OpenClaw vs Devin
Open source self-hosted agent vs proprietary cloud AI engineer. Two approaches to autonomous AI software development.
OpenClaw provides comparable autonomous coding capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Choose Devin only if you need enterprise support and prefer managed cloud infrastructure over self-hosting.
Pricing Comparison
OpenClaw
+ API costs (~$20-100/mo typical usage)
- Open source - no licensing fees
- Self-hosted on your infrastructure
- Pay only for AI API usage
- No per-seat pricing
Devin
Enterprise pricing varies
- Managed cloud infrastructure
- Enterprise support included
- No self-hosting required
- High monthly commitment
Feature Comparison
OpenClaw
Pros
- Completely free and open source
- Self-hosted for complete data control
- Multi-model flexibility (Claude, GPT, Gemini)
- No vendor lock-in
- Customize and extend as needed
- 90%+ cost savings vs Devin
Cons
- Requires self-hosting infrastructure
- Community support only
- Newer project, smaller ecosystem
Devin
Pros
- Managed cloud infrastructure
- Enterprise support and SLAs
- Polished user experience
- No self-hosting required
- Web-based interface
Cons
- Very expensive ($500+/month)
- Code processed on vendor servers
- Closed source, limited customization
- Single model, vendor lock-in
- Waitlist for new users
Choose OpenClaw if you:
- Want to minimize AI tooling costs
- Need complete data sovereignty
- Prefer open source transparency
- Want multi-model flexibility
- Are comfortable with self-hosting
- Need air-gapped deployments
Choose Devin if you:
- Need enterprise vendor support
- Prefer managed cloud infrastructure
- Have budget for premium tooling
- Don't want to self-host anything
- Need SLAs and compliance docs
- Prefer web-based interface
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenClaw as capable as Devin?
For most coding tasks, yes. Both are autonomous AI agents that can understand requirements, write code, debug, and complete features. OpenClaw offers similar capabilities with the advantage of being open source and self-hosted, while Devin provides a more polished cloud experience with enterprise support.
How much does Devin cost compared to OpenClaw?
Devin pricing starts at $500/month for their cloud AI engineer service. OpenClaw is free and open source - you only pay for your AI API usage (typically $20-100/month depending on usage). For most teams, OpenClaw is significantly more cost-effective.
Can OpenClaw replace Devin?
For many use cases, yes. OpenClaw provides autonomous coding capabilities similar to Devin. The main trade-offs are: Devin offers managed infrastructure and support, while OpenClaw requires self-hosting but gives you complete control and transparency.
Which is more secure: OpenClaw or Devin?
OpenClaw is more secure for sensitive codebases since it can be self-hosted - your code never leaves your infrastructure. Devin processes code on their cloud servers. For enterprise security requirements, OpenClaw's self-hosted nature is often preferred.
Is Devin worth the price?
It depends on your situation. Devin is worth it if you need enterprise support, managed infrastructure, and don't want to self-host. If you're comfortable with self-hosting and want cost savings with similar capabilities, OpenClaw provides better value.
Ready to try an AI software engineer?
Start with OpenClaw for free and see what autonomous AI coding can do. No waitlist, no credit card required.