes, PM, content pipelines... AI as teammate, not tool." - @lycfyi

"It will actually be the thing that nukes a ton of startups, not ChatGPT as people meme about. The fact that it's hackable and hostable on-prem will make sure tech like this DOMINATES conventional SaaS." - @rovensky

Getting Involved

🤔 Frequently Asked Questions {#faq}

Q: Is Moltbot free?

A: Moltbot itself is free and open-source (MIT License). However, you need to pay for:

  • AI model API costs (Claude Pro $20/mo, or OpenAI API usage)
  • Optional: Cloud hosting if not running locally
  • Typical total cost: $25-150/month depending on usage

Q: Can I run Moltbot with local LLMs?

A: Yes! Moltbot supports:

  • Ollama (recommended for local models)
  • LM Studio
  • Harbor
  • Any OpenAI-compatible API endpoint

Best local model: GLM-4.7-Flash for tool calling capabilities.

Q: How does Moltbot compare to Claude Code or Cursor?

A: Moltbot is complementary to these tools:

  • Claude Code/Cursor: IDE-focused coding assistants
  • Moltbot: Orchestration layer that can control Claude Code/Cursor from your phone

Example: "Hey Moltbot, run Claude Code to fix the tests in my project" - and it does, reporting back progress.

Q: Is it safe to give Moltbot shell access?

A: The developer describes it as "spicy". Recommendations:

  • Use Docker sandboxing for non-main sessions
  • Carefully review any shell commands before execution
  • Start with read-only tools and gradually expand permissions
  • Never expose Moltbot to untrusted users without sandboxing

Q: What happened to Clawdbot?

A: Clawdbot was renamed to Moltbot. All functionality remains the same, and the clawdbot command still works as a compatibility shim. Update to the latest version with npm install -g moltbot@latest.

Q: Can Moltbot really negotiate car purchases?

A: Yes! User AJ Stuyvenberg documented how Moltbot:

  1. Searched Reddit for pricing data
  2. Contacted multiple dealers via email
  3. Negotiated back-and-forth using hardball tactics
  4. Secured $4,200 off sticker price

This showcases Moltbot's ability to handle multi-step, autonomous workflows.

Q: How much technical knowledge do I need?

A: The onboarding wizard (moltbot onboard) makes setup accessible to non-technical users. However:

  • Basic: Follow wizard, use pre-built skills
  • Intermediate: Customize config files, install community skills
  • Advanced: Build custom skills, modify source code, run multi-agent setups

Q: Does Moltbot work on mobile?

A: Yes, through two approaches:

  1. Messaging apps: Control Moltbot from WhatsApp/Telegram on your phone
  2. Native nodes: iOS and Android apps that pair with your gateway

Many users report building entire websites "from their phone while putting the baby to sleep."

Comprehensive Moltbot Use Cases & Applications

📧 Email & Communication Management

  • Inbox Zero Automation: Unsubscribe from unwanted emails, archive newsletters, prioritize urgent messages
  • Email Response Drafting: Generate professional replies based on context and your writing style
  • Gmail Pub/Sub Integration: Real-time email monitoring and automated responses
  • Multi-channel Message Routing: Consolidate WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord into one interface
  • Meeting Scheduling: Coordinate calendars, send invites, handle rescheduling requests

💼 Business & Productivity

  • Invoice Generation: Create and send invoices automatically based on time tracking
  • Expense Tracking: Monitor spending, categorize transactions, generate reports
  • CRM Integration: Update customer records, log interactions, set follow-up reminders
  • Project Management: Create tasks in Todoist/Asana, update status, send progress reports
  • Document Processing: Extract data from PDFs, generate summaries, organize files
  • Tea Business Operations: User @danpeguine runs entire operations via Moltbot

🏠 Smart Home & IoT

  • Intelligent Thermostat Control: Weather-based heating/cooling optimization
  • 3D Printer Management: Queue prints, monitor progress, receive completion alerts
  • Vacuum Scheduling: Conversation-based room cleaning ("living room's a mess")
  • Air Quality Monitoring: Control air purifiers based on sensor data and biomarker goals
  • Sky Photography: Automatically capture photos when sunset conditions are beautiful
  • Lighting Automation: Control smart bulbs based on time, occupancy, or mood

🏥 Health & Wellness

  • WHOOP Data Analysis: Daily recovery scores, strain analysis, sleep optimization
  • Custom Meditation Generation: AI-generated guided meditations with personalized audio
  • Meal Planning: Weekly menu creation with automated grocery ordering (Tesco autopilot)
  • Medication Reminders: Proactive alerts with context about dosage and timing
  • Workout Tracking: Log exercises, suggest routines, track progress over time

💻 Development & DevOps

  • Production Bug Auto-Fix: Detect issues via Sentry webhooks, analyze, fix, open PRs
  • CI/CD Monitoring: Track build status, alert on failures, trigger deployments
  • Code Review Automation: Analyze PRs, suggest improvements, check for security issues
  • GitHub/GitLab Integration: Create issues, update branches, manage releases
  • Test Automation: Run test suites, report failures, suggest fixes
  • Documentation Generation: Auto-update README files, API docs, changelogs

🎓 Education & Learning

  • University Course Management: Track assignments, deadlines, lecture notes
  • Language Learning: Chinese pronunciation feedback (xuezh skill by @joshp123)
  • Research Assistant: Summarize papers, extract key findings, manage citations
  • Study Schedule Optimization: Balance coursework with personal commitments
  • Flashcard Generation: Create Anki decks from lecture notes

