A sophisticated cost-management skill that slashes API expenses by dynamically advising on the most cost-effective model for every task.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install openclaw-cost-optimizer
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install openclaw-cost-optimizer using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is OpenClaw Cost Optimizer?
The OpenClaw Cost Optimizer is an essential utility for developers looking to maximize their budget without sacrificing performance. This skill works by adding a library of cheap and powerful model aliases to your environment via Openclaw Skills, allowing you to switch between model tiers (Base, Work, and Frontier) based on task complexity. It effectively prevents the 'expensive model tax' by ensuring that simple queries don't burn the same credits as complex architectural refactoring.
Built by Jeff J Hunter, this skill introduces a Cost Advisor that proactively suggests when a cheaper or more powerful model is appropriate. It maintains your existing configuration integrity by only adding aliases, never changing your default settings. Whether you are using OpenAI, Anthropic, or open-source models through OpenRouter, this skill provides the transparency and control needed to run AI agents at scale sustainably.
OpenClaw Cost Optimizer Use Cases
- Slashing monthly API bills for agents performing high-frequency small tasks.
- Automatically identifying when to use ultra-budget models for simple status pings or greetings.
- Ensuring high-reasoning frontier models are only utilized for complex multi-file coding tasks.
- Tracking real-time financial savings vs. default model costs directly within your Openclaw Skills workflow.
- Estimating annual AI budgets based on current message volume and task distribution.
How OpenClaw Cost Optimizer Works
- Upon activation, the skill prompts the user to select one of eight pre-defined model presets tailored to different work styles.
- The skill uses the exec tool to securely add model aliases and verify OpenRouter authentication.
- For every incoming request, the Cost Advisor classifies the task complexity into Base, Work, or Frontier tiers.
- If the active model is economically inefficient for the task, the agent recommends a specific /model switch.
- All successful switches and estimated savings are logged to a persistent local file for transparent cost tracking.
OpenClaw Cost Optimizer Setup
Setting up the Cost Optimizer within Openclaw Skills requires zero manual configuration of your config files. Follow these steps via the agent interface:
- Select a preset when prompted (e.g., balanced or code-machine).
- Verify your OpenRouter status:
openclaw models status
- The agent will execute a combined command to add all necessary aliases, for example:
openclaw models aliases add flashlite openrouter/google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- Restart the gateway to finalize the setup:
openclaw gateway restart
OpenClaw Cost Optimizer Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill manages a dedicated directory for state persistence and logging within the Openclaw Skills ecosystem. Data is organized as follows:
| Location | Data Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
~/.openclaw/cost-tracker.md |
Markdown | Logs date, task description, model used, and calculated savings. |
| Internal Registry | JSON/Table | Contains pricing and reference paths for 29 verified AI models. |
| CLI Aliases | Configuration | Stores shortcuts for quick model switching without full path entry. |
OpenClaw Cost Optimizer Advanced Features
- Mix & Match Customization: Build your own model tiers by selecting specific models for Base, Work, and Frontier levels from the 29-model registry.
- Monthly Cost Calculator: Generate a detailed spending projection based on your daily message frequency and task mix.
- Savings Visualization: Use natural language commands like "how much have I saved?" to view a formatted report of your ROI.
- Silent Advisor Mode: Toggle recommendations on or off with simple commands like "advisor off" to maintain a distraction-free environment.
- Comprehensive Registry Access: Manually add or remove any verified model alias from the Openclaw Skills internal database as your needs evolve.
SKILL.md
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