# Messaging

How Claude Code sends and receives messages, compared to OpenClaw.

## Three ways to reach Claude Code from your phone

| Method | How it works | Best for |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| **Channels** | Chat apps push events into a running session | iMessage, Telegram, Discord |
| **Dispatch** | Send a task from the Claude mobile app | Quick delegation |
| **Remote Control** | Steer an active session from phone/browser | Guiding in-progress work |

See `channels-setup.md` for the definitive guide to all three.

## Supported channels (native, event-based)

| Channel | Plugin | Platform | Since |
|---------|--------|----------|-------|
| Telegram | `@anthropic-ai/claude-code-telegram` | Any OS | v2.1.80 |
| Discord | `@anthropic-ai/claude-code-discord` | Any OS | v2.1.80 |
| iMessage | `@anthropic-ai/claude-code-imessage` | macOS only | v2.1.87 |

All three follow the same pattern: install plugin, launch with
`claude --channels`, receive and respond to messages.

**Permission approval from phone:** When Claude needs to run a
sensitive action, it sends a permission request through the
channel. Reply "yes" or "no" from your phone.

## MCP servers for other channels

For channels not yet supported natively, use MCP servers:

| Channel | MCP Server | Notes |
|---------|-----------|-------|
| Slack | `@modelcontextprotocol/slack` | Official, well-maintained |
| Email | SMTP/IMAP MCP servers | Several community options |

See `slack-setup.md` for a complete Slack walkthrough.

## Setup guides in this directory

| File | What it covers |
|------|---------------|
| `channels-setup.md` | General channels guide + Dispatch/RC comparison |
| `imessage-setup.md` | iMessage-specific setup (macOS) |
| `telegram-channels-setup.md` | Telegram-specific setup |
| `slack-setup.md` | Slack via MCP server |

## The critical limitation

**If the Claude Code session closes, channels stop working.**
This is the biggest practical difference from OpenClaw's
always-on daemon. See `channels-setup.md` for workarounds
(tmux, Mac Mini, VPS).

## OpenClaw comparison

OpenClaw ships with 15+ channel connectors: WhatsApp, Telegram,
Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, IRC, Matrix, Teams, and more.
Each is plug-and-play with YAML configuration.

Claude Code has 3 native channels (Telegram, Discord, iMessage)
plus MCP servers for Slack and others. The gap is narrowing but
OpenClaw still has broader multi-channel coverage.

Where Claude Code wins: security. OpenClaw's community skills
(12% malicious per Cisco research) and CVE-2026-25253 highlight
real risks. Claude Code's permission model and marketplace review
process provide stronger guarantees for most users.