e8a5403f91
Major update based on Anthropic's March 24, 2026 releases: - feature-map.md: expanded from 20 to 22 capabilities, gaps reduced from 2 to 1 (only Canvas/A2UI remains) - examples/11-computer-use: desktop control via screenshots and clicks - examples/12-remote-control: /rc and Dispatch for phone control - examples/13-auto-mode: AI safety classifier for autonomous execution - cowork-integration/: how Code + Cowork + Dispatch together replicate OpenClaw's full feature set - security/auto-mode-explained.md: deep-dive on the new permission mode - Updated README with broader ecosystem table and revised scores Score: 12 full match (55%), 9 different approach (41%), 1 gap (4%) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
120 lines
5.9 KiB
Markdown
120 lines
5.9 KiB
Markdown
# OpenClaw vs Claude Code: Complete Feature Map
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Every major OpenClaw capability, mapped to its Claude Code equivalent.
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Updated March 2026 to include Auto Mode, Computer Use, Remote Control,
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and Dispatch.
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## Verdict legend
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| Icon | Verdict | Meaning |
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|------|---------|---------|
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| ✅ | Full match | Claude Code achieves the same outcome |
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| ~ | Different approach | Achievable but requires more setup or different architecture |
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| ❌ | Gap | Not possible today without significant workarounds |
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## The map (22 capabilities)
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| # | Capability | OpenClaw | Claude Code Ecosystem | Verdict |
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|---|-----------|----------|----------------------|---------|
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| 1 | Agent Runtime | Long-running daemon, tool exec, streaming | CLI agent loop + Auto Mode (AI safety classifier) | ✅ |
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| 2 | Shell Execution | `exec` tool, PTY, background, elevated | Bash tool + Auto Mode (no manual approvals) | ✅ |
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| 3 | File I/O | read, write, edit, apply_patch | Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep | ✅ |
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| 4 | Web Search | Brave Search, Firecrawl fallback | WebSearch + WebFetch (built-in) | ✅ |
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| 5 | Browser | CDP/Playwright, screenshots, act | Playwright MCP + Computer Use (Desktop) | ✅ |
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| 6 | Computer Use | Browser + desktop app control | Computer Use in CC Desktop + Cowork (research preview) | ✅ |
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| 7 | Memory | Daily logs + vector search | CLAUDE.md hierarchy + auto-memory | ~ |
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| 8 | Multi-Agent | Sub-agents, mesh, agent-to-agent | Agent Teams, SendMessage, worktree | ✅ |
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| 9 | Messaging/Remote | 15+ native channels | MCP + Telegram (v2.1.80) + Remote Control (/rc) + Dispatch | ~ |
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| 10 | Model Providers | 20+ providers, failover | Opus/Sonnet/Haiku + overrides | ~ |
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| 11 | Cron/Automation | HEARTBEAT.md, cron, webhooks | /loop, CronCreate, /schedule, hooks | ✅ |
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| 12 | Always-On | Daemon process, 24/7 | Headless on VPS + Cowork "keep awake" + /schedule | ~ |
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| 13 | Plugin System | openclaw.plugin.json, 20+ hooks | plugin.json, hooks, commands, agents | ✅ |
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| 14 | Skills | SKILL.md, ClawHub (5,700+) | Skills + marketplace (2,300+) | ✅ |
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| 15 | Security | Docker sandbox, DM pairing | Permission modes + Auto Mode classifier + hooks | ~ |
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| 16 | Voice/TTS | Talk Mode, wake word | Via MCP/scripts (not built-in) | ~ |
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| 17 | Companion Apps | macOS, iOS, Android native | Desktop, VS Code, JetBrains, Web, Dispatch (mobile) | ~ |
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| 18 | Gateway | WebSocket server, Control UI | Remote Control (/rc) + Dispatch (partial) | ~ |
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| 19 | Canvas/A2UI | Agent-driven HTML workspace | HTML generation + Playwright preview | ❌ |
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| 20 | Configuration | JSON5, hot-reload, profiles | settings.json hierarchy, CLAUDE.md | ✅ |
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| 21 | Chat Commands | /status, /model, /think, /mesh | Built-in + custom skills | ✅ |
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| 22 | CLI | onboard, gateway, tui, doctor | claude CLI with subcommands | ✅ |
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## Score
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| Verdict | Count | % |
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|---------|-------|---|
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| ✅ Full match | 12 | 55% |
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| ~ Different approach | 9 | 41% |
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| ❌ Gap | 1 | 4% |
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## What changed from the initial assessment
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The initial feature map (20 rows, 2 gaps) was based on Claude Code
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CLI alone. This updated map adds:
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- **Computer Use** (row 6): New capability. Claude Code Desktop and
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Cowork can control your screen, click, type, navigate apps. This
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matches OpenClaw's browser + desktop control.
