Head to head
Dots vs OpenClaw
The short answer
Dots is the managed, polished option with OpenAI's safety stack and a price tag. OpenClaw is free and yours: any model, 29 chat apps, data on your hardware, and every security decision is yours too.
Choose Dots if
you want an agent that just works, with managed security, and you can pay $100 a month or more.
Choose OpenClaw if
you want full control, Telegram or WhatsApp access, your choice of model, or you live where Dots is not offered.
Feature by feature
| Dots | OpenClaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Works in the backgroundKeeps going after you close the app | Yes | Yes |
| Suggests work on its ownLooks for things to do without being asked | Yes | Partly |
| Own cloud computerRuns a browser and files on a machine you do not own | Yes | No |
| Lives in chat appsWhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, Teams and similar | Partly | Yes |
| Voice callsYou can talk to it, not just type | Yes | Partly |
| Buys thingsCan complete checkouts, usually with approval | Partly | Partly |
| Custom permission rulesYou decide what it may do alone | Yes | Yes |
| Pick any AI modelSwap the model behind the agent | No | Yes |
| Runs on your hardwareData and memory stay on your machine | No | Yes |
| Free optionUsable without a subscription | No | Yes |
| Business featuresAdmin controls, seats, role-based agents | Yes | Partly |
Dots: Price
- ChatGPT Pro$100/mo
One Dot included. 5x Plus usage in ChatGPT Work and Codex. Chatting with the Dot does not count against limits.
- ChatGPT Pro (20x)$200/mo
One Dot. After DevDay 2026 this tier drops from 20x to 10x Plus usage in Work and Codex, and GPT-6 Pro messages fall from 200 to 100 a week.
- ChatGPT Pro 500$500/mo
One Dot, the highest usage limits and exclusive Astra Ultrafast, up to 300 tokens per second in Codex and Work.
- ChatGPT Business Premium seat$125/mo
One Dot per Premium seat in every ChatGPT region, including the EU and UK. 5x Standard usage, two-seat minimum.
- ChatGPT Enterprise / Edu / HealthcareCustom
Dots beta once an admin enables it. Specialist Dots with their own identity and credentials are in pilots.
OpenClaw: Price
- OpenClaw (self-hosted)Free
No subscription. You pay for the model (per token or through an existing plan) and the machine it runs on.
Where it works
| Dots | OpenClaw | |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Available | Self-hosted |
| Canada | Available | Self-hosted |
| Mexico | Available | Self-hosted |
| Brazil | Available | Self-hosted |
| Argentina | Available | Self-hosted |
| United Kingdom | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Germany | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| France | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Spain | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Italy | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Netherlands | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Poland | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Sweden | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Switzerland | Business plans only | Self-hosted |
| Türkiye | Available | Self-hosted |
| Ukraine | Available | Self-hosted |
| Russia | Not available | Self-hosted |
| United Arab Emirates | Available | Self-hosted |
| Saudi Arabia | Available | Self-hosted |
| Egypt | Available | Self-hosted |
| Nigeria | Available | Self-hosted |
| South Africa | Available | Self-hosted |
| India | Available | Self-hosted |
| Indonesia | Available | Self-hosted |
| Vietnam | Available | Self-hosted |
| Thailand | Available | Self-hosted |
| Philippines | Available | Self-hosted |
| Japan | Available | Self-hosted |
| South Korea | Available | Self-hosted |
| China | Not available | Self-hosted |
| Australia | Available | Self-hosted |
| Singapore | Available | Self-hosted |