Toolkits vs Channels — Toolkits give your AI outbound API access to services (search Gmail, create GitHub issues, query Notion). Channels make your AI a live chat participant on messaging platforms (respond to Telegram messages, Discord DMs). They use completely different auth systems — toolkits use OAuth via Composio, channels use direct bot tokens. See Messaging Channels for the channel system.
How the Bridge Works
- You connect a service (e.g., Gmail) on the Toolkits page via OAuth
- Composio stores the OAuth tokens securely
- At gateway provisioning, OpenClaws injects
COMPOSIO_API_KEYand yourCOMPOSIO_ENTITY_IDinto the gateway - The gateway’s Composio skill discovers connected services and executes actions using your OAuth tokens
You can connect toolkits before subscribing. They’ll be available immediately when your gateway deploys.
Connecting a Toolkit
Click Connect
Click the Connect button on the toolkit card. You’ll be redirected to the service’s OAuth page.
Popular Toolkits
| Service | What Your AI Can Do |
|---|---|
| Gmail | Read emails, get profile info, search messages |
| GitHub | List repos, manage issues, star repos |
| Google Calendar | List events, create meetings, check availability |
| Notion | Search pages, create content, query databases |
| Linear | List teams, manage issues, track projects |
| Slack | Send messages, read channels |
| Google Sheets | Read/write spreadsheet data |
| Google Drive | Search and manage files |
| Jira | Manage tickets and sprints |
| HubSpot | CRM operations |
Toolkits vs Skills
| Toolkits | Skills | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | OpenClaws Dashboard | Control UI → Skills tab |
| How | OAuth via Composio | Built into gateway |
| Count | 980+ services | 51 bundled |
| Auth | OAuth tokens (managed) | API keys or CLI tools |
| Examples | Gmail, GitHub, Notion | Weather, PDF Editor, Whisper |