head to head · open source
OpenClaw vs OpenCode
OpenClaw has 390,029 GitHub stars, 81,995 forks, 6,671 open issues and last shipped today. OpenCode has 208,243 stars, 27,369 forks, 5,727 open issues and last shipped today. OpenClaw leads on adoption by 87% (390,029 vs 208,243 stars). OpenClaw is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; OpenCode is written in TypeScript under MIT. OpenClaw has attracted 21% as many forks as stars, OpenCode 13%. OpenClaw was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| OpenClaw | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 390K | ★ 208K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 82K | ⑂ 27K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick OpenClaw if
- You weight community size — 390K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick OpenCode if
- You want the OpenCode feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and OpenCode fits your workflow better
About OpenClaw
OpenClaw is an open source, self hosted AI assistant in the AI & Machine Learning / AI Interaction & Interfaces category that runs on hardware the user controls and meets them inside the messaging channels they already use, for individuals who want a personal assistant on a laptop and teams that want a shared deployment.
read the full OpenClaw overview →
About OpenCode
OpenCode is an open source AI coding agent designed to operate across terminal, IDE, and desktop environments. It integrates directly into developer workflows to assist with writing, editing, and understanding code using natural language prompts. Built in TypeScript and licensed under MIT, it runs locally or via a desktop app and supports multiple languages and platforms.
read the full OpenCode overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenClaw or OpenCode more popular?
OpenClaw has 390,029 GitHub stars and OpenCode has 208,243. OpenClaw has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenClaw and OpenCode free?
Both are open source. OpenClaw has no licence declared in this registry, and OpenCode is licensed under MIT. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between OpenClaw and OpenCode?
OpenClaw is written in TypeScript and OpenCode in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, OpenClaw or OpenCode?
Choose OpenClaw if you want the larger community (390,029 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose OpenCode if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.