FAQ

OpenClaw (Lobster) is an open-source AI assistant installed on your computer or server. Send commands via Telegram/WhatsApp, and it automatically operates your computer — handling emails, organizing files, monitoring prices, etc.

ChatGPT can only chat. The lobster can actually do things. Say "email Mr. Zhang" — ChatGPT writes the email for you to send; the lobster sends it directly.

Started as Clawdbot (Nov 2025), forced rename to Moltbot (Jan 2026) due to Anthropic trademark, finally settled on OpenClaw (Feb 2026). Chinese community calls it "Lobster".

The lobster software is completely free and open source (MIT license). But you need to pay for the AI brain (Claude/GPT API), about $3-60/mo depending on usage.

OpenClaw is the open-source project. YouXiaYong is an independent educational service brand. We don't develop the lobster — we help you learn to use it. Like a driving school vs car manufacturer.

Not necessarily! Three options:

☁️ Option A: Cloud Server (quickest) — No device, $4-6/mo, 5 min start, 24/7.
💻 Option B: Your Current PC (free) — Install on Mac/Windows to try, stops when off.
🖥️ Option C: Dedicated Mac Mini (ultimate) — One-time ~$550, 24/7 always on.

💡 Our advice: Start with A or B for 2 weeks. 99% upgrade to C because the lobster needs 24/7 to deliver max value.

No! Our ¥299 remote setup does everything. You only need: 1. A computer 2. Stable internet 3. Sit and watch us for 30 minutes. If DIY, the one-click cloud path only needs copy-paste.

Yes! Mac is easiest (one-line install), Windows needs WSL2, Linux is natively supported. Cloud servers work regardless of your OS.

The lobster runs on your computer/server, but you control it via Telegram/WhatsApp on your phone. Your phone is the remote, the computer is the lobster's home. Message from your couch, lobster works at your desk.

🥇 Claude Sonnet (smartest, ¥20-100/mo)
🥈 GPT-4o Mini (good value, ¥5-30/mo)
🥉 DeepSeek (cheapest, ¥5-20/mo)
🆓 Ollama (free, needs good hardware)

Start with Claude Sonnet, mix GPT-4o Mini for simple tasks.

WeChat doesn't officially support third-party access. So the lobster mainly connects via Telegram (recommended) or Feishu. For WeChat notifications, set up a "Telegram-to-WeChat" bridge — completely safe for your WeChat account.

Light use: $3-20/mo | Daily use: $20-68/mo | Heavy use: $105+/mo. Main cost is AI API calls. Server cost is zero if you use your own computer.

Set a monthly spending limit in your AI provider console (Anthropic/OpenAI). E.g., $20/mo cap — stops automatically. This is security step one.

Email assistant: hire ¥5000+/mo vs lobster ~¥200/mo (save 96%). Social media: hire ¥8000+/mo vs lobster ~¥300/mo (save 96%). Plus, lobster works 24/7.

The lobster runs on YOUR computer/server — data stays with you. But it does have system permissions, so: 1. Only install official skills 2. Set spending limits 3. Lock network access.

About 13-20% of third-party skills have security risks. Only install: 1. Officially certified 2. High GitHub stars 3. Well-reviewed by community. Ask us if unsure.

If configured correctly (env variables, no exposed ports), risk is very low. Security trio: 1. Bind to 127.0.0.1 2. Set spending limits 3. Rotate keys regularly.