OpenClaw is a powerful tool for autonomous agents, but many users are concerned about the cost of API keys from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. The good news is that you can run OpenClaw entirely locally, without spending a dime on API tokens, by leveraging local LLMs.

Why Run Locally?

• Privacy: Your data never leaves your machine.
• Cost: No per-token fees.
• Offline Access: Work without an internet connection.

Prerequisites

To run OpenClaw without API keys, you'll need a machine capable of running local models. We recommend:

• At least 16GB of RAM (32GB recommended)
• A decent GPU (NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better) or a fast CPU (M1/M2/M3 Mac)
• Ollama installed

Step 1: Install Ollama

Ollama is the easiest way to get up and running with local LLMs. Download it from ollama.com and install it on your system.

Once installed, open your terminal and pull a model. For OpenClaw, we recommend llama3 or mistral:

ollama pull llama3

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Now that you have a model running, you need to tell OpenClaw to use it. Open your config.json or environment settings in OpenClaw.

Look for the LLM provider settings and set the following:

{
  "llm_provider": "ollama",
  "ollama_base_url": "http://localhost:11434",
  "model": "llama3"
}

Step 3: Run OpenClaw

Restart OpenClaw to apply the changes. You should now be able to run agents and tasks using your local model. Keep in mind that local models might be slower than cloud APIs depending on your hardware, but they are free and private.

Related Reading

Want to learn more about managing OpenClaw effectively?

• OpenClaw GUI vs. CLI: Why Visual Deploys Are the Future — Discover why visual dashboards are replacing terminal commands for AI agent management.
• Why Google Is Blocking OpenClaw Users — Learn about recent API restrictions and how to stay compliant.
• OpenClaw Visual Dashboard — Explore the #1 visual interface for managing OpenClaw agents without coding.

Conclusion

Running OpenClaw locally opens up a world of possibilities for experimentation and secure development. Give it a try and let us know what you build!

Or, if you want the power of OpenClaw without the technical setup, check out the CatsAndClaws Visual Dashboard — all the AI agent capabilities with none of the configuration headaches.