OpenClaw is a self-hosted persistent agent runtime. MCP-based stacks are a different shape — host application + protocol + servers. Where each wins, where each loses, when to switch.
OpenClaw vs the alternatives. Same axes per matchup — capability, cost, lock-in, maturity, where it leads, where it lags. Currently one deep matchup live (vs MCP-based stacks); more matchups (vs Claude Code, vs LangChain) ship as Sush gains direct experience comparing.
7.1 sourced 2026-05-07