OpenClaw API Integration Guide
Quick Answer: OpenClaw is a free, MIT-licensed platform that provides a local REST API, inbound webhook support, and outbound API capabilities through custom skills. Connect any app by: (1) using the REST API to trigger automations from your code, (2) setting up webhooks so external events trigger OpenClaw workflows, or (3) building custom skills that call external APIs. Authentication supports bearer tokens, API keys, OAuth 2.0, and custom headers.
This guide covers every integration pattern — from simple API triggers to complex multi-service workflows with error handling and rate limit management.
What Does the OpenClaw API Offer?
Local REST API
OpenClaw runs a REST API on your local machine (default port 18789). Trigger automations, manage skills, send messages, and query execution logs — all through standard HTTP requests with JSON payloads.
Inbound Webhooks
OpenClaw can receive webhooks from external services. When your CRM gets a new lead, your e-commerce platform receives an order, or your form gets a submission — OpenClaw triggers the appropriate automation instantly.
Outbound API Calls
Skills can make HTTP requests to any external API. Connect to CRMs, payment processors, email services, databases, and any service with an API. OpenClaw handles authentication, retries, and error handling.
MCP Protocol Support
OpenClaw supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for structured communication between AI models and external tools. MCP skills provide type-safe, discoverable integrations that LLMs can use directly.
What Authentication Methods Does OpenClaw Support?
OpenClaw supports multiple authentication methods for both inbound requests to its API and outbound calls to external services.
Bearer Token (Local API)
OpenClaw's local API uses bearer tokens. Generate a token from Settings, include it as 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' in request headers. Tokens can be scoped to specific permissions and rotated independently.
Best for: Accessing OpenClaw's own API from your applications
API Key Authentication
For connecting to external services that use API keys (most SaaS platforms). Store keys in OpenClaw's encrypted credential vault. Keys are injected into requests automatically — never exposed in logs or skill code.
Best for: Connecting to services like Stripe, SendGrid, Twilio
OAuth 2.0 Flow
Full OAuth 2.0 support for services requiring user authorization (Google, Microsoft, Salesforce). OpenClaw handles the authorization code flow, token refresh, and secure token storage automatically.
Best for: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, HubSpot
Custom Headers
For APIs with non-standard authentication. Define custom headers, query parameters, or request body fields for authentication. Supports any proprietary auth scheme your services require.
Best for: Internal APIs, legacy systems, custom auth schemes
What Are the Common API Patterns?
The most frequently used API endpoints and patterns. These cover 90% of integration needs.
Trigger an Automation via API
/api/automations/triggerSend a POST request to OpenClaw's /api/automations/trigger endpoint with the automation ID and any input data. The automation executes immediately and returns a run ID for tracking.
Send a Message Through a Channel
/api/messages/sendUse /api/messages/send to push a message through any connected channel (Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, email). Specify the channel, recipient, and message content.
Query Automation Logs
/api/logsGET /api/logs with optional filters (date range, automation ID, status). Returns execution history including inputs, outputs, duration, and error details for debugging.
List and Manage Skills
/api/skillsGET /api/skills lists installed skills. POST /api/skills/install installs from ClawHub. DELETE /api/skills/:id removes a skill. Useful for programmatic skill management.
Webhook Registration
/api/webhooksPOST /api/webhooks to register a new inbound webhook. Specify which automation to trigger and what data mapping to apply. Each webhook gets a unique URL for the external service to call.
How Do You Build Custom Integrations?
When existing ClawHub skills do not cover your use case, build a custom skill. Here is the process.
Step 1: Define the Skill Manifest
Create a SKILL.md file that describes your skill: name, version, description, triggers (what starts it), actions (what it does), and configuration schema (what settings users provide). This markdown-based manifest tells OpenClaw how to load and run your skill.
Step 2: Write the Skill Logic
Skills consist of SKILL.md files plus supporting code. Import the OpenClaw SDK, define handler functions for each trigger and action, and use the built-in HTTP client for API calls. The SDK provides helpers for credential access, logging, and error handling.
