Comparisons

Muse vs OpenClaw: Meta’s hosted agent or an open-source one you run yourself

Muse and OpenClaw are both personal agents that chat with you in WhatsApp and get things done. One is run by Meta on its own servers. The other is free, open-source software you install and look after yourself. You can also connect the two, by running Meta’s Muse Spark model inside OpenClaw.

By Published Facts checked 2026-10-08

Quick answer

Muse is hosted. OpenClaw is self-hosted. Muse runs on a private cloud computer that Meta manages. It has approvals, one-time card numbers and a free plan, but works only in the US and Canada. OpenClaw is free, open-source (MIT) software you install on your own Mac, Windows or Linux machine or a server. You bring your own AI model and API key, and your memory and credentials stay on your hardware. It also means you handle setup and security yourself. You can combine them: OpenClaw’s Meta plugin runs Muse Spark as OpenClaw’s model.

About this page

Not testedOpenClaw details come from its GitHub repository and documentation, plus a DigitalOcean guide, checked October 8, 2026. We haven’t run OpenClaw. Muse details also draw on our own tests. See how we label evidence.

Side by side

As described by Meta and the OpenClaw project (checked 2026-10-08)
 Muse (Meta)OpenClaw
What it isA personal AI agent run by Meta1An open-source agent you run yourself; “Your assistant, on your devices, in your chats”4
Who runs itMeta, on a private cloud computer per user (Muse Secure VM)2You, on macOS, Windows or Linux, or on a cloud server45
AI modelMeta’s Muse Spark1Your choice: bring your own API key, or run a local model5
Chat appsMuse app, muse.ai, Mac, iPad and WhatsApp1WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, Teams and 20+ more4
Where your data livesYour Muse VM on Meta’s servers; Meta says it can still access data “when necessary”3“State, memory, and credentials live on your hardware”4
PriceFree (weekly limit); Power $20/month; Maximum $100/month7Free software; you pay for model API use and any server5
SetupDownload the app or open muse.ai and sign inInstaller scripts or npm; Node.js required4
Safety featuresApprovals, a separate checker agent (Sentinel), a credential store the AI can’t read, one-time card numbers3Pairing approval for unknown senders; the project warns to “treat inbound messages as untrusted input”4
CountriesUS and Canada onlyNo country limits; depends on the model provider you use
LicenseProprietaryMIT4

The differences that matter

  1. Convenience vs control. Muse works as soon as you sign in. OpenClaw needs installing, a model key and ongoing upkeep, but every part is yours to change.
  2. Privacy model. With Muse, your data sits on Meta’s servers, and Meta says its current design “does not prevent Meta from accessing data when necessary.”3 OpenClaw keeps memory and credentials on your own machine. Whatever you send to your chosen model still goes to that provider.4
  3. Who’s responsible for safety. Meta built approvals, a checker agent and payment protections into Muse. With OpenClaw, security is mostly your job. Its README tells you to read the security guides before exposing it to the internet or to other people.4
  4. Where you live. Outside the US and Canada, Muse isn’t available. OpenClaw runs anywhere you can run it.

How to run Muse Spark inside OpenClaw

Not testedOpenClaw’s documentation describes an official Meta provider:6

  1. Get a Meta Model API keyCreate one in the Model API dashboard at dev.meta.ai. How to get a key.
  2. Install the pluginopenclaw plugins install @openclaw/meta-provider, then restart OpenClaw’s gateway.6
  3. Add your keyOpenClaw reads it from MODEL_API_KEY and calls https://api.meta.ai/v1 using the Responses API.6
  4. Pick a modelThe default is meta/muse-spark-1.3. 1.2, 1.1 and the cheaper “contributor” versions are also listed, with reasoning effort from minimal to xhigh.6

Two things to know. This gives OpenClaw Meta’s model, not the Muse app’s connectors, cloud computer or approvals. And the contributor versions let Meta train on your prompts and outputs. Model API prices.

Which should you choose?

You want an agent working in minutes, with guardrails
Muse, if you’re in the US or Canada. How to start.
You want your data and memory on your own hardware
OpenClaw, if you’re comfortable running and securing software yourself.
You’re outside the US and Canada
OpenClaw, or see other Muse alternatives.
You like Meta’s model but want your own setup
OpenClaw with the Meta provider and Muse Spark.

Sources

  1. Introducing Muse Meta Newsroom · Sept 8, 2026
  2. Muse home page Meta · checked Oct 8, 2026
  3. How we built safety into Muse Meta AI Research · Sept 8, 2026
  4. OpenClaw repository and README GitHub · checked Oct 8, 2026
  5. What is OpenClaw? DigitalOcean · checked Oct 8, 2026
  6. Meta provider OpenClaw docs · checked Oct 8, 2026
  7. About Muse subscriptions Meta Help Center

Last checked: 2026-10-08. Both projects move fast. Tell us if something’s changed.

Frequently asked questions

What is OpenClaw?

A free, open-source (MIT-licensed) personal AI agent that you run on your own computer or server. It connects an AI model of your choice to chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and Discord, and to your files and tools.45

Is Muse better than OpenClaw?

It depends on what you want to manage. Muse works out of the box, with Meta running the computer, approvals and payments for you, but only in the US and Canada. OpenClaw gives you full control and keeps data on your own hardware, but you set it up, choose a model and keep it secure yourself.

Can I use Muse Spark in OpenClaw?

Yes. OpenClaw has a Meta provider plugin, @openclaw/meta-provider, which uses Meta’s Model API with your MODEL_API_KEY. Its default model is meta/muse-spark-1.3. That gives OpenClaw Meta’s model, not the Muse app’s features.6

Is OpenClaw free?

The software is free and open source. You pay for the AI model you connect, through that provider’s API, plus any server you run it on.5