The most cost-effective way to run your OpenClaw assistant
If you're paying per token through raw API keys, you're likely spending 5–20× more than you need to. The smarter move: use an LLM provider subscription and route it through OpenClaw Setup.
Subscriptions vs. API keys: the math
Every major LLM provider now offers two pricing lanes: per-token API billing and a flat-rate subscription. The subscription almost always wins for active assistants.
OpenAI
ChatGPT Plus — $20/mo
Unlimited GPT-4o and o-series model messages. No per-token charges.
Compare that to the API: GPT-4o costs roughly $2.50 input / $10 output per 1M tokens. At typical assistant usage of ~3–5M tokens/month, that's $30–$50+ on API alone — and it scales linearly. The $20 subscription stays flat no matter how much you use it.
ChatGPT Pro — $200/mo
Unlocks GPT-4o Pro mode, o1-pro, and the newest reasoning models with no preset caps. The API equivalent (GPT-5.2 Pro) bills at $21 input / $168 output per 1M tokens — meaning just ~1.2M tokens of output on the API costs more than the entire Pro subscription.
Anthropic
Claude Pro — $20/mo
Access to Claude Sonnet and Haiku with generous session-based usage.
On the API, Sonnet 4.5 costs $3 input / $15 output per 1M tokens, and Opus 4.6 runs $5 input / $25 output per 1M tokens. A busy assistant pushing 2–4M tokens/month racks up $30–$100+ in API fees easily.
Claude Max — $100–$200/mo
5–20× the usage of Pro, with session limits that reset every 5 hours. Max 20x ($200/mo) provides at least 900 messages per 5-hour window — far more headroom than most assistants will ever need, at a fraction of API cost for heavy users.
Why subscriptions give you more tokens per dollar
The economics are straightforward: providers sell subscriptions to capture a predictable revenue stream and to drive adoption. In exchange, subscribers get a much higher effective token budget per dollar. Here's the rough picture:
- Break-even is surprisingly low: ChatGPT Plus ($20) breaks even with API pricing at ~1.3M combined tokens/month. Most assistants blow past that in the first week.
- Heavier models save more: reasoning models (o-series, Opus) are the most expensive on API. Subscriptions include them at no extra per-token cost.
- Batch API discounts still lose: even Anthropic's 50%-off batch API pricing can't compete with a flat $20/mo for unlimited Sonnet usage.
- No surprise bills: API usage spikes when your assistant gets busy. Subscriptions cap your downside.
It works with Codex CLI and Claude Code too
Here's where it gets really interesting. OpenClaw Setup fully supports integration with OpenAI Codex CLI and Claude Code — the terminal-native AI coding assistants from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Both tools support OAuth-based authentication against your existing subscription — meaning you can route Codex CLI and Claude Code through the same subscription plan you're already paying for. No separate API keys, no pay-per-token billing for coding tasks.
What this means in practice
- One subscription, three tools: your OpenClaw assistant, Codex CLI for terminal-based coding, and Claude Code for deep code reasoning — all covered by a single flat-rate plan.
- No double-dipping: without this, developers often pay a subscription for chat and API tokens for CLI tools. That's money you don't need to spend.
- Token savings compound: coding assistants are token-hungry (long context windows, multi-file edits, iterative reasoning). Running them on a subscription instead of API can easily save $50–$200/month for active developers.
How to set this up in OpenClaw Setup
- Sign in to OpenClaw Setup and create an instance.
- In the LLM provider step, choose subscription-based authentication instead of entering a raw API key.
- Authenticate via OAuth with your OpenAI or Anthropic account — your subscription credentials are stored encrypted (AES-256-GCM) and never exposed.
- Deploy. Your assistant now uses your subscription's token budget — no per-token charges.
Quick cost cheat-sheet
| Scenario | API cost/mo (est.) | Subscription cost/mo | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light assistant (1–2M tokens) | $15–$30 | $20 (Plus/Pro) | ~0–30% |
| Active assistant (5–10M tokens) | $50–$150 | $20 (Plus/Pro) | 60–85% |
| Assistant + Codex CLI + Claude Code | $150–$400+ | $20–$200 (combined subs) | 50–85% |
| Heavy reasoning (o-series / Opus) | $200–$500+ | $200 (Pro/Max) | 50–80% |
Estimates based on publicly available API pricing from OpenAI and Anthropic as of early 2026. Actual savings depend on usage patterns and model selection.
TL;DR
- Use an LLM provider subscription (ChatGPT Plus/Pro, Claude Pro/Max) instead of raw API keys.
- You get dramatically more tokens per dollar — especially for reasoning models.
- OpenClaw Setup supports Codex CLI and Claude Code integration, so one subscription covers your assistant and your coding tools.
- No surprise bills. Predictable cost. More value.