OpenClaw API Key: Which Key Does Your AI Agent Need?

You installed OpenClaw. The setup wizard asks for an API key. Which one? From where? Will it cost $200 next month if you pick wrong?

I have been through this setup hundreds of times building ClawHosters. This guide covers which API key you need, how to get it, and why you might not need one at all.

Covers: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, and OpenRouter. Pricing comparison, step-by-step setup, and common mistakes.