Understand MoltBot in 5 Minutes: Complete User Guide for the 60,000 Star Open Source AI Assistant

Want an AI assistant that can actually get things done? MoltBot is exactly that—an open-source project that doesn't just chat; it operates your system, browses the web, and manages files. It's basically "Claude with hands." In this post, we'll walk you through everything from installation and deployment to daily use.

Core Value: By the end of this article, you'll know how to install and configure MoltBot and understand how to integrate it with over 50 platforms to build your own all-in-one AI assistant.

What is MoltBot: A Deep Dive into the Open-Source AI Assistant

MoltBot (formerly Clawdbot) is an open-source personal AI assistant project created by the well-known developer Peter Steinberger. In January 2026, it was renamed from "Clawdbot" to "MoltBot" due to trademark requirements from Anthropic—the name refers to the process of a lobster shedding its shell (molting).

The Evolution of MoltBot

Key Capabilities at a Glance

MoltBot exploded in popularity because it actually delivers on the vision of an "AI assistant that can get things done":

🎯 Technical Insight: MoltBot is essentially an AI Agent framework that gives Large Language Models like Claude "hands and eyes." If you're interested in the technical implementation of AI Agents, you can experiment by connecting to the Claude API via the APIYI (apiyi.com) platform.

MoltBot Platform Support: 50+ Channels Covered

One of MoltBot's standout features is its support for nearly every mainstream messaging platform, so you can summon your AI assistant no matter where you are.

Core Supported Platforms

Specialty Feature Channels

MoltBot goes beyond simple chat by offering more dynamic ways to interact:

• Voice Interaction: Native voice support for macOS, iOS, and Android.
• Canvas Rendering: A real-time visual canvas that supports chart drawing.
• Menu Bar App: A dedicated macOS status bar entry for quick access.
• Mobile Nodes: Companion applications for iOS and Android.

MoltBot Installation & Deployment: A Complete Beginner's Guide

System Requirements

Before you start the installation, please make sure your device meets the following requirements:

Important Note: You don't need Apple Silicon! No unified memory architecture required! A regular Linux or Windows machine is more than enough.

Option 1: CLI Installation (Recommended)

# 使用 npm 全局安装
npm install -g moltbot@latest

# 或使用 pnpm
pnpm add -g moltbot@latest

# 运行安装向导
moltbot onboard --install-daemon

🚀 Quick Start: The installation wizard will guide you through the configuration of the Gateway, Workspace, Channels, and Skills. If you're planning to use the Claude API as MoltBot's brain, we recommend using the APIYI platform to get your API Key—it makes the setup much simpler.

Option 2: Docker Deployment

# 克隆仓库
git clone https://github.com/moltbot/moltbot.git
cd moltbot

# 运行 Docker 安装脚本
./docker-setup.sh

version: '3.8'

services:
  moltbot-gateway:
    image: moltbot/gateway:latest
    container_name: moltbot-gateway
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ./config:/app/config
      - ./workspace:/app/workspace
      - ./data:/app/data
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production
      - ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}
      - OPENAI_API_KEY=${OPENAI_API_KEY}
      # 推荐使用 APIYI 统一接口
      - OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://api.apiyi.com/v1
    networks:
      - moltbot-network

  moltbot-worker:
    image: moltbot/worker:latest
    container_name: moltbot-worker
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - moltbot-gateway
    volumes:
      - ./workspace:/app/workspace
    environment:
      - GATEWAY_URL=http://moltbot-gateway:3000
    networks:
      - moltbot-network

networks:
  moltbot-network:
    driver: bridge

Option 3: One-Click Cloud Deployment

For those who'd rather not mess around with their own servers, MoltBot supports one-click deployment on several cloud platforms:

MoltBot Configuration Guide: Deep Dive into Core Settings

Initial Setup

Once the installation is finished, run the following command to initialize your configuration:

# 基础初始化
moltbot setup

# 指定工作空间路径
moltbot setup --workspace ~/moltbot-workspace

# 启动配置向导
moltbot setup --wizard

Configuration File Structure

You'll find MoltBot's configuration file at ~/.moltbot/moltbot.json:

{
  "gateway": {
    "port": 3000,
    "host": "localhost"
  },
  "ai": {
    "provider": "anthropic",
    "model": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
    "apiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "baseUrl": "https://api.apiyi.com/v1"
  },
  "channels": {
    "discord": {
      "enabled": true,
      "token": "YOUR_DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN"
    },
    "telegram": {
      "enabled": true,
      "token": "YOUR_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN"
    }
  },
  "skills": {
    "browser": true,
    "shell": true,
    "canvas": true,
    "cron": true
  },
  "memory": {
    "persistent": true,
    "maxTokens": 100000
  }
}

💡 Config Tip: Your choice of AI model directly impacts how "smart" MoltBot behaves. Claude Sonnet 4 is currently the best bang for your buck, but if you need even more advanced reasoning, Claude Opus 4 is the way to go. You can easily switch between different models via APIYI.