🛒 E-commerce & Shopping

  • Price Monitoring: Track product prices, alert on deals, compare across retailers
  • Automated Reordering: Replenish household items when running low
  • Receipt Processing: Extract data, categorize purchases, track warranties
  • Wishlist Management: Organize desired items, notify when prices drop
  • Gift Recommendations: Suggest presents based on recipient interests and budget

🎨 Creative & Content

  • Website Building: Full site creation from phone via Telegram (user @davekiss)
  • Blog Post Automation: Generate drafts, optimize SEO, schedule publishing
  • Social Media Management: Draft posts, schedule content, analyze engagement
  • Video Script Writing: Create outlines, dialogue, shot lists
  • Podcast Show Notes: Transcribe episodes, generate summaries, extract timestamps

💰 Finance & Investment

  • Portfolio Optimization: Analyze holdings, suggest rebalancing, track performance
  • Crypto Wallet Monitoring: Alert on significant price movements or transactions
  • Bill Payment Reminders: Track due dates, automate payments, avoid late fees
  • Tax Document Organization: Categorize receipts, generate reports for accountants
  • Budget Tracking: Monitor spending against goals, suggest cost-cutting measures

🚗 Travel & Transportation

  • Flight Check-in Automation: Auto check-in 24 hours before departure
  • Travel Itinerary Management: Consolidate bookings, send reminders, handle changes
  • Traffic-based Departure Alerts: "Leave now for pickleball based on current traffic"
  • Hotel Price Monitoring: Track rates, rebook if prices drop
  • Car Rental Comparison: Find best deals across providers

🎮 Entertainment & Leisure

  • Wine Cellar Management: 962 bottles catalogued, searchable by pairing recommendations
  • Movie/TV Show Tracking: Watchlist management, new episode alerts, review summaries
  • Recipe Collection: Organize favorites, suggest meals based on ingredients on hand
  • Event Discovery: Find concerts, shows, exhibitions based on interests
  • Gaming Session Coordination: Schedule multiplayer sessions with friends

🔐 Security & Monitoring

  • System Health Checks: Monitor server uptime, disk space, CPU usage
  • Security Alert Aggregation: Consolidate notifications from multiple services
  • Backup Verification: Ensure backups completed successfully, test restore procedures
  • Password Expiry Reminders: Track when credentials need rotation
  • Suspicious Activity Detection: Alert on unusual login attempts or access patterns

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Personal

  • Shared Calendar Management: Coordinate family schedules, avoid conflicts
  • Chore Assignment: Rotate household tasks, send reminders
  • School Communication: Track parent-teacher messages, permission slips, events
  • Pet Care Reminders: Vet appointments, medication schedules, food ordering
  • Birthday & Anniversary Alerts: Proactive reminders with gift suggestions

🏢 Enterprise & Team Collaboration

  • Slack Auto-Support: Answer common questions, route complex issues to humans
  • Meeting Minutes: Transcribe, summarize, extract action items
  • Onboarding Automation: Send welcome messages, assign tasks, track progress
  • Knowledge Base Updates: Keep documentation current based on Slack conversations
  • Team Availability Tracking: Coordinate across time zones, suggest meeting times

🎯 Advanced Multi-Agent Workflows

  • Kev's Dream Team (@adam91holt): 14+ specialized agents orchestrated by Opus 4.5
  • Agent-to-Agent Communication: Use sessions_* tools for inter-agent coordination
  • Parallel Task Execution: Multiple agents working simultaneously on related tasks
  • Hierarchical Agent Structures: Supervisor agents delegating to specialist agents
  • Cross-Platform Orchestration: Coordinate between Codex, Cursor, Manus, and other tools

🚀 Experimental & Cutting-Edge

  • Sora Video Generation: Automated video creation with watermark removal
  • Voice Synthesis: ElevenLabs integration for natural speech output
  • iOS App Development: Build and deploy apps via TestFlight from chat
  • Autonomous Code Refactoring: Continuous improvement of codebases
  • Custom Skill Development: Moltbot builds new skills for itself based on needs

Summary & Next Steps

Moltbot represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with AI - from passive tools to proactive partners that live in our communication channels and can actually do things for us.

Key Takeaways

  1. Moltbot (formerly Clawdbot) is the most advanced open-source personal AI assistant
  2. Self-hosted architecture gives you full control over data and privacy
  3. Multi-channel support means you can use it from any messaging app
  4. Extensible design allows unlimited customization via skills and plugins
  5. Community-driven development ensures rapid evolution and innovation

Getting Started Checklist

  • [ ] Install Node.js ≥ 22
  • [ ] Run npm install -g moltbot@latest
  • [ ] Execute moltbot onboard --install-daemon
  • [ ] Connect your preferred messaging platform
  • [ ] Configure security settings (DM pairing, allowlists)
  • [ ] Explore ClawdHub for useful skills
  • [ ] Join the Discord community for support

Recommended Resources

Final Thoughts

"At this point I don't even know what to call Moltbot. It is something new. After a few weeks in with it, this is the first time I have felt like I am living in the future since the launch of ChatGPT." - @davemorin

The future of personal AI is here, and it's open source, self-hosted, and infinitely hackable. Welcome to the Moltbot revolution. 🦞

Last updated: January 2026 | Moltbot version: Latest stable release

Moltbot Complete Guide

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