Tavily + OpenClaw: Replace Brave Search with AI-Optimized Web Tools in Minutes

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• OpenClaw installed and running (Node.js ≥22 required). Use the one-liner install if needed: curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash.
• A free Tavily API key (1,000 searches/month on free tier) from app.tavily.com.
• Access to your terminal and the OpenClaw gateway running.

Tavily delivers cleaner, AI-structured results optimized for agents — perfect replacement for Brave Search (which ended its free tier).

Step 1: Obtain Your Tavily API Key

1. Go to app.tavily.com and sign up (free).
2. Copy your key (starts with tvly-...).
3. Keep it secure — you'll add it next.

Expected: Instant dashboard access with usage stats.

Step 2: Install the OpenClaw Tavily Plugin

OpenClaw plugins extend your agent with native tools. Install via the CLI:

openclaw plugins install openclaw-tavily

Alternative (from source):

git clone https://github.com/framix-team/openclaw-tavily.git ~/.openclaw/extensions/openclaw-tavily
cd ~/.openclaw/extensions/openclaw-tavily
npm install --omit=dev

The plugin registers five tools automatically:

• tavily_search (drop-in web search replacement)
• tavily_extract
• tavily_crawl
• tavily_map
• tavily_research

A bundled skill auto-prioritizes tavily_search over built-in web_search.

Step 3: Configure the API Key

Choose one method:

Environment variable (recommended):

export TAVILY_API_KEY=tvly-...

Or in config file (~/.openclaw/openclaw.json):

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "openclaw-tavily": {
        "enabled": true,
        "config": {
          "apiKey": "tvly-..."
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Optional advanced settings (add under config):

{
  "searchDepth": "advanced",
  "maxResults": 5,
  "includeAnswer": true
}

Step 4: Restart the Gateway and Verify

openclaw restart

Check installation:

openclaw plugins list

You should see openclaw-tavily listed and enabled.

Test in chat: Ask your OpenClaw agent: "Search for latest OpenClaw updates using Tavily."

Expected output example (in agent response):

{
  "query": "latest OpenClaw updates",
  "answer": "OpenClaw just hit 200k GitHub stars...",
  "results": [{"title": "OpenClaw - Personal AI Assistant", "url": "https://openclaw.ai", "snippet": "..."}]
}

Step 5: Use the Five Tavily Tools

Your agent now has native access. Prompt examples:

Basic search (replaces web_search): "Use tavily_search for current news on AI agents."

Extract content: "Extract full markdown from https://openclaw.ai using tavily_extract."

Crawl a site: "Crawl https://docs.openclaw.ai with instructions 'find plugin guides' using tavily_crawl."

Map a site: "Map all URLs on https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw using tavily_map."

Deep research: "Run tavily_research on 'Compare Tavily vs Brave for AI agents'."

CLI fallbacks (for testing):

node ~/.openclaw/extensions/openclaw-tavily/scripts/search.mjs "test query" --deep

Tools support parameters like topic: news, time_range: week, domain filters, and more.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

• "API key invalid": Double-check TAVILY_API_KEY and restart gateway. Test key at app.tavily.com.
• Plugin not listed: Run openclaw plugins install openclaw-tavily again; ensure Node ≥22.
• Fallback to Brave: Add explicit instruction "always use tavily_search" in prompts.
• Rate limit hit: Free tier = 1,000/month; upgrade at Tavily dashboard.
• No results: Try searchDepth: "basic" or shorter queries. Clear cache by setting cacheTtlMinutes: 0.
• Gateway crash: Run openclaw logs and check for Tavily errors.

Update plugin: openclaw plugins update openclaw-tavily.

Next Steps

• Explore Tavily docs for advanced params: docs.tavily.com.
• Create custom skills combining Tavily with other tools (e.g., calendar + research).
• Connect your agent to Telegram/WhatsApp for real-time web-powered tasks.
• Experiment with tavily_research for automated reports.

Your OpenClaw agent is now far smarter at research — enjoy the upgrade!