Molty, Moltbot, MoltyBot: Same Family, Different Things
If you have searched for "Moltybot" or "Moltbot" and ended up confused, you are not alone. The naming has gone through several iterations, and this post clears it all up.
Here is the short version:
- OpenClaw (formerly Moltbot, formerly Clawdbot) is the open-source AI assistant framework
- Molty (or Molty AI) is the managed cloud platform built on OpenClaw, operated by Finna
- MoltyBot is a common misspelling that people use to refer to either one
The Naming History
The project started as Clawdbot, an open-source personal AI assistant. It gained traction in the developer community but ran into trademark issues. The project was renamed to Moltbot, which stuck for several months and is how many people first discovered it.
In January 2026, the project underwent its final rename to OpenClaw. This name reflects the open-source nature of the project and avoids the trademark issues that plagued earlier names. The "claw" in OpenClaw is a nod to the original Clawdbot name.
Throughout all of this, the managed platform has been called Molty (or Molty AI, or Molty by Finna). This name did not change with the OpenClaw rebrand because Molty is a product, not the open-source project itself.
OpenClaw: The Open-Source Framework
OpenClaw is:
- Free and open source (MIT license)
- A Node.js service you run on your own server
- The AI agent engine that connects to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and other channels
- Maintained by the community with major contributions from Finna
If you are technical and want full control, you download OpenClaw and run it yourself. You manage the server, updates, security, and uptime.
Molty: The Managed Platform
Molty AI is:
- A paid managed service ($29/month)
- Built on OpenClaw under the hood
- Operated by Finna with dedicated VMs per user
- No server management, automatic updates, built-in security
If you want the power of OpenClaw without the operational work, Molty is the managed option. Sign up, connect your channels, and start messaging.
Why the Names Overlap
People refer to the AI assistant itself as "Molty" regardless of whether they are using the self-hosted OpenClaw or the managed Molty platform. This is similar to how people say "Docker" to mean both the open-source container runtime and Docker Desktop, the commercial product.
The confusion is natural and mostly harmless. If someone says "I use Moltybot" or "I have a Moltbot," they almost certainly mean one of:
- They self-host OpenClaw (the open-source version)
- They use Molty by Finna (the managed platform)
- They are referring to the project generally
Which One Should You Use?
Choose Molty (managed) if:
- You want to get started quickly without managing servers
- You prefer someone else handling updates and security
- You do not have strong opinions about where the server runs
- You want a dashboard for configuration instead of editing config files
Choose OpenClaw (self-hosted) if:
- You want full control over the infrastructure
- You have specific compliance requirements for where data lives
- You enjoy running your own services
- You want to modify the source code
Both options give you the same AI assistant capabilities: multi-channel messaging, web browsing, file management, scheduled tasks, and tool use. The difference is who manages the infrastructure.
Still Confused?
The simplest mental model: OpenClaw is WordPress, Molty is WordPress.com. One is the software you can run anywhere. The other is the hosted service where someone runs it for you.