Step 3: Handle Authentication Securely
Never hardcode credentials. Use the SDK's credential store to access API keys and tokens. Define required credentials in your SKILL.md manifest so users configure them through OpenClaw's interface. The SDK encrypts all stored credentials.
Step 4: Implement Error Handling
External APIs fail. Networks time out. Rate limits hit. Your skill must handle these gracefully: retry with exponential backoff, provide clear error messages, and log failures for debugging. The SDK includes a retry utility.
Step 5: Test Locally and Publish
Use OpenClaw's skill development mode to test locally with hot reloading. Run your test suite. Once stable, publish to ClawHub for the community or keep it private. Private skills live in your local skills directory.
What Are Some Webhook Automation Examples?
Webhooks are the backbone of real-time integrations. External services push events to OpenClaw, which triggers the right automation immediately.
New CRM Lead
When your CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, GHL) creates a new lead, the webhook triggers OpenClaw to send a welcome message via Telegram, add the lead to a nurture sequence, and notify your sales team.
CRM webhook on lead creation
E-commerce Order
When Shopify or WooCommerce processes an order, the webhook triggers OpenClaw to send order confirmation via WhatsApp, update your inventory spreadsheet, and schedule a review request for 7 days later.
E-commerce webhook on order.created
Form Submission
When a contact form, survey, or application is submitted (Typeform, JotForm, Google Forms), the webhook triggers OpenClaw to qualify the lead, send a thank-you message, and create a CRM record.
Form provider webhook on submission
Payment Event
When Stripe processes a payment, refund, or subscription change, the webhook triggers OpenClaw to update the customer record, send appropriate notifications, and adjust pipeline stage in your CRM.
Stripe webhook on payment events
Calendar Booking
When someone books through Calendly or Cal.com, the webhook triggers OpenClaw to send a confirmation via the customer's preferred channel, add preparation notes, and set a reminder 24 hours before.
Calendar webhook on booking.created
What Are the Rate Limits and Best Practices?
OpenClaw's local API has no hard limits, but external services do. Here is what to plan for.
OpenClaw Local API
No hard limit (hardware-dependent)Typically handles 100+ requests/second on modern hardware. Bottleneck is usually the LLM API, not OpenClaw itself.
Claude API (Anthropic)
Varies by tier (40-4000 RPM)Use OpenClaw's request queue to smooth burst traffic. Cache common responses to reduce API calls.
GPT-4 API (OpenAI)
Varies by tier (500-10000 RPM)Monitor usage in OpenClaw's dashboard. Set up alerts for approaching limits. Consider batching non-urgent requests.
Telegram Bot API
30 msg/sec to different chatsOpenClaw queues outbound messages automatically. For broadcast scenarios, messages are sent with appropriate delays.
WhatsApp Business API
Provider-dependent (typically 80/sec)Rate limits depend on your API provider (Twilio, 360dialog). Configure the provider's limits in OpenClaw to prevent throttling.
Error Handling Best Practices
APIs fail. Networks time out. Services go down. Build resilient integrations with these practices.
- Implement exponential backoff for retries: 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s, then fail. OpenClaw's SDK includes a retry utility.
- Set reasonable timeouts: 10s for most APIs, 30s for LLM calls, 60s for file uploads. Never wait indefinitely.
- Log every failed request with the full error response. OpenClaw's automation log captures this automatically.
- Use circuit breakers: after 5 consecutive failures to an API, pause requests for 60 seconds before retrying.
- Return meaningful error messages to users. 'Payment processing failed, retrying in 30 seconds' beats 'Error 500'.
- Set up dead letter queues for webhook payloads that fail processing. Review and retry them manually.
- Monitor error rates per integration. A sudden spike in failures usually means an API change or credential expiry.
- Test failure scenarios: what happens when the LLM is down? When the CRM rate-limits you? When the webhook payload is malformed?
Frequently Asked Questions
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