Option A: OpenRouter Recommended
OpenRouter is a single gateway that gives your agent access to 300+ AI models from every major provider (Google, Anthropic, OpenAI, and more) through one account and one API key. You can start cheap and upgrade models anytime without changing anything on the server.
Why OpenRouter?
- One account, all models — switch between cheap and premium models anytime
- Pay-as-you-go — prepaid credits, no surprise bills
- Budget controls — set spending limits per API key
- Best value — start with Gemini Flash at ~$0.50/$3 per million tokens, upgrade to Claude Sonnet only if needed
Step 1: Create an OpenRouter Account
- Go to openrouter.ai
- Click Sign Up (top right) — you can use email or Google
- Verify your email if prompted
Step 2: Add Credits
- Once logged in, go to openrouter.ai/credits
- Add credits via credit card (minimum $5)
- I recommend starting with $20 — this will last a while on budget models
Credits don't expire and are deducted automatically as the agent uses them. You can top up anytime.
Step 3: Create an API Key
- Go to openrouter.ai/settings/keys
- Click Create Key
- Name it something like "OpenClaw Agent"
- Set a credit limit — I recommend $20/month to start as a safety net
- Copy the key immediately — it starts with
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Step 4: Send Me the Key
I'll configure your agent with the key securely on your server. After setup, you can monitor your usage at openrouter.ai/activity.
What Model Will My Agent Use?
Your agent will start on Google Gemini Flash, which handles most everyday agent tasks well and is very affordable. Here's how the models compare:
| Model | Cost (per 1M tokens in/out) | Monthly Estimate* | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3 Flash | $0.50 / $3.00 | ~$5–15/mo | Daily tasks, conversation, research |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | $1.00 / $5.00 | ~$10–25/mo | Better reasoning, still affordable |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3.00 / $15.00 | ~$30–90/mo | Complex tasks, best quality |
| DeepSeek V3.2 | $0.14 / $0.28 | ~$2–5/mo | Cheapest capable option |
*Estimates based on moderate agent usage (research, messaging, scheduling tasks). Actual costs depend on how actively the agent is used.
The bottom line: Gemini Flash gives you 80–90% of the quality at roughly 10% of the cost of premium models. If we find it's not handling certain tasks well enough, we can upgrade to Haiku or Sonnet anytime — it's just a config change on the server, no action needed from you.
Option B: Direct Anthropic API Premium
If you want the best possible AI quality and don't mind higher costs, you can go directly with Anthropic's Claude. This is the model OpenClaw was originally built for, so tool use and instruction following are top-notch.
Step 1: Create an Anthropic Account
- Go to console.anthropic.com
- Click Sign Up
- Create an account with your email (or sign in with Google)
Step 2: Add a Payment Method
- Once logged in, click Settings in the left sidebar
- Go to Billing
- Click Add Payment Method and enter a credit card
- Set a monthly spending limit — I recommend starting with $50/month as a safety net
The spending limit prevents unexpected charges. If the agent hits the limit, it pauses until the next billing cycle or until you raise the limit.
Step 3: Create an API Key
- In the left sidebar, click API Keys
- Click Create Key
- Give it a name like "OpenClaw Agent"
- Copy the key immediately — it starts with
sk-ant-and won't be shown again
Step 4: Send Me the Key
Same as above — I'll configure it securely on the server.
Anthropic Pricing
| Model | Cost (per 1M tokens in/out) | Monthly Estimate* |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3.00 / $15.00 | ~$30–90/mo |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | $1.00 / $5.00 | ~$10–25/mo |
| Claude Opus 4.6 | $5.00 / $25.00 | ~$50–150/mo |
My Recommendation
Start with Option A (OpenRouter) using Gemini Flash. It's the most cost-effective way to get up and running. Your agent will handle daily tasks well, and we can always upgrade the model later if needed. The switch takes minutes and requires no effort on your end.
If you're seeing costs you're uncomfortable with or want better quality for specific tasks, we can discuss upgrading — it's always just a model switch away.
Sending the Key Securely
Please don't send API keys over regular email or text. Use one of these:
- One-time secret link: Go to onetimesecret.com, paste the key, and send me the generated link
- Signal or WhatsApp disappearing messages
- We can do it together on a screen share — I'll walk you through pasting it directly into the config
Questions?
Reach out anytime. Once I have your API key, I'll have your agent configured and running within the hour.