Connect OpenClaw

OpenClaw can use the Arena API as a custom OpenAI-compatible provider. Point OpenClaw at https://api.preview.arena.ai/v1, add your Arena API key, and use arena/auto as the default model.

1. Create an Arena API key

  1. Open the Keys page and create a new key.
  2. Set your gateway URL and key as environment variables.
export ARENA_GATEWAY_URL=https://api.preview.arena.ai
export ARENA_API_KEY=<your-arena-key>

2. Use the OpenClaw wizard

The easiest path is to use the OpenClaw wizard and add Arena as a custom provider there.

Open the OpenClaw wizard and choose a custom provider:

- Base URL: https://api.preview.arena.ai/v1
- API compatibility: OpenAI-compatible
- API key: $ARENA_API_KEY
- Default model: auto

OpenClaw wizard docs: docs.openclaw.ai/wizard

3. Manual config (advanced)

If you prefer editing JSON directly, merge the provider below into ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Replace https://api.preview.arena.ai if you want to use a local or self-hosted gateway instead.

{
  "models": {
    "mode": "merge",
    "providers": {
      "arena": {
        "baseUrl": "${ARENA_GATEWAY_URL}/v1",
        "apiKey": "${ARENA_API_KEY}",
        "api": "openai-completions",
        "models": [
          { "id": "auto", "name": "Arena Auto (balanced)" },
          { "id": "claude-sonnet-4-6", "name": "Claude Sonnet 4.6 (direct)" }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "arena/auto"
      }
    }
  }
}

4. Restart OpenClaw

If you edited the config manually, restart the OpenClaw gateway so it reloads your provider config.

openclaw gateway restart

5. Routing modes

arena/auto balances quality, speed, and cost. More routing modes coming soon.

6. Verify the gateway connection

Before debugging OpenClaw itself, confirm your key works directly against the gateway.

curl https://api.preview.arena.ai/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ARENA_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "model": "auto",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "user", "content": "Say hello in exactly five words"}
    ],
    "max_tokens": 64
  }'
Arena API — Dashboard