README.md

---
license: mit
tags:
  - tutorial
  - crazyrouter
  - openclaw
  - ai-agent
  - chatbot
  - telegram
  - discord
  - whatsapp
  - llm
language:
  - en
  - zh
---

# 🤖 OpenClaw + Crazyrouter: Build Your AI Agent in Minutes

> Use Crazyrouter as the LLM backend for [OpenClaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) — an open-source AI agent that lives in your Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, and more.

## What is OpenClaw?

[OpenClaw](https://docs.openclaw.ai) is an open-source autonomous AI agent framework. It connects to messaging platforms (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack, Signal, iMessage...) and gives you a personal AI assistant that can:

- 💬 Chat naturally across all your messaging apps
- 🔧 Execute code, browse the web, manage files
- ⏰ Run scheduled tasks (cron jobs, reminders)
- 🧠 Maintain persistent memory across sessions
- 🔌 Extend with custom skills and plugins

**Crazyrouter** is the perfect backend — one API key gives OpenClaw access to 624+ models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, and more.

---

## Quick Start

### Step 1: Install OpenClaw

```bash
# macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

# Windows (PowerShell)
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```

Requires Node.js 22+.

### Step 2: Get Your Crazyrouter API Key

1. Go to [crazyrouter.com](https://crazyrouter.com/?utm_source=huggingface&utm_medium=tutorial&utm_campaign=dev_community)
2. Sign up and get your API key (`sk-...`)

### Step 3: Run the Onboarding Wizard

```bash
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
```

When prompted for auth, choose **API key** and enter your Crazyrouter key.

Or set it up non-interactively:

```bash
openclaw onboard \
  --auth-choice apiKey \
  --token-provider crazyrouter \
  --token "sk-your-crazyrouter-key"
```

### Step 4: Verify

```bash
openclaw gateway status
openclaw dashboard  # Opens the web UI
```

---

## Configuration

Edit `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` (JSON5 format):

### Minimal Config (Crazyrouter Only)

```json5
{
  models: {
    providers: {
      crazyrouter: {
        baseUrl: "https://crazyrouter.com/v1",
        apiKey: "sk-your-crazyrouter-key",
        api: "openai-completions",
        models: [
          {
            id: "claude-opus-4-6",
            name: "Claude Opus 4.6",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text", "image"],
            contextWindow: 200000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: { primary: "crazyrouter/claude-opus-4-6" },
      workspace: "~/.openclaw/workspace",
    },
  },
}
```

### Full Config with Multiple Models

```json5
{
  models: {
    providers: {
      crazyrouter: {
        baseUrl: "https://crazyrouter.com/v1",
        apiKey: "sk-your-crazyrouter-key",
        api: "openai-completions",
        models: [
          // Flagship - best for complex tasks
          {
            id: "claude-opus-4-6",
            name: "Claude Opus 4.6",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text", "image"],
            contextWindow: 200000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
          // Great all-rounder
          {
            id: "gpt-4o",
            name: "GPT-4o",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text", "image"],
            contextWindow: 128000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
          // Fast and cheap
          {
            id: "gpt-4o-mini",
            name: "GPT-4o Mini",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text", "image"],
            contextWindow: 128000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
          // Strong reasoning
          {
            id: "deepseek-reasoner",
            name: "DeepSeek R1",
            reasoning: true,
            input: ["text"],
            contextWindow: 64000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
          // Budget coding
          {
            id: "deepseek-chat",
            name: "DeepSeek V3",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text"],
            contextWindow: 64000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
          // Speed king
          {
            id: "gemini-2.0-flash",
            name: "Gemini 2.0 Flash",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text", "image"],
            contextWindow: 1000000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: {
        primary: "crazyrouter/claude-opus-4-6",
        fallbacks: ["crazyrouter/gpt-4o"],
      },
      models: {
        "crazyrouter/gpt-4o-mini": { alias: "Mini" },
        "crazyrouter/deepseek-chat": { alias: "DeepSeek" },
      },
      workspace: "~/.openclaw/workspace",
    },
  },
}
```

### Add a Telegram Channel

