OpenClaw is open source. Anyone can host it. But setting it up yourself means dealing with servers, Docker, environment files, model configuration, and ongoing maintenance. That's why managed platforms exist.
Right now, there are two options: ProntoClaw and Kimi Claw (by Moonshot AI, China). Both run OpenClaw in the cloud. Both promise to get you up and running fast. But the approach, the pricing, and what you actually own are very different.
The quick comparison
| ProntoClaw | Kimi Claw | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (beta, limited seats) | $39/month (Allegretto subscription) |
| Access | Free beta — sign up and start | Paid subscription required |
| Availability | Global | Chinese platform — limited in some regions |
| Infrastructure | Your own dedicated VPS (EU) | Shared cloud (China) |
| Data ownership | Your server, your data | Kimi's infrastructure |
| Interface | Telegram | Browser-based |
| Setup time | ~5 minutes | One click (within Kimi account) |
| AI models | Multiple via ProntoRouter, or select your provider of choice | Kimi's models only |
| Terminal access | SSH available on request | No |
| Transparency | Public Docker image — inspect what runs | Closed source runtime |
The real differences
Free vs. $39/month
Kimi Claw is a feature inside Kimi's paid ecosystem. To use it, you need an Allegretto membership at $39/month. That means you're paying for access to Kimi's full suite of products — and Claw is just one piece of the bundle.
ProntoClaw is free during the beta (limited seats). No prerequisite subscription. No bundle you don't need. Just sign in with Telegram, create your bot, and press Start.
Your own server vs. shared cloud
With ProntoClaw, you get a dedicated virtual private server. Your data lives on that server and nowhere else. We physically cannot read your conversations.
Kimi Claw runs on Kimi's shared cloud infrastructure based in China. Convenient if you're in the right region, but your data sits on their servers — and depending on where you are, you might not even be able to load their website.
"Your own server, your own data. We don't read, store, or share your conversations."
Fully transparent runtime
ProntoClaw's Docker image is publicly available on GitHub Container Registry. You can pull it, inspect every layer, and see exactly what runs on your server. No black boxes, no hidden telemetry.
Kimi Claw's runtime is a closed-source component inside their platform. You can't inspect it, you can't verify what it does, and you have no control over what gets deployed.
Telegram vs. browser
ProntoClaw lives in Telegram. You talk to your assistant the same way you'd message a friend. No new app, no tab to keep open, no connection drops.
Kimi Claw uses a browser interface. If your connection drops you need to refresh. And it's one more tab competing for your attention.
Model choice — no lock-in
ProntoClaw uses ProntoRouter by default — automatically routing to the best available AI model with built-in failover. But you're never locked in. Want to use your own OpenAI key, a local model, or any OpenAI-compatible provider? Just point your assistant to it. It's your server — you choose.
Kimi Claw routes through Kimi's own models only. You're locked into their ecosystem with no way to bring your own provider.
Where Kimi Claw does well
Their web search integration is solid. Their skill library is extensive. And if you're already a paying Kimi subscriber in a supported region, the activation is genuinely one click.
But "one click if you already pay $39/month for something else and live in the right country" is a very different proposition than "start for free in 5 minutes, from anywhere."
The bottom line
Both platforms run OpenClaw. Both work. But ProntoClaw gives you a dedicated server you own, a publicly inspectable runtime, works inside an app you already have, is free during beta while Kimi charges $39/month, works globally, and has no subscription prerequisites.
If you want managed OpenClaw without the complexity, without the bundle, without regional restrictions, and with real data ownership — ProntoClaw is the simpler choice.