Hermes Agent vs OpenClaw

Same DNA. A new generation.

Hermes Agent is the official successor to OpenClaw, built by the same community. If you're still on OpenClaw, here's everything you need to know.

What Happened to OpenClaw?

OpenClaw was the original open-source AI agent that pioneered the self-hosted, multi-platform agent concept. According to the official repository, Hermes Agent is its direct evolution — same core philosophy, same community, but rebuilt from the ground up with a closed learning loop, a native skills system, and first-class support for modern model providers.

The Nous Research team officially rebranded the project to Hermes Agent and built a dedicated migration tool (hermes claw migrate) to make the transition seamless. Thousands of OpenClaw users have already made the switch.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Hermes Agent	OpenClaw	Notes
Development status	✓ Active	Discontinued	Hermes is the official successor
Skills system	✓ Built-in, auto-created	Not available	Hermes-exclusive feature
Memory system	✓ Persistent + FTS5 search	Basic memory	Cross-session recall
Model support	✓ 200+ via OpenRouter	Limited	No vendor lock-in
Messaging platforms	✓ 6 platforms	Limited	Telegram, Discord, Slack, etc.
Deployment backends	✓ 6 backends	Local only	Docker, VPS, Modal, SSH…
Migration tool	✓ hermes claw migrate	—	One-command migration
Open-source license	MIT	MIT	Both fully open-source
GitHub Stars	64.8k	—	Active community

Data based on the latest available information. OpenClaw is no longer actively maintained.

Migrating from OpenClaw

Hermes can automatically import your OpenClaw settings, memories, skills, and API keys. The migration wizard detects your existing ~/.openclaw directory and handles everything.

# interactive migration (recommended)

$ hermes claw migrate

# preview what would be migrated first

$ hermes claw migrate --dry-run

# migrate without secrets

$ hermes claw migrate --preset user-data

# overwrite existing conflicts

$ hermes claw migrate --overwrite

What gets migrated

SOUL.mdPersonality file

MEMORY.md / USER.mdMemory entries

SkillsUser-created skills

Command allowlistTrusted command list

Messaging settingsPlatform configuration

API keysTelegram, OpenRouter, etc.

Why Migrate Now

OpenClaw is no longer maintained

The original repository has stopped receiving updates. Security patches, new model support, and bug fixes are only happening in Hermes.

Your data migrates in minutes

hermes claw migrate handles everything automatically. Run --dry-run first to preview exactly what will be imported.

The community moved here

64.8k GitHub stars, 397 contributors, active Discord. The OpenClaw community is now building on Hermes.

FAQ

Will my OpenClaw skills work in Hermes?

Most OpenClaw skills are compatible and will be imported automatically by hermes claw migrate. A small number of skills that rely on OpenClaw-specific APIs may need minor updates — the migration tool flags these for review.

What happens to my OpenClaw memories?

Your MEMORY.md and USER.md files are fully compatible and imported as-is. The migration tool also imports conversation history (if available) into the FTS5 search index.

Can I run both OpenClaw and Hermes at the same time?

Yes. Hermes uses a separate ~/.hermes/ directory and does not modify your ~/.openclaw/ directory. You can run both in parallel until you are confident in the migration.

What if I have custom configurations in OpenClaw?

The migration wizard detects custom configurations and maps them to the equivalent Hermes settings. Use hermes claw migrate --dry-run first to preview exactly what will be imported and what may require manual review.

Is there anything that won't migrate automatically?

Custom hooks that call OpenClaw-specific internal APIs will not migrate automatically. All other data — memories, skills, API keys, messaging settings, and the allowlist — migrates with a single command.

Ready to make the switch?

Install Hermes Agent View Migration Docs ↗