How to Replace ChatGPT Plus and Save $10/Month (2026 Guide)

ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month. For that, you get a web app that answers questions when you open it — and forgets you when you close it.

For $5-10/month, you can run OpenClaw — an AI assistant that lives in Telegram, remembers everything, sends you daily briefings, and works while you sleep.

Here's how to switch.

What You're Paying For vs What You're Getting

ChatGPT Plus ($20/month):

• Access to GPT-4o
• Web-based chat interface
• Basic memory (often inconsistent)
• Custom GPTs
• Image generation (DALL-E)
• No messaging integration
• No proactive features
• No automation

OpenClaw on ClawTank ($5-10/month):

• Access to any AI model (Claude, GPT, DeepSeek)
• Lives in Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, Discord
• Persistent long-term memory with daily journals
• Proactive daily briefings and reminders
• Cron jobs and automated workflows
• Web browsing, file access, API calls
• Open source — your data, your server

You get more features for less money.

What You'll Gain by Switching

1. Messaging Integration

Stop opening a browser tab every time you want to ask your AI something. Message it from Telegram like texting a friend — while walking, commuting, or lying in bed.

2. Persistent Memory That Works

ChatGPT's memory is inconsistent — it sometimes forgets things you told it yesterday. OpenClaw writes daily journals and maintains structured memory files. Tell it your project deadline once, and it remembers forever.

3. Proactive Assistance

ChatGPT waits for you to open it. OpenClaw reaches out to you:

• Morning briefing at 7am with your daily agenda
• Deadline reminders 3 days before, 1 day before, and day-of
• Follow-up prompts on ongoing projects
• Price alerts, news summaries, status updates

4. Real Automation

ChatGPT can't schedule tasks. OpenClaw can:

• Run daily scripts on a cron schedule
• Monitor websites for changes
• Auto-organize information
• Send recurring reports

5. Model Freedom

Locked into GPT-4o with ChatGPT Plus. With OpenClaw, switch between:

• DeepSeek-V3 for cheap daily tasks ($3-5/month)
• Claude Sonnet for nuanced writing
• GPT-4o when you need it
• DeepSeek-R1 for complex reasoning

Mix and match based on the task. Pay only for what you use.

What You Might Miss

Let's be honest about the trade-offs:

ChatGPT's Strengths:

• Zero setup — OpenClaw requires a few minutes of initial configuration
• DALL-E image generation — OpenClaw doesn't generate images natively
• Custom GPTs marketplace — large ecosystem of community tools
• Polished web UI — ChatGPT's interface is more refined for long-form editing

The Reality:

• Setup takes under 1 minute on ClawTank
• Most people use AI for conversation, not image generation
• OpenClaw has MCP skills that cover most Custom GPT use cases
• You'll rarely miss the web UI once you're used to Telegram

Migration Guide

Step 1: Deploy OpenClaw (1 minute)

Go to ClawTank, create an instance, and connect Telegram.

Step 2: Set Your Context

Send OpenClaw a message with everything ChatGPT knew about you:

• Your name, role, and what you work on
• Ongoing projects and deadlines
• Communication preferences
• Anything ChatGPT's memory had stored

OpenClaw remembers this permanently.

Step 3: Set Up Daily Briefing

Configure a morning cron job. Every day at your preferred time, OpenClaw sends you a summary of today's tasks, deadlines, and anything relevant.

Step 4: Use It for a Week

Don't cancel ChatGPT yet. Use both for a week. You'll quickly realize you're reaching for Telegram instead of opening ChatGPT in a browser.

Step 5: Cancel ChatGPT Plus

Once you're comfortable, cancel your ChatGPT Plus subscription. Save $10-15/month while getting a more capable assistant.

Cost Comparison Over a Year

That's $96-144 back in your pocket — for an assistant that does more.

Getting Started

ClawTank — deploy in under 1 minute. No Docker, no SSH, no credit card for your first trial. Connect Telegram, pick DeepSeek as your model, and start saving.