Quick Summary
Discord
Discord bot with slash commands and threads
- Slash commands
- Button interactions
- Autocomplete
iMessage
Apple iMessage integration (macOS only)
- Native macOS integration
- iCloud sync
- Media support
Capability Comparison
| Capability | Discord | iMessage |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Messages | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Group Chats | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Media Messages | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Voice Messages | — No | ✓ Yes |
| Reactions | ✓ Yes | — No |
| Thread Support | ✓ Yes | — No |
| Native Commands | ✓ Yes | — No |
| Text Limit | 2000 chars | 4096 chars |
| Protocol | discord.js via @buape/carbon | imsg (macOS-only) |
Access Control Policies
Discord
DM Policies
allowlistpairingopen
Group Policies
allowlistopen
iMessage
DM Policies
allowlistpairingopen
Group Policies
allowlistopen
Best Use Cases
Choose Discord for:
- Community AI assistant
- Gaming server bot
- Developer team helper
- Support communities
Choose iMessage for:
- Personal AI assistant
- Family communication
- Apple ecosystem users
Use with AI Providers
Both channels work with all OpenClaw AI providers:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for AI assistants, Discord or iMessage?
Both work well with OpenClaw. Discord is better for community ai assistant, while iMessage excels at personal ai assistant. Consider your audience and feature requirements.
Can I use both Discord and iMessage with OpenClaw?
Yes! OpenClaw supports multiple channels simultaneously. You can connect the same AI assistant to both Discord and iMessage, allowing users to interact through their preferred platform.
Which has better group chat support?
Both support group chats. Discord uses allowlist, open policies, while iMessage uses allowlist, open.