Last updated February 20, 2026
OpenClaw appeals to developers who want full control over their AI agent, but the reality is harsh: 512 documented security vulnerabilities including remote code execution and plaintext credential storage, plus users reporting $300+ cloud bills in just 2 days from uncapped API usage. For founders who need a reliable assistant, the risk-reward ratio doesn't make sense. notodo gives you a managed, secure AI chief of staff with predictable pricing and EU data residency. You lose the ability to self-host and customize every detail, but you gain something more valuable: an assistant that actually works without becoming a security liability or surprise cost center.
| Feature | notodo | OpenClaw | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | SOC 2 compliant infrastructure, EU data residency, encrypted credentials, approval gates on all actions | 512 documented vulnerabilities including RCE exploits and plaintext credential storage. Community-maintained patches lag behind disclosures | |
| Cost control | Flat pricing: free tier + Pro at €79/mo. No surprise API bills. Rate limiting built in | Bring your own API keys with no spending caps. Users have reported $300+ bills in 2 days from runaway agent loops | |
| Setup & maintenance | Sign up and start chatting. No infrastructure to manage, no updates to apply | Requires Docker, database setup, API key configuration, and ongoing security patching. Expect 2-4 hours for initial setup | |
| Customization | Chat-first interface with scheduling rules and workflow templates. Configurable but within guardrails | Full source code access. Custom tools, custom models, custom everything. Fork and modify as needed | |
| Self-hosting | Cloud-only. Data stored in EU (Supabase). No self-hosting option | Run on your own servers, your own cloud, or even localhost. Full data sovereignty | |
| Email management | Gmail integration with AI triage, auto-archive, draft composition, and approval before sending | Email tools available but require manual configuration of SMTP/IMAP credentials (stored in plaintext by default) | |
| Calendar & scheduling | Google Calendar integration with smart scheduling rules, travel buffers, and location preferences | Calendar integration possible through community plugins. Quality varies by plugin | |
| Model flexibility | Uses Claude Sonnet, optimized for the assistant use case. No model switching | Supports any OpenAI-compatible API. Use GPT-4, Claude, Llama, Mistral, or local models |
Free tier available. Pro plan at €79/month with full features. No usage-based surprises.
Free and open source, but you pay for hosting ($5-50/mo for a VPS) plus AI API costs (uncapped, users report $50-300+/mo depending on usage).
Founders and freelancers who want a reliable, secure AI assistant without managing infrastructure or worrying about security vulnerabilities and runaway costs.
Developers who want full control over their AI agent stack, have the security expertise to harden a self-hosted deployment, and are comfortable managing their own API spending.
The community has addressed many of the 512 reported vulnerabilities, but new issues continue to surface. If you choose OpenClaw, treat it like any self-hosted software: keep it updated, run it in an isolated environment, never expose it to the public internet without proper hardening, and monitor your API spending closely.
Yes. Since notodo connects to your existing Gmail and Google Calendar, your data stays in those services. You'll lose any custom OpenClaw tools or workflows, but the core data (emails, calendar events, tasks) carries over through your Google account.
notodo prioritizes security and reliability. A managed service lets us enforce encryption, audit access, apply security patches immediately, and guarantee EU data residency. Self-hosting shifts that responsibility to the user, which works for some but creates risk for most.
notodo uses flat-rate pricing - you pay €79/mo for Pro regardless of how much you use it. Behind the scenes, we have rate limiting (50 requests/hour) and approval gates that prevent the AI from executing unlimited actions without your confirmation.
Not currently. notodo uses Claude Sonnet, which we've optimized for the assistant use case with custom system prompts and tool configurations. Supporting arbitrary models would compromise the reliability of the experience.
Join the waitlist. We're onboarding founders and agency owners who want to focus on what matters.