Best AI API for ClawdBot (2026)
ClawdBot needs an AI brain. Here's how to choose the right one for your needs and budget.
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links.
Our Top Pick: Anthropic Claude
Good compatibility with ClawdBot. Most users spend $5-15/month with normal usage.
Get Claude API Key →Quick Comparison
| Provider | Best Model | Cost/Message* | Quality | Runs Local |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic Claude | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | ~$0.01-0.03 | Excellent | No |
| OpenAI | GPT-4o | ~$0.01-0.03 | Excellent | No |
| Gemini Pro | ~$0.005-0.02 | Very Good | No | |
| Ollama (Local) | Llama 3.1 70B | $0 (free) | Good | Yes |
*Estimated cost per typical ClawdBot message exchange
Detailed Reviews
1. Anthropic Claude - Best Overall
Recommended for: Most users, especially those who value reasoning quality
Why we recommend Claude:
- ClawdBot was built with Claude in mind
- Excellent at following complex instructions
- Strong reasoning for multi-step tasks
- Good at refusing harmful requests while being helpful
- 200K context window (remembers long conversations)
Estimated Monthly Cost
Light usage (10 messages/day): ~$5/month
Normal usage (30 messages/day): ~$15/month
Heavy usage (100+ messages/day): ~$40-50/month
Models available:
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet - Best balance (recommended)
- Claude 3 Haiku - Faster, cheaper for simple tasks
- Claude 3 Opus - Largest model, for complex tasks
2. OpenAI GPT - Strong Alternative
Recommended for: Users who prefer GPT or need specific OpenAI features
Strengths:
- Excellent quality, especially GPT-4o
- Huge ecosystem and community
- Good at creative tasks
- Fast response times
Estimated Monthly Cost
Similar to Claude: ~$5-50/month depending on usage
Models available:
- GPT-4o - Best balance (recommended)
- GPT-4o mini - Cheaper for simple tasks
- GPT-4 Turbo - More capable, higher cost
3. Ollama (Local Models) - Best for Local Use
Recommended for: Users who want to run AI locally, developers, those with good hardware
Strengths:
- Free - no API costs
- Runs on your machine
- Works offline
- No rate limits
Requirements:
- 16GB+ RAM minimum (32GB recommended)
- Modern CPU (M1+ Mac or recent Intel/AMD)
- Optional: GPU with 8GB+ VRAM for faster inference
Cost
API costs: $0/month
Hardware: One-time investment ($0 if you have suitable computer)
Recommended models:
- Llama 3.1 8B - Good quality, runs on most machines
- Llama 3.1 70B - Excellent quality, needs 64GB+ RAM or good GPU
- Mistral 7B - Fast, efficient, good for simple tasks
# Install Ollama
curl -fsSL https://ollama.ai/install.sh | sh
# Download a model
ollama pull llama3.1
# Configure ClawdBot to use it
clawdbot config set provider ollama
clawdbot config set model llama3.1Feature Comparison
| Feature | Claude | GPT | Ollama |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClawdBot Compatibility | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Reasoning Quality | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Speed | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Runs Locally | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | $$ | $$ | Free |
| Offline Support | No | No | Yes |
Our Recommendation by Use Case
Ollama Local
Free, runs locally, works offline. Needs decent hardware.
Download Free