How to Connect Your Favorite LLMs to OpenClaw

I’ve spent way too much time hunting down API keys and fixing broken headers just to try a new model. Most tools make you feel like you’re locked into one provider forever. OpenClaw changes that. I can swap between Anthropic and Venice in seconds without touching my core logic.

If you want my honest opinion, go with Venice AI. It is built for privacy, and their Opus model handles the hardest tasks I throw at it. It is my top pick for anyone who wants high performance without giving up control over their data.

What You’ll Need

• An active OpenClaw project.
• An account with a provider like Venice, OpenAI, or Anthropic.

Quick Start

You can get a model running in about five minutes. Here is the path I usually take:

1. Authenticate: Run openclaw onboard in your terminal. This handles the handshake for you.
2. Set the Default: Open your configuration and point it to your chosen model using the provider/model format.

{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: {
        // I usually go with Claude Opus for the best results
        primary: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"
      }
    }
  }
}

If you decide to use Venice (which I suggest), I recommend these two options:

• venice/llama-3.3-70b for daily work.
• venice/claude-opus-45 for complex logic.

Troubleshooting

• Invalid Model String: Double-check that you used the slash (/). If you type venice-llama instead of venice/llama, the system will fail to recognize the provider.
• Auth Failures: If your key expired or you changed your password, run openclaw onboard again to refresh your credentials.

If you need a hand picking the right provider for your specific use case, talk to our AI Setup Assistant.

What’s Next

• OpenAI Setup Guide
• Anthropic Configuration
• Using OpenRouter
• Amazon Bedrock Integration