In This Article
Introduction
Moonshot AI, the Chinese company behind the Kimi K2.5 model, launched "Kimi Claw" — a managed cloud competitor to OpenClaw. Kimi Claw offers the agentic experience without self-hosting: sign up, connect WeChat or DingTalk, and you have a proactive AI assistant. It's OpenClaw's architecture, Moonshot's infrastructure, and China's preferred messaging platforms. The launch validated the agentic model: if OpenClaw proved demand for self-hosted agents, Kimi Claw proved demand for managed agents. Different markets, same paradigm.
What Is Kimi Claw?
Kimi Claw is a managed service: Moonshot hosts the agent, you use it via WeChat/DingTalk/Feishu. No Docker, no config files, no API key management. Pay per use or subscription. Target: Chinese users who want OpenClaw-like capabilities without technical setup. You don't need to know what a Gateway is or how to configure a Heartbeat. You just connect your WeChat and start chatting. The agent runs on Moonshot's servers; your data flows through their infrastructure. Trade-off: convenience vs. control. For many Chinese users, convenience wins.
Kimi Claw vs OpenClaw
| Aspect | OpenClaw | Kimi Claw |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted | Managed cloud |
| Setup | Technical | No-code |
| Data | Your hardware | Moonshot cloud |
| Platforms | WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack | WeChat, DingTalk, Feishu |
OpenClaw gives you full control: your machine, your keys, your data. Kimi Claw gives you zero ops: Moonshot runs everything. The choice depends on your priorities. See Chinese models for how K2.5 compares to DeepSeek and other options.
Kimi K2.5 Model
Kimi Claw uses Kimi K2.5 — 76.8% SWE-bench, top open-source performer in early 2026. The model is optimized for Chinese and English. Cost is lower than US frontier models. For the China market, Kimi Claw + K2.5 is the default choice. You get a strong model, native Chinese support, and managed infrastructure. No need to provision GPUs or manage API keys. Moonshot handles it.
Market Focus
Kimi Claw targets China: WeChat, DingTalk, Feishu. OpenClaw targets global: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack. Different ecosystems. WeChat is the super-app in China; WhatsApp is the super-app elsewhere. Moonshot's move validates the agentic model — they're building the managed version because the self-hosted version proved the demand. OpenClaw showed the world what agents could do; Kimi Claw brings that to users who don't want to run servers.
When to Choose Which
Choose OpenClaw when: you want self-hosting, global platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack), full control over data and config, or you're outside China. Choose Kimi Claw when: you're in China, you use WeChat/DingTalk/Feishu, you want zero-ops managed service, or you prefer not to run infrastructure. They're complementary: OpenClaw for the DIY crowd, Kimi Claw for the convenience crowd.
Wrapping Up
Kimi Claw is OpenClaw's managed, China-focused cousin. Choose OpenClaw for self-hosting and global platforms; Kimi Claw for managed and Chinese super-apps. See Chinese models for model comparison.