OpenClaw logo
OpenClaw
★ 392.8k
vs
refly logo
refly
★ 7.5k

OpenClaw vs refly

OpenClaw: OpenClaw is a self-hosted personal AI assistant that runs on your own devices and responds on the messaging channels you already use. It supports 20+ channels including WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, WeChat, and Signal, with native voice support on macOS, iOS, and Android. The Gateway serves as a control plane while the assistant stays local, fast, and always-on.; refly: Refly.AI is the world's first no-code 'vibe workflow' platform, enabling non-technical creators to build, share, and monetize powerful AI automation workflows. It offers a visual canvas, AI copilot, and pre-packaged agents to simplify complex automation tasks without requiring any coding.

01

TL;DR

OpenClaw logo
OpenClawWorkflow Automation · ★ 392.8k
When to choose:
  • You want a self-hosted personal AI assistant that lives inside 20+ messaging apps you already use (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Signal, Teams).
  • You want your state, memory, and credentials kept on your own machine, with optional companion apps on macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux for voice and screen actions.
When to skip:
  • You want a zero-ops cloud-hosted chatbot without managing a local Node.js 24+ Gateway and API keys.
  • You only want a desktop multi-provider chat GUI on your computer rather than messaging-channel gateways; Cherry Studio is simpler for desktop chat.
refly logo
reflyWorkflow Automation · ★ 7.5k

Building powerful AI automation workflows without coding

02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
OpenClaw logoOpenClaw
refly logorefly
Category
Workflow Automation
Workflow Automation
Stars
★ 392.8k
★ 7.5k
License
MIT
NOASSERTION
Install Command
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
git clone https://github.com/refly-ai/refly.git
Updated
1d ago
2d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
Personal AI Assistant, Multi-channel Messaging, Self-hosted
AI Automation, No-code, Workflow
03

Features

OpenClaw logoOpenClaw
01Responds on 20+ messaging channels: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, WeChat, Signal, and more
02Native voice input/output on macOS, iOS, and Android
03Live Canvas rendering for visual AI outputs you can interact with
04Fully self-hosted — runs on your own devices with no cloud dependency
05Extensible via QVeris capability routing and skill system
refly logorefly
01Intervenable Agent: Visualized execution with real-time intervention capabilities
02Minimalist Workflow Tool: Orchestrate pre-packaged, powerful AI Agents instead of nodes
03Workflow Copilot: Turn natural language descriptions into complex automations
04Workflow Marketplace: One-click publishing of custom workflows as AI Apps
05Monetization: Creators can monetize their workflows every time they are run
04

Use Cases

OpenClaw logoOpenClaw
↳Running a privacy-first personal AI assistant across all your messaging apps
↳Getting AI responses directly in WhatsApp or Telegram without switching apps
↳Building a voice-enabled home or office AI assistant on your own hardware
refly logorefly
↳Building powerful AI automation workflows without coding
↳Sharing and publishing custom AI applications to a marketplace
↳Monetizing AI expertise by selling access to created workflows
05

Best For

OpenClaw logoOpenClaw
Most PopularTrending
refly logorefly
Trending
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between OpenClaw and refly?
Both OpenClaw and refly are in the Workflow Automation category. OpenClaw has 392.8k stars, while refly has 7.5k stars.
Which is better, OpenClaw or refly?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose OpenClaw if Running a privacy-first personal AI assistant across all your messaging apps, and refly if Building powerful AI automation workflows without coding.
Is OpenClaw free or open source?
Yes, OpenClaw is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Is refly free or open source?
Yes, refly is open source on GitHub (NOASSERTION).
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