OpenClaw vs Claude

OpenClaw is an experimental AI agent that can do tasks for you. Unlike ChatGPT or Claude, it can take actions across anything on your device. Your folders, your browsers, tools, etc.

However, it coms with serious security risks. Being upfront, I have not personally installed OpenClaw on any of my own devices. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have used it, including my father, who has worked in cybersecurity for over two decades and has installed it 6 or so times by now (more about his experience in our full OpenClaw Review).

The consistent theme from everyone I trust is this: no one feels fully confident that their setup is actually secure.

Right now, the risk just doesn’t match the reward.

Claude has a few different versions of AI Agents.

• Claude Code is for developers and can help with coding.
• Claude Cowork is a desktop agent that can work with files on your computer.

• Claude Code is one of the best coding agents available
• Cowork can handle specific tasks like applying brand styles to documents
• Claude holds onto way more context than other AI tools

• Claude Cowork computer use is slow for most tasks
• You have to go to Claude and ask it to do things (not proactive)
• Usage limits are annoying if you use it a lot

Claude Cowork works if you have very specific tasks where you want AI to have some access to your computer.

I use it when I'm creating contracts or pitch decks and I need our exact brand style. I give it access to a folder with our fonts and brand guides, and Claude Cowork applies everything automatically.

Then you can also turn on Claude Computer Use which gives Claude the capability to take over your device and use any app.

But when we tested it, it was incredibly, painfully, slow.

I tried using it to paste a video script from one tool (Motion) into another (teleprompter). Claude took over my computer but it was way too slow to actually be useful. I gave up waiting after 10 minutes as I could have done the task by hand by that point.

Our engineer's favorite AI coding agent is Claude Code.

It can work through code problems, make changes on its own, and help with big refactors.

It's one of the best coding agents you can get. But you need to be on the $200 a month tier, otherwise you'll run out of credits really fast.

• Free: Limited access. Good for trying it out.
• Pro: $20 a month. This is what most people should get. You get the full version and everything that actually matters for daily work.
• Max: $100 a month. Higher limits if you're using Claude a ton and hitting caps constantly.
• Team: $30 per person per month (minimum 5 people). Adds team features and controls.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for bigger companies with security and compliance needs.