OpenClaw Plugins — Ecosystem Guide and Practical Picks

OpenClaw plugins are native gateway packages that add channels, model providers, tools, and other runtime surfaces. They are validated through openclaw.plugin.json and can register channels, providers, tools, and other hooks inside the gateway process. The public plugin ecosystem is uneven, and it's essential to distinguish between plugins, skills, and bundles. To navigate the ecosystem, refer to the glossary and the OpenClaw skills guide for authoring, moderation, and usage patterns. Engineers should treat skills as a related install surface, not a synonym for native plugins, unless explicitly stated.