Why Teams Are Leaving OpenClaw

OpenClaw has 145K GitHub stars and a huge developer community. But if you've actually used it in production, you've probably hit one or more of these issues.

Security vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-25253 exposed over 42,000 OpenClaw control panels on the public internet. These panels had full filesystem access, API key management, and remote code execution capabilities. One misconfiguration and your infrastructure is wide open.

Unpredictable costs. OpenClaw doesn't manage API usage for you. You bring your own API keys for Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, etc. Users have reported bills ranging from $50 to $700 per month, depending on how much the agents run. There's no cost cap, no usage alerts, no way to prevent runaway spending unless you set up custom monitoring.

API key management headaches. Every model requires a separate API key. You need to manage rate limits, quota resets, billing alerts, and key rotation yourself. If you want to use multiple models (Claude for reasoning, GPT-4 for writing, Gemini for cost optimization), you're juggling three sets of credentials and three billing dashboards.

What to Look for in an OpenClaw Alternative

After running into these problems myself, I built Kiyomi to solve them. Here's what actually matters when choosing an alternative.

Fixed Pricing (Not Pay-Per-Token)

The biggest shock with OpenClaw is getting a $600 API bill because you left an agent running overnight. A good alternative should have fixed monthly pricing so you know exactly what you're paying.

Kiyomi charges $9/mo for Pro (or $149 lifetime). No surprises. No usage-based billing. You can run agents 24/7 and your bill stays the same.

No API Key Management

You shouldn't have to manage API keys, rate limits, and billing dashboards for multiple AI providers. The alternative should handle that for you.

Kiyomi manages all API access internally. You don't need Claude API keys, OpenAI keys, or Gemini keys. Just pick the model you want and start chatting.

Local-First Memory (Not Cloud-Only)

OpenClaw stores everything in the cloud, which means you're trusting the platform with your data and paying for cloud storage. A better approach is local-first: your memory, conversations, and files stay on your device.

Kiyomi stores all memory locally (SQLite or JSON, depending on your setup). Your data never leaves your machine unless you explicitly sync it. This also means no vendor lock-in. You own your memory files and can export them anytime.

Multi-Model Support (Without API Key Hell)

Different models are better at different tasks. Claude Opus for reasoning, GPT-4 for creative writing, Gemini for cost-efficient batch tasks. You should be able to switch models without managing multiple API accounts.

Kiyomi supports Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, and Codex. Switch models mid-conversation. No API keys required.

OpenClaw vs. Kiyomi: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's how they stack up.

OpenClaw

Kiyomi

Real-World Use Cases

Here's how people are actually using Kiyomi as an OpenClaw replacement.

Personal AI Assistant

Instead of running a full OpenClaw stack on a VPS, you can run Kiyomi locally. It remembers your preferences, ongoing projects, and communication style. No server costs. No DevOps.

Example: I use Kiyomi to manage my YouTube channel, blog content, and X/Twitter strategy. It remembers all my ongoing projects and switches between Claude (for strategy) and GPT-4 (for writing) automatically.

Business Automation (Without the $700/mo Bill)

Small businesses need AI automation but can't afford unpredictable API costs. Kiyomi's fixed pricing makes it viable.

Example: A marketing agency uses Kiyomi Business ($29/mo) to manage client content calendars, draft social posts, and respond to customer inquiries. Total cost is predictable and budgetable.

Development Teams (Preset System Instead of Custom Prompts)

OpenClaw requires custom prompt engineering for each workflow. Kiyomi has a built-in preset system. Define your agent behaviors once, switch between them instantly.

Example: A SaaS company uses presets for "Code Reviewer," "Documentation Writer," and "Customer Support." Each team member can switch roles without re-prompting the AI every time.

How to Migrate from OpenClaw to Kiyomi

If you're already running OpenClaw, here's the migration path.

Step 1: Export Your Memory

If you've built up context in OpenClaw, export your conversation history and key documents. Kiyomi can ingest markdown files, JSON, or plain text to rebuild your memory.

Step 2: Set Up Kiyomi Presets

Instead of custom system prompts in OpenClaw, create Kiyomi presets. Each preset defines an agent personality and workflow. You can replicate your OpenClaw agents as Kiyomi presets in under an hour.

Step 3: Choose Your Models

Decide which models you want to use. Kiyomi Free uses Gemini. Kiyomi Pro gives you access to Claude, GPT-4, and Gemini. No API keys required.

Step 4: Run Locally or Deploy

Kiyomi runs locally (Mac, Linux, Windows). If you need 24/7 uptime, you can deploy to a VPS, but most users just run it on their laptop.

Step 5: Test and Iterate

Test your workflows in Kiyomi. Refine your presets. Adjust memory settings. Most users are fully migrated within a week.

Pricing Reality Check

Let's talk actual costs.

OpenClaw

Free software, but you pay for API usage. Based on user reports:

Plus server costs if you're hosting it ($5-50/mo depending on your VPS).

Kiyomi

No usage-based billing. No surprise API charges. No server costs (runs locally).

If you're currently spending $200+/mo on OpenClaw API usage, switching to Kiyomi Pro saves you $2,292 per year.

Security Considerations

OpenClaw's CVE-2026-25253 was a wake-up call for a lot of teams. Here's how Kiyomi approaches security differently.

Local-First Architecture

Kiyomi stores all data locally by default. Your conversations, memory files, and documents never touch Kiyomi's servers. This eliminates entire classes of vulnerabilities related to cloud storage and API exposure.

No Public Control Panels

OpenClaw exposed 42,000 control panels because it was designed for web-based access. Kiyomi runs as a local app or Telegram bot. There's no web interface to expose.

API Key Isolation

You never see or handle API keys directly. Kiyomi manages them server-side. Even if your device is compromised, your API keys aren't exposed because they're not stored locally.

Encrypted Memory (Optional)

Kiyomi Pro supports encrypted local memory. Your SQLite database can be encrypted at rest, so even if someone steals your laptop, they can't read your AI memory without your passphrase.

When You Should Stick With OpenClaw

Kiyomi isn't for everyone. Here's when OpenClaw is still the better choice.

You Need Full Infrastructure Control

OpenClaw is open source and self-hosted. You control the entire stack. If you need custom middleware, database integrations, or specific security policies, OpenClaw gives you that flexibility.

You Have DevOps Resources

If you have a team that can configure, monitor, and maintain OpenClaw properly (including securing those control panels), you get more customization options than Kiyomi offers.

You Want to Use Proprietary Models

OpenClaw supports any model with an API. If you're using a proprietary in-house model or a niche provider, OpenClaw can integrate with it. Kiyomi only supports Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, and Codex.

For everyone else—individuals, small teams, businesses that want predictable costs and zero DevOps—Kiyomi is the better choice.

Try Kiyomi free for 7 days. No credit card required. See if fixed pricing, local-first memory, and zero API key management work better for your workflow.