ChatGPT dots vs OpenClaw
How the two compare on price, platforms, what they can act on and how they ask before acting. Facts come from each agent's sources page.
| ChatGPT dots | OpenClaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | OpenAI | OpenClaw Foundation |
| Cheapest paid plan | $100/month (Pro 100, the cheapest Pro tier; dots are included in Pro and Business Premium) | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes: the software is free and open source under the MIT license; the site states there is no subscription, hosted tier or paid version, and model provider usage is billed by the provider |
| Platforms | WebmacOSWindowsiOSAndroidSlackMicrosoft Teams | macOSWindowsLinuxiOSAndroidSelf hostedWhatsAppTelegramSlackDiscordiMessageSignalMicrosoft TeamsMatrix |
| Can act on | EmailCalendarBrowserFilesCodeMessagesShopping | EmailCalendarBrowserMessagesFilesCode |
| Approval model | Built-in rules decide when the dot acts alone and when it asks. Custom Rules let the user set an action to take action without asking, take action if pre-approved, ask before taking action, or hand off to the user. Auto-review checks actions that could affect accounts or share information. Some steps, such as changing a password, always stay with the user. Background proactive research uses read-only tools. | Configurable. Host commands run only when tool policy, the allowlist and optional user approval agree; modes are deny, allowlist, ask, auto and full. The docs state the default is security full with ask off on gateway and node hosts, and deny on sandbox hosts, so prompting depends on configuration. Approval prompts can be answered in the companion apps, the Control UI or supported chat channels. |
| Launched | Sep 29, 2026 | Nov 2025 |
| Last update | Oct 9, 2026: Create your dot in the ChatGPT mobile app | Oct 15, 2026: openclaw 2026.10.4 |
See sources on the ChatGPT dots and OpenClaw pages.
Track both every week