```json5
{
  // ... models config above ...
  channels: {
    telegram: {
      enabled: true,
      botToken: "123456:ABC-your-telegram-bot-token",
      dmPolicy: "allowlist",
      allowFrom: ["tg:YOUR_TELEGRAM_USER_ID"],
    },
  },
}
```

### Add Discord

```json5
{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      enabled: true,
      botToken: "your-discord-bot-token",
      dmPolicy: "pairing",
    },
  },
}
```

---

## Switch Models On-the-fly

Once configured, you can switch models in chat:

```
/model crazyrouter/gpt-4o
/model crazyrouter/deepseek-chat
/model crazyrouter/gemini-2.0-flash
```

Or use aliases:

```
/model Mini
/model DeepSeek
```

---

## Why Crazyrouter + OpenClaw?

| Feature | Benefit |
|---------|---------|
| **624+ models** | Switch between any model without changing config |
| **One API key** | No need to manage separate keys for each provider |
| **OpenAI-compatible** | Native support in OpenClaw — zero custom code |
| **Competitive pricing** | Run your agent 24/7 without breaking the bank |
| **Fallback support** | If one model is down, auto-switch to another |
| **All channels** | Same backend powers Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack... |

---

## Cost Optimization Tips

1. **Use cheap models for sub-agents** — Set `gpt-4o-mini` or `deepseek-chat` for background tasks
2. **Use powerful models for main chat** — `claude-opus-4-6` or `gpt-4o` for direct conversations
3. **Enable compaction** — Reduces token usage for long conversations:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      compaction: { mode: "safeguard" },
    },
  },
}
```

4. **Set concurrent limits** — Control parallel sub-agent runs:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      maxConcurrent: 4,
      subagents: { maxConcurrent: 8 },
    },
  },
}
```

---

## Environment Variables (Alternative)

Instead of putting the API key in the config file:

```bash
export CRAZYROUTER_API_KEY="sk-your-crazyrouter-key"
```

Then reference it in config:

```json5
{
  models: {
    providers: {
      crazyrouter: {
        baseUrl: "https://crazyrouter.com/v1",
        apiKey: "${CRAZYROUTER_API_KEY}",
        api: "openai-completions",
        // ...
      },
    },
  },
}
```

---

## Troubleshooting

### Check Gateway Status

```bash
openclaw gateway status
openclaw doctor
```

### View Logs

```bash
openclaw logs
openclaw logs --tail
```

### Test the API Connection

```bash
curl https://crazyrouter.com/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-crazyrouter-key" \
  | head -20
```

### Common Issues

| Issue | Fix |
|-------|-----|
| "Model not found" | Check model ID matches exactly (e.g. `claude-opus-4-6`) |
| Auth error | Verify API key at [crazyrouter.com](https://crazyrouter.com/?utm_source=huggingface&utm_medium=tutorial&utm_campaign=dev_community) |
| Slow responses | Try a faster model like `gemini-2.0-flash` |
| Gateway won't start | Run `openclaw doctor --fix` |

---

## Links

- 🌐 [Crazyrouter](https://crazyrouter.com/?utm_source=huggingface&utm_medium=tutorial&utm_campaign=dev_community) — Get your API key
- 📖 [OpenClaw Docs](https://docs.openclaw.ai) — Full documentation
- 🐙 [OpenClaw GitHub](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) — Source code
- 🤖 [Crazyrouter Demo](https://huggingface.co/spaces/xujfcn/Crazyrouter-Demo) — Try models live
- 💰 [Pricing](https://huggingface.co/spaces/xujfcn/Crazyrouter-Pricing) — Model pricing comparison
- 💬 [Telegram Community](https://t.me/crazyrouter)
- 🐦 [Twitter @metaviiii](https://twitter.com/metaviiii)
- 🎮 [OpenClaw Discord](https://discord.com/invite/clawd)