How to set up OpenClaw with a 5abeer API key

To run OpenClaw on 5abeer, install OpenClaw, add a khabeer provider and a default model to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json with your 5abeer API key, and check the file with openclaw config validate. Then run openclaw chat to talk to its agent in the terminal. Every request is paid from your 5abeer balance. With a subscription, the 5abeer AI app does this setup for you.

What you get#

• OpenClaw as it ships, with 5abeer ready as a model provider.
• The Claude, GPT and Gemini models available in OpenClaw, below their official price.
• Usage and cost per key in your dashboard.

Before you start#

• A terminal on macOS, Linux or Windows.
• Node.js 24.16 or newer on the 24 line, or 26.1 or newer, only if you install OpenClaw with npm. The install script sets up Node for you.
• An API key for the provider of the model you will use (create one). The config below uses a Claude model, so it needs a key for Claude models.

With a subscription: the 5abeer AI app#

If you have a 5abeer subscription that includes OpenClaw, the 5abeer AI app sets it up on your subscription in one click, with no API key and no files to edit. The app runs on Mac, Windows and Linux; details in What each plan runs. With an API key, follow the manual setup below.

Manual setup#

1. 1

   Install OpenClaw#

   These commands skip OpenClaw's setup wizard, because the next step sets the provider for you.

   macOS / LinuxWindowsnpm

   Copy

   curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-onboard

   On npm 11.15 or older, run the npm command without --allow-scripts=openclaw.

2. 2

   Add the settings#

   Add the models and agents sections to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json, keeping your other settings if the file already exists. The key lives inside the file, so replace YOUR_5ABEER_API_KEY with your key.

   openclaw.jsonCopy

   {
     "models": {
       "providers": {
         "khabeer": {
           "baseUrl": "https://api.5abeer.ai/v1",
           "apiKey": "YOUR_5ABEER_API_KEY",
           "api": "openai-completions",
           "models": [
             {
               "id": "claude-sonnet-5.5",
               "name": "Claude Sonnet 5.5"
             }
           ]
         }
       }
     },
     "agents": {
       "defaults": {
         "model": {
           "primary": "khabeer/claude-sonnet-5.5"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

   ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

3. 3

   Check the file#

   TerminalCopy

   openclaw config validate

4. 4

   Run it#

   TerminalCopy

   openclaw chat

   Ask for anything. If a reply comes back, you're set.

Pick a model#

These models run in OpenClaw today. Add the model to the models list in the config file and put its id after khabeer/ in primary. Remember that each key works only with its own provider's models.

If you get an error#

• INVALID_API_KEY: the key in the file is wrong or was copied only in part.
• MODEL_PLATFORM_NOT_ALLOWED: the model belongs to a provider other than the key's.
• INSUFFICIENT_BALANCE: your balance doesn't cover this request.

Every code and what it means is in Errors and fixes.

Questions#

Why skip the setup wizard?#

The wizard asks you to pick a model provider and sign in to it. The 5abeer settings in this guide replace that step, so you don't need a separate provider account.

What if openclaw config validate reports an error?#

The file usually has a typo, or the new sections were pasted inside another section. Compare it with the settings above, save it, then run the command again.

Where is my key stored?#

In ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json on your machine, as plain text. Don't share the file, and replace the key there if you create a new one.

How is a request billed?#

Each request is paid from your balance by the tokens it uses, at the model's 5abeer price. Details in Pricing and balance.