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- **Always-On** (row 12): Explicitly broken out. OpenClaw runs as a
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daemon. Claude Code achieves persistence through headless VPS
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deployment, Cowork's "keep awake" mode, and /schedule for remote
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triggers. Different architecture, same outcome.
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- **Gateway** (row 18): Upgraded from Gap to Different approach.
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Remote Control (/rc) lets you control a CC session from phone or
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browser. Dispatch (Cowork) adds mobile task assignment. Together
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they cover the phone-control use case, though not the programmable
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HTTP API.
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- **Auto Mode** (rows 1, 2, 15): The AI safety classifier (Sonnet 4.6)
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reviews every tool call. 0.4% false positive rate. This eliminates
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the constant approval prompts that made CC feel less autonomous than
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OpenClaw's daemon mode.
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## The remaining gap
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**Canvas/A2UI (❌):** OpenClaw's canvas is an interactive,
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agent-driven HTML/CSS/JS workspace served by the gateway. Claude Code
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can generate HTML files and preview them via Playwright or Computer
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Use, but there is no persistent, interactive canvas surface. Artifacts
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in claude.ai are the closest equivalent but are not available in
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Claude Code.
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## The broader ecosystem
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Claude Code is one part of Anthropic's answer to OpenClaw.
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The full picture:
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| Product | Role | OpenClaw equivalent |
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|---------|------|-------------------|
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| Claude Code (CLI) | Developer agent, terminal | OpenClaw core agent |
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| Claude Code Desktop | Desktop app with computer use | OpenClaw + macOS app |
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| Cowork | Non-technical agent, connectors | OpenClaw for non-developers |
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| Dispatch | Mobile task assignment | Telegram/WhatsApp channels |
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| /schedule | Remote triggers via claude.ai | HEARTBEAT.md cron |
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| Agent SDK | Programmatic control, CI/CD | OpenClaw API |
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This repo focuses on Claude Code (CLI + Desktop) because it gives
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you the most control. But Cowork + Dispatch are relevant alternatives
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for use cases that do not require terminal access.
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## Version requirements
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Minimum Claude Code version for full coverage: **v2.1.86**
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| Feature | Version | OpenClaw equivalent |
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|---------|---------|-------------------|
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| Agent Teams | v2.1.32 | Multi-agent mesh |
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| Auto-memory | v2.1.32 | Vector memory |
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| Background agents | v2.1.49 | Sub-agent spawning |
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| Worktree isolation | v2.1.50 | Agent sandboxing |
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| HTTP hooks | v2.1.63 | Webhook integrations |
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| /loop + CronCreate | v2.1.71 | HEARTBEAT.md + cron |
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| disallowedTools | v2.1.78 | Tool deny lists |
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| Channels + Telegram | v2.1.80 | Multi-channel messaging |
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| Permission relay | v2.1.81 | DM approval |
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| managed-settings.d | v2.1.84 | Enterprise policy |
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| Auto Mode | v2.1.86 | Autonomous execution |
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| Computer Use | v2.1.86 | Desktop control |
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| Remote Control (/rc) | v2.1.85 | Phone access |
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