OpenClaw Hosting Guide — Deploy Clawdbot in the Cloud

There are two main ways to host OpenClaw (Clawdbot) in the cloud: self-host on a VPS ($12–$48/mo, requires Linux sysadmin skills) or use managed hosting like MyClaw.ai (from $19/mo, zero setup). Self-hosting gives full control but requires manual updates and maintenance. Managed hosting handles everything — uptime, updates, and configuration — so you can focus on using OpenClaw instead of running it.

Why Host OpenClaw in the Cloud?

Running OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot) on your local machine works fine for testing, but it has real limitations for daily use:

• Your computer must stay on — OpenClaw stops when your machine sleeps or shuts down
• Resource competition — OpenClaw competes with your other apps for CPU and memory
• No remote access — You can only use it from the machine it's installed on
• Manual updates — You're responsible for pulling updates and resolving conflicts

Cloud hosting solves all of these problems. Your OpenClaw instance runs on dedicated infrastructure, stays online 24/7, and is accessible from anywhere.

Hosting Options Compared

Option 1: Self-host on a VPS

You can rent a virtual private server (VPS) from providers like DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or AWS and install OpenClaw yourself.

What you need:

• A VPS with at least 4GB RAM and 2 vCPUs
• Ubuntu 22.04 or similar Linux distribution
• Basic Linux sysadmin knowledge
• SSH access and familiarity with the command line

Typical monthly cost: $12–$48 depending on the provider and specs.

Pros:

• Full control over the environment
• Can customize everything
• No vendor dependency

Cons:

• You manage security patches, updates, and backups
• You debug issues when things break
• Downtime is your responsibility
• Setup takes hours, not minutes

Option 2: Managed hosting with MyClaw

MyClaw.ai provides fully managed OpenClaw hosting — you subscribe and your instance is running with zero setup.

What you need:

• An email address
• A payment method

Monthly cost: From $19/mo.

Pros:

• Zero configuration — your instance is ready immediately
• Always online, always updated
• Priority support on Pro and Max plans
• No sysadmin knowledge required

Cons:

• Less low-level customization than a raw VPS
• Dependent on MyClaw's infrastructure

Quick Comparison

| | Self-host (VPS) | MyClaw Managed | |---|---|---| | Setup time | Hours | Minutes | | Monthly cost | $12–$48 | From $19 | | Updates | Manual | Automatic | | Uptime | You manage | 24/7 managed | | Support | Community only | Priority support available | | DevOps required | Yes | No |

Self-Hosting on a VPS: Step by Step

If you choose the VPS route, here's a condensed setup guide:

1. Provision your server

Create a VPS with at least 4GB RAM. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is recommended.

2. Install dependencies

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs git

3. Clone and configure

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your configuration
npm install

4. Run with a process manager

Use PM2 to keep OpenClaw running after you disconnect:

npm install -g pm2
pm2 start npm --name openclaw -- run start
pm2 save
pm2 startup

5. Set up a reverse proxy (optional)

If you want HTTPS access, set up Nginx with a Let's Encrypt certificate:

sudo apt install -y nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Configure Nginx to proxy requests to OpenClaw's port, then run certbot to get your SSL certificate.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose self-hosting if:

• You're a developer who enjoys managing infrastructure
• You need highly custom configurations
• You want to run OpenClaw on private/air-gapped networks

Choose managed hosting if:

• You want to start using OpenClaw immediately
• You don't want to deal with server maintenance
• You need reliable 24/7 uptime without babysitting a server
• You value your time over tinkering with infrastructure

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Ready to get your OpenClaw instance running? Get started on MyClaw.ai — plans start at $19/mo with zero setup required.