Key takeaways
- Single Rust binary with everything built-in — no external dependencies, no npm, just run it
- Full sandboxing (Docker/Apple Container) with per-session isolation
- MCP support, voice (TTS/STT), memory, hooks, cron, OAuth — enterprise-grade feature set
FAQ
What is Moltis?
A Rust-based personal AI gateway — single binary with multi-provider LLM support, sandboxed execution, voice, MCP tools, and multi-channel access.
How much does Moltis cost?
Free and open source. You pay for LLM API costs (OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, or local).
Who competes with Moltis?
OpenClaw (TypeScript, full-featured), ZeroClaw (Rust, security-focused), IronClaw (Rust, self-expanding).
Executive Summary
Moltis is a Rust-based personal AI gateway that packs enterprise-grade features into a single binary. Multi-provider LLMs, sandboxed execution, long-term memory, voice support, MCP tools, cron scheduling, OAuth, and multi-channel access — all without npm, Python, or external dependencies. Inspired by OpenClaw, but built for those who want a compiled, self-contained solution.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Language | Rust |
| License | Open Source |
| GitHub Stars | 1.3K ★ |
| Install | brew install moltis-org/tap/moltis |
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Single binary | No npm, no Python, just moltis |
| Multi-provider | OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, local LLMs |
| Sandboxed execution | Docker and Apple Container backends |
| MCP support | Connect to MCP tool servers (stdio or HTTP/SSE) |
| Voice | TTS and STT with cloud and local providers |
| Memory | Embeddings-powered long-term memory in SQLite |
| Hooks | Lifecycle hooks with priority, circuit breaker, dry-run |
| Channels | Web UI, Telegram, Discord, API |
| Auth | Password, passkey (WebAuthn), API keys |
| Cron | Scheduled task execution |
| Cloud deploy | One-click Fly.io, DigitalOcean, Render |
Architecture
┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ Web UI │ │ Telegram │ │ Discord │
└──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘
└────────────┬──────┴──────┬────────────┘
▼
┌────────────────────┐
│ Gateway Server │
│ (Axum HTTP/WS) │
├────────────────────┤
│ Agent Runner │
│ Tool Registry │
│ Provider Registry │
├────────────────────┤
│ Sessions │ Memory │
└────────┬───────────┘
▼
┌───────────────┐
│ Sandbox │
│ Docker/Apple │
└───────────────┘
Strengths
- Single binary — Download and run, no dependency hell
- Rust quality — Type-safe, memory-safe, production-ready
- Full sandboxing — Per-session Docker/Apple Container isolation
- MCP native — First-class MCP tool server support
- Feature complete — Voice, memory, hooks, cron, OAuth, auth
- Cloud-ready — One-click deploy configs for major platforms
Cautions
- Smaller community — 1.3K stars vs OpenClaw's 160K
- Rust compilation — Slower builds than TypeScript
- Fewer integrations — Not 50+ channels like OpenClaw
- Less ecosystem — Fewer skills/plugins available
Bottom Line
Moltis is what you get if you rebuild OpenClaw from scratch in Rust with a focus on self-contained deployment. The single-binary approach is genuinely appealing — no npm, no Python, no dependency conflicts. If you want OpenClaw-style features with Rust's reliability and don't need 50+ messaging channels, Moltis is worth considering.
Recommended for: Users who want OpenClaw features in a single compiled binary with proper sandboxing.
Not recommended for: Those who need extensive channel integrations or a large plugin ecosystem.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology