> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.crew.you/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.crew.you/autopilot/overview.md).

# Overview

Crew Autopilot is your AI agent on long-running work — give it a one-line goal, and Crew plans the work, runs the steps, and only checks in for big decisions.

A mission can run for hours, days, or weeks. Crew keeps going while you sleep, sends emails on your behalf inside the limits you set, asks for approval before spending money or making external commitments, and pauses itself when it hits the wallet limit.

## When to Use Autopilot

Use Autopilot when the task is too big for one chat reply — when it spans more than a single sitting, needs you to be off-line while it runs, or includes things like "wait for replies", "every morning this week", or "if X then Y".

Good fits:

* **Multi-day campaigns** — "Run a US influencer outreach for our new product launch over the next two weeks."
* **Recurring digests** — "Every weekday morning, summarize my emails and post the top three to my Slack."
* **Reactive workflows** — "Send a status email to the team. When replies come in, summarize and Slack me."
* **Time-shifted work** — "Prepare a weekly report tonight, hold for my approval, and deliver Monday 9 AM."

## Autonomy Levels

When you start a mission you pick how much Crew should ask before acting:

* **Review** — every external action (email send, payment, calendar invite) waits for your approval.
* **Balanced** *(default)* — Crew handles routine work, asks before sending to new contacts, paying, or committing externally.
* **Auto** — Crew runs end-to-end within your budget and permission limits.

You can change the autonomy level any time, and revoke individual permissions (mail send, calendar, payments, etc.) per mission.

## How Autopilot Is Funded — Autopilot Wallet

Autopilot runs on the **Autopilot Wallet** — a prepay USD balance, separate from your regular subscription. Three buckets feed the wallet:

| Bucket         | Where it comes from                                 | Refundable?                   |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Welcome credit | $5 one-time on signup                               | No                            |
| Monthly grant  | Basic $10 / Plus $25 / Pro $50, every billing cycle | No                            |
| Top-up         | Stripe packs of $10 / $25 / $50 / $100              | Yes, within 30 days if unused |

When a mission runs, Crew draws from grant → welcome → top-up, in that order — so your refundable balance stays around longest.

When the wallet hits zero, missions automatically pause. Top up and resume, and they pick up where they left off.

See your balance and activity at [**/autopilot/wallet**](https://crew.you/autopilot/wallet).

## Mission Limits

| Plan       | Concurrent active missions           |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Free       | Available — fund missions via Wallet |
| Basic      | Available — fund missions via Wallet |
| Plus       | Up to 5                              |
| Pro        | Unlimited                            |
| Enterprise | Unlimited (org-pool funded)          |

Every plan can run Autopilot — the wallet just needs balance. Free and Basic users typically rely on the $5 welcome credit and top-ups; Plus and Pro plans receive monthly grant on top.

## Starting a Mission

Open [**/autopilot**](https://crew.you/autopilot) → **New Mission** and write your goal in one line. Examples:

* "Find ten US tech newsletters that fit our product, and draft outreach emails to each — wait for my approval before sending."
* "Every Monday at 9 AM, summarize last week's GitHub PR activity and post to #engineering."
* "Track our top three competitors' product pages. Email me when any of them change pricing."

Crew breaks the goal into a plan, shows you the steps and budget, and waits for your green light before starting.

## Mission Status

| Status               | Meaning                                                       |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Active               | Currently running or scheduled                                |
| Waiting for approval | An approval card is in your inbox                             |
| Paused               | Stopped — either you paused it, or the wallet/budget hit zero |
| Completed            | Mission finished its goal                                     |
| Cancelled            | You cancelled it, or it expired after 7 days idle             |

You'll receive a push notification (and email if enabled) whenever Crew needs your approval, and when the mission completes or pauses.

## Related

* [Autopilot Wallet — funding and refunds](https://github.com/latemonk/openclaw-saas/blob/main/docs/manual/en/12-autopilot/wallet.md)
* [Billing & Plans](/billing-and-plans/plans-and-pricing.md)