OpenClaw vs ChatGPT Teams: Which AI Solution Fits Your Business?

Introduction

ChatGPT Teams from OpenAI is one of the most popular AI solutions for businesses. It is easy to set up, offers a polished interface, and requires no technical knowledge. But it comes with limitations: fixed per-user pricing, limited model choice, and little control over where your data goes. OpenClaw offers a fundamentally different model: self-hosted, open-source, and fully configurable.

In this article, we compare both solutions on the points that matter to businesses: cost at scale, privacy and data management, integration flexibility, and ease of administration. We are honest about the strengths of both — there is no universal "best" choice.

Cost: Per Seat vs Per Usage

ChatGPT Teams charges a flat rate of $25 per user per month, with a minimum of two seats. For a team of five, that is $125 per month. You get access to GPT-4o with higher limits than the free plan, DALL-E, browsing, and a shared workspace. There are no surprise costs — the price is predictable.

OpenClaw works fundamentally differently. You pay server costs (starting at 3.29 euros per month on Europese cloud) plus API costs for the LLM model used. For a team of five averaging twenty conversations per day with GPT-4o-mini, total costs are around 10 to 20 euros per month. With ten users, the server price does not change — only API consumption increases.

The break-even point typically lies at three to four users. With fewer users, ChatGPT Teams is often cheaper when you factor in setup time. With more users, OpenClaw quickly becomes significantly more affordable.

Privacy and Data Management

ChatGPT Teams promises that business data is not used for model training and that conversations are not reviewed by OpenAI employees. However, data is stored on OpenAI servers in the United States, which can be a concern for European businesses with GDPR obligations.

With OpenClaw, all conversation data is stored on your own server, in your own database. You determine the data location, retention period, and who has access. For businesses in sectors with strict compliance requirements — such as healthcare, finance, or government — this is often the deciding factor.

Model Choice and Integrations

ChatGPT Teams exclusively offers OpenAI models. You can choose between GPT-4o and GPT-4o-mini, plus specialized features like DALL-E for image generation and Advanced Data Analysis. The interface is excellently designed but not customizable.

OpenClaw provides access to all LLM providers: OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Mistral, and local models through Ollama. You can select a different model per chatbot and switch easily. On the integration side, OpenClaw offers native connections with Telegram, Discord, and webchat — channels that ChatGPT Teams does not support.

Management and User-Friendliness

This is where ChatGPT Teams clearly wins. There is no installation needed, no server to manage, and no technical knowledge required. The admin console offers user management, shared workspaces, and an intuitive interface that any team member can start using immediately.

OpenClaw requires an initial server setup and basic knowledge of Linux and Docker. The dashboard is functional but less polished than the ChatGPT interface. For teams without a technical background, the threshold is higher. You need to honestly weigh: is the extra control and cost savings worth the initial setup investment?

Conclusion

ChatGPT Teams is the right choice for small teams that want to start quickly, have no technical expertise in-house, and are willing to pay a premium for convenience. OpenClaw is the better choice for businesses that want to control costs at scale, need full control over their data, or require specific integrations with Telegram and Discord. The ideal choice depends on your team size, technical capacity, and privacy requirements.