Run OpenClaw heartbeats for free using Ollama

OpenClaw users can now run heartbeats for free by routing them to a local Ollama model, effectively avoiding the costs associated with 1,440 API calls per day. This integration allows developers to utilize AI automation more efficiently by leveraging smaller, capable models while ensuring that the heartbeat prompt remains concise. Users are advised to verify the performance of Ollama directly before testing with OpenClaw, as issues may arise from model size or server capacity, particularly when using a VPS with limited resources.

The article emphasizes the importance of monitoring the processor placement and performance during these heartbeats, suggesting a systematic troubleshooting approach to optimize the agent workflow. By confirming the health of Ollama and adjusting the context budget, users can enhance the efficiency of their OpenClaw configurations. This guidance is particularly relevant for developers looking to maximize their use of OpenClaw's SDK and API while managing rate limits effectively.