Kimi Claw: OpenClaw Now Runs Inside Kimi.ai With No VPS Required

Kimi Claw solves the same problem Emergent solved when it launched: most developers who want OpenClaw capabilities do not want to manage a VPS. The self-hosted path requires Node.js 22+, a cloud server, terminal familiarity, and an hour of configuration before the agent does anything useful. Kimi Claw removes all of that by deploying OpenClaw inside kimi.com, accessible from a browser tab with no infrastructure setup.

What makes Kimi Claw distinct from Emergent is the scale of the skill library. The standard self-hosted ClawdHub has around 700 community skills. Emergent offers a curated pre-vetted selection. Kimi Claw launches with 5,000+ skills in its ClawHub library, which at beta launch is the largest community skill collection in the OpenClaw ecosystem. For users who run automation pipelines built around specific niche skills, the broader library matters.

The 40GB cloud storage included with Kimi Claw addresses a real friction point in cloud OpenClaw workflows: agent outputs, scraped data, processed files, and downloaded documents accumulate quickly. Self-hosted deployments solve this by using VPS disk space. Emergent handles storage on a plan-dependent basis. Kimi Claw bundles 40GB directly into the subscription, which covers most individual automation workloads without requiring external storage configuration.

Pro-Grade Search gives Kimi Claw access to live financial data from Yahoo Finance and similar sources. This is a differentiated capability not present in standard OpenClaw: self-hosted users can add financial data access via custom skills, but Kimi Claw bakes it in. For users building automation around market data, news monitoring, or financial research pipelines, this removes a skill-building step entirely.

The Bring Your Own Claw feature deserves attention. It means existing self-hosted OpenClaw users do not have to choose between their current setup and Kimi Claw. You can connect your own OpenClaw instance to kimi.com and use the kimi.com interface as a front-end, or bridge it to Telegram groups via Kimi's integration layer. This hybrid approach is unusual in the cloud-deployment space: Emergent replaces the self-hosted deployment rather than layering on top of it.

Kimi Claw and Emergent both solve the "OpenClaw without a VPS" problem, but they prioritise different things and come from very different company backgrounds.

Emergent is a Y Combinator-backed startup based in the US. Its cloud OpenClaw deployment focuses on security: AES-256 encrypted credential storage, sandboxed skill execution, and a pre-vetted skills library where third-party skills are reviewed before listing. For professional or enterprise users where data security and company jurisdiction matter, Emergent's US-based infrastructure and documented security certifications are meaningful. The free tier (5 credits/month) provides a genuine entry point for testing before committing to the $20/month Standard plan.

Kimi Claw is built by Moonshot AI, a Chinese AI company backed by Alibaba and operating under Chinese data law. For individual developers running personal automation workflows, this distinction may be irrelevant. For teams automating workflows that involve sensitive credentials, customer data, or proprietary business information, data jurisdiction is a decision point worth considering explicitly. Kimi Claw is in beta, so its full security documentation and data handling policies are not yet publicly detailed.

Where Kimi Claw currently leads over Emergent: skill volume (5,000+ vs a curated pre-vetted library), built-in Yahoo Finance search that requires no custom skill setup, and the Bring Your Own Claw option for users who want to keep their self-hosted instance. Where Emergent currently leads: established security certifications, longer production track record, US data jurisdiction, and a transparent pricing structure that does not require reaching a specific membership tier.

The practical recommendation for most developers in early 2026: if you are just getting started with cloud OpenClaw and want the lowest possible barrier to entry with clear security properties, Emergent's free tier is the right starting point. If you are already a Kimi.ai user, want the largest skill library, or have financial data automation use cases where the Yahoo Finance integration is directly useful, Kimi Claw's beta is worth requesting access to. They are not mutually exclusive, and the Bring Your Own Claw feature means running both with a shared underlying OpenClaw instance is technically possible.

Kimi Claw's beta is currently restricted to Allegretto members and above on the Kimi.ai platform. Kimi.ai uses a tiered membership system for its premium features, with Allegretto being one of the paid subscription levels. As of the February 15, 2026 launch announcement, the exact pricing for the Allegretto tier had not been published in English-language documentation.

What is confirmed from the launch announcement: Allegretto is not the entry-level paid tier. The phrase "Allegretto members and above" suggests there are lower paid tiers that do not qualify for the Kimi Claw beta, meaning access currently requires a mid-range or higher subscription. For developers interested in Kimi Claw specifically, the path is to check the current membership options at kimi.com and determine whether the Allegretto tier pricing makes sense compared to Emergent's $20/month Standard plan.

The beta restriction is a standard launch pattern for features from AI companies: restrict initial access to engaged, higher-tier users, gather feedback, and expand gradually. Based on how similar beta rollouts have worked in this space (including OpenClaw itself), broader access is likely within weeks to months of the initial announcement. If Kimi Claw pricing for general access lands below Emergent's $20/month while providing more skills and storage, it will be a direct competitive pressure on Emergent in the cloud OpenClaw space.

For users who want cloud OpenClaw today without waiting for Kimi Claw's broader availability, Emergent remains the established option with immediate free tier access. Use code AITOOLDISCOVERY5 for 5% off any Emergent plan.