Setting up a Discord Bot

Discord is one of the most popular platforms for interacting with MoltBot:

Step 1: Head over to the Discord Developer Portal and create an application.

Step 2: Grab your Token from the Bot page.

Step 3: Configure permissions (Recommended settings):

Step 4: Update your config file and restart the bot.

moltbot restart

MoltBot Price Analysis: Detailed Operating Costs

MoltBot itself is a completely free open-source project, but in practice, you'll encounter the following costs during use:

MoltBot Monthly Cost Breakdown Typical usage scenario: Moderate use ($25-70/month)

Total $47/mo

AI API Fees 65% Claude/GPT API calls: $30-35/mo Optimize via API Yi apiyi.com

Server Hosting 20% VPS or cloud platform: $10-15/mo $0 if running locally

Storage 10% Conversation history & files: $5/mo Regular cleanup recommended

Bandwidth 5% Network transfer: $2-3/mo Usually covered by free tier

MoltBot is free & open source. Above costs are for infrastructure and AI services. Data: API Yi apiyi.com

Cost Breakdown Analysis

AI API Fee Details

This is the main cost of running MoltBot:

💰 Cost Optimization: For individual users, using Claude 3.5 Haiku for daily chats and switching to Sonnet only for complex tasks can keep your monthly bill under $10. Accessing these via APIYI (apiyi.com) offers more flexible billing options.

Cost Estimates for Typical Scenarios

MoltBot Practical Tips: 10 High-Efficiency Use Cases

Scenario 1: Automated Daily Report Generation

Let MoltBot automatically summarize your work progress every day:

You: @MoltBot Set a reminder for me to write my daily report every evening at 6 PM, and help me generate a draft based on today's Git commits.

MoltBot: Sure, I've set up the scheduled task. I will:
1. Trigger a reminder at 18:00 every day.
2. Read the Git logs for the day.
3. Generate a daily report draft for you to edit.

Scenario 2: Smart File Organization

You: Help me organize the files from last week in my Downloads folder into directories by file type.

MoltBot: Scanning ~/Downloads...
Found 47 files. Organizing them based on the following rules:
- 12 Images → ~/Pictures/2026-01
- 8 Documents → ~/Documents/2026-01
- 15 Archives → ~/Archives
- 12 Others → Staying in place
Confirm execution?

Scenario 3: Code Review Assistant

You: Review the PR #123 I just submitted.

MoltBot: Analyzing PR #123...

Found the following issues:
1. src/utils.js:45 - Possible memory leak.
2. src/api.js:78 - Missing error handling.
3. tests/ - New features are missing test cases.

Suggestions:
- Wrap async calls with try-catch.
- Add edge case tests.

More Use Cases

MoltBot Safety Considerations

Known Security Risks

Since MoltBot is an AI assistant with system permissions, security is absolutely critical:

Security Configuration Recommendations

{
  "security": {
    "allowedCommands": ["ls", "cat", "grep", "find"],
    "blockedPaths": ["/etc", "/var", "~/.ssh"],
    "maxFileSize": "10MB",
    "requireConfirmation": true
  }
}

⚠️ Security Reminder: Don't expose the MoltBot Gateway directly to the public internet. If you need remote access, use a VPN or configure a reverse proxy with authentication.

FAQ

MoltBot Summary & Recommendations

MoltBot represents a new direction for personal AI assistants—evolving from "just chatting" to "actually getting things done." Its core strengths include:

1. Fully Open Source: Transparent code that's freely customizable.
2. Local Execution: Your data privacy is guaranteed.
3. Multi-platform Support: 50+ channels so you can use it anywhere.
4. System-level Capabilities: Complete control over your Shell, browser, and files.

Tips for Getting Started

We recommend using APIYI (apiyi.com) to access the Claude API as MoltBot's intelligent core. The platform provides a unified interface and supports quick model switching, making it easy to find the configuration that best fits your workflow.

References

1. GitHub – MoltBot: Official open-source repository

   • Link: github.com/moltbot/moltbot
   • Description: Full source code, installation docs, and issue discussions.

2. MoltBot Official Documentation: Detailed configuration and usage guides

   • Link: docs.molt.bot
   • Description: The latest documentation maintained by the official team.

3. Hostinger VPS Installation Tutorial: Cloud server deployment guide

   • Link: hostinger.com/support/how-to-install-clawdbot-on-hostinger-vps
   • Description: Detailed steps for VPS deployment.

4. MacStories Deep Dive: MoltBot user experience

   • Link: macstories.net/stories/clawdbot-showed-me-what-the-future-of-personal-ai-assistants-looks-like
   • Description: A detailed review from a professional tech media outlet.

Author: APIYI Team | For more AI tech insights, visit APIYI at apiyi.com

Updated: January 2026