Overview
AgentClaw supports all AI models compatible with OpenClaw, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and any model available through OpenRouter. Each provider has different strengths, pricing, and capabilities.
OpenAI (GPT Models)
Best for: General-purpose conversations, creative tasks, and code generation
Popular Models
- GPT-4.1: Most capable, best reasoning and instruction following
- GPT-4 Turbo: Faster and more affordable than GPT-4
- GPT-3.5 Turbo: Fast and cost-effective for simple tasks
Pricing (as of 2026)
- GPT-4.1: ~$0.01 per 1K input tokens, ~$0.03 per 1K output tokens
- GPT-4 Turbo: ~$0.01 per 1K tokens
- GPT-3.5 Turbo: ~$0.0005 per 1K tokens
Setup
Add your OpenAI API key as an environment variable:
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...Anthropic (Claude Models)
Best for: Complex reasoning, analysis, and following detailed instructions
Popular Models
- Claude 4.6 Opus: Most intelligent, best for complex tasks
- Claude 4.5 Sonnet: Balanced performance and speed
- Claude 4.5 Haiku: Fast and cost-effective
Pricing (as of 2026)
- Claude 4.6 Opus: ~$0.015 per 1K input tokens, ~$0.075 per 1K output tokens
- Claude 4.5 Sonnet: ~$0.003 per 1K input tokens, ~$0.015 per 1K output tokens
- Claude 4.5 Haiku: ~$0.00025 per 1K input tokens, ~$0.00125 per 1K output tokens
Setup
Add your Anthropic API key as an environment variable:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...OpenRouter (Multi-Model Access)
Best for: Access to multiple models through a single API
OpenRouter provides access to dozens of models including Llama, Mistral, and others. It's ideal if you want to experiment with different models without managing multiple API keys.
Setup
OPENROUTER_API_KEY=sk-or-...Learn more about using OpenRouter.
Comparison Table
| Feature | OpenAI | Anthropic | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for general use | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Complex reasoning | Good | Excellent | Varies |
| Code generation | Excellent | Good | Varies |
| Cost efficiency | Medium | Medium-High | Varies |
| Model variety | Limited | Limited | Extensive |
Recommendations
- For customer support bots: GPT-4 Turbo or Claude 4.5 Sonnet
- For creative content: GPT-4.1 or Claude 4.6 Opus
- For high-volume, simple tasks: GPT-3.5 Turbo or Claude 4.5 Haiku
- For experimentation: OpenRouter for access to multiple models
Switching Models
You can switch between AI providers at any time by updating your environment variables. Learn more about switching between providers.
Next Steps
- Get your OpenAI API key
- Get your Anthropic API key
- Learn about managing environment variables