Chat channels

OpenClaw can talk to you on any chat app you already use. Each channel connects via the Gateway. Text is supported everywhere; media and reactions vary by channel.

iMessage, Telegram, and the WebChat UI ship with the core install. Channels marked "official plugin" install with one command (openclaw plugins install @openclaw/<id>) or on demand during openclaw onboard / openclaw channels add, then need a Gateway restart. "External plugin" channels are maintained outside the OpenClaw repo.

Supported channels

• Discord - Discord Bot API + Gateway; supports servers, channels, and DMs (official plugin).
• Feishu - Feishu/Lark bot via WebSocket (official plugin).
• Google Chat - Google Chat API app via HTTP webhook (official plugin).
• iMessage - Included in core. Native macOS integration via the imsg bridge on a signed-in Mac (or SSH wrapper when the Gateway runs elsewhere), including private API actions for replies, tapbacks, effects, attachments, and group management.
• IRC - Classic IRC servers; channels + DMs with pairing/allowlist controls (official plugin).
• LINE - LINE Messaging API bot (official plugin).
• Matrix - Matrix protocol (official plugin).
• Mattermost - Bot API + WebSocket; channels, groups, DMs (official plugin).
• Microsoft Teams - Bot Framework; enterprise support (official plugin).
• Nextcloud Talk - Self-hosted chat via Nextcloud Talk (official plugin).
• Nostr - Decentralized DMs via NIP-04 (official plugin).
• QQ Bot - QQ Bot API; private chat, group chat, and rich media (official plugin).
• Raft - Raft CLI wake bridge for human and agent collaboration (official plugin).
• Signal - signal-cli; privacy-focused (official plugin).
• Slack - Bolt SDK; workspace apps (official plugin).
• SMS - Twilio-backed SMS through the Gateway webhook (official plugin).
• Synology Chat - Synology NAS Chat via outgoing+incoming webhooks (official plugin).
• Telegram - Included in core. Bot API via grammY; supports groups.
• Tlon - Urbit-based messenger (official plugin).
• Twitch - Twitch chat via IRC connection (official plugin).
• Voice Call - Telephony via Plivo, Telnyx, or Twilio (official plugin).
• WebChat - Included in core. Gateway WebChat UI over WebSocket.
• WeChat - Tencent iLink bot via QR login; private chats only (external plugin).
• WhatsApp - Most popular; uses Baileys and requires QR pairing (official plugin).
• Yuanbao - Tencent Yuanbao bot (external plugin).
• Zalo - Zalo Bot API; Vietnam's popular messenger (official plugin).
• Zalo ClawBot - Personal Zalo assistant via QR login; owner-bound (external plugin).
• Zalo Personal - Zalo personal account via QR login (official plugin).

Delivery notes

• Telegram replies that contain markdown image syntax, such as ![alt](url), are converted into media replies on the final outbound path when possible.
• Slack multi-person DMs route as group chats, so group policy, mention behavior, and group-session rules apply to MPIM conversations.
• WhatsApp setup is install-on-demand: onboarding can show the setup flow before the plugin package is installed, and the Gateway loads the external ClawHub/npm plugin only when the channel is actually active.
• Channels that accept bot-authored inbound messages can use shared bot loop protection to prevent bot pairs from replying to each other indefinitely.
• Supported always-on rooms can use ambient room events so unmentioned room chatter becomes quiet context unless the agent sends with the message tool.

Notes

• Channels can run simultaneously; configure multiple and OpenClaw will route per chat.
• Fastest setup is usually Telegram (simple bot token, no plugin install). WhatsApp requires QR pairing and stores more state on disk.
• Group behavior varies by channel; see Groups.
• DM pairing and allowlists are enforced for safety; see Security.
• Troubleshooting: Channel troubleshooting.
• Model providers are documented separately; see Model Providers.