head to head · open source
OpenClaw vs Ptero
OpenClaw has 393,747 GitHub stars, 82,755 forks, 6,671 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Ptero has 1,519 stars, 18 forks, 0 open issues and last shipped 6 days ago. OpenClaw leads on adoption by 25,821% (393,747 vs 1,519 stars). OpenClaw is written in TypeScript under MIT; Ptero is written in PHP under Apache-2.0. OpenClaw has attracted 21% as many forks as stars, Ptero 1%. OpenClaw was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (ai), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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 | Ptero | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 394K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-28 |
| Forks | ⑂ 83K | ⑂ 18 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick OpenClaw if
- You weight community size — 394K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Ptero if
- You want the Ptero feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches PHP
- You evaluated both and Ptero fits your workflow better
About OpenClaw
OpenClaw 🦞 — Your assistant, on your devices, in your chats OpenClaw is an open source AI assistant that runs on your own computer and meets you in the channels you already use: Discord, iMessage, Slack, Teams, Telegram, WhatsApp, and 20+ more, plus native apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. One Gateway runs it as a personal assistant on a laptop or as a shared team deployment; configuration is the only difference. Yours, with no catch. State, memory, and credentials live on your hardware. Models and agent harnesses (Claude, Codex, local models) are plugins you can swap without changing anything…
read the full OpenClaw overview →
About Ptero
🚀 Ptero – Free, Multi Model AI Chat Platform Ptero is a free, open source AI chat platform that gives you instant access to multiple powerful language models through a single, clean interface. No signup is required, and it is designed for developers, students, and creators who value privacy and simplicity. Try it live: 💖 Sponsors We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their support in keeping Ptero free and accessible for everyone. ✨ Key Features Access Multiple AI Models : Choose from a wide range of models, including DeepSeek V4 , Llama 3.3 , Qwen , MiniMax , Mistral , and more. One Click Model…
read the full Ptero overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenClaw or Ptero more popular?
OpenClaw has 393,747 GitHub stars and Ptero has 1,519. OpenClaw has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenClaw and Ptero free?
Both are open source. OpenClaw is licensed under MIT and Ptero under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between OpenClaw and Ptero?
OpenClaw is written in TypeScript and Ptero in PHP. 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 Ptero?
Choose OpenClaw if you want the larger community (393,747 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Ptero if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.