Workspace Skills vs Bundled Skills: What's the Difference?
Understand the two types of Openclaw skills and when to use each one.
Two Types of Skills
Openclaw supports two distinct types of skills, and understanding the difference is crucial for effective configuration.
Bundled Skills
Bundled skills come pre-installed with your Openclaw agent. They are: - Always available — no installation needed - Tested and stable — verified by the Openclaw team - Limited scope — focused on core capabilities - Auto-updated — updated with your Openclaw agent
Common bundled skills include basic file operations, text processing, and simple web queries.
Workspace Skills
Workspace skills are third-party or custom skills that you install separately. They are: - Opt-in — you choose which to install - Varied quality — from excellent to experimental - Broad scope — can do almost anything - Self-managed — you control updates and versions
When to Use Each
### Use Bundled Skills When: - The built-in capability meets your needs - You want maximum stability and security - You are in a restricted environment - You are just getting started with Openclaw
### Use Workspace Skills When: - You need specialized capabilities - You want to extend Openclaw beyond defaults - You have specific integration requirements - You are comfortable managing third-party code
Security Considerations
Bundled skills are generally safer because they are reviewed by the Openclaw team. Workspace skills can introduce risk depending on: - Code quality and maintenance - Required permissions - External API dependencies - Author reputation
Always review our audit results before installing workspace skills.