How to Host OpenClaw: Local, VPS or Managed (2026)

Key takeaways: OpenClaw is an MIT-licensed open-source AI agent, and there is no official hosted version—you have to decide where it runs. Installing it on your own computer is the fastest way to try it and the only way to work with local files. If it needs to receive Telegram messages and run schedules 24/7, the official docs recommend a VPS. If you're comfortable in a terminal and want the lowest bill, self-host on DigitalOcean, Hetzner or a Hostinger VPS; if you don't want to touch a server, pick one-click hosting. If you're in Taiwan and need NT$ billing, a company invoice and support in Traditional Chinese—or want an AI to set up your agents for you—look at RoamerHost OpenClaw (Pro NT$599/mo, Advanced NT$1,599/mo).

Last verified: October 2026. Prices, plans and exchange rates change often; figures here reflect each vendor's official pages at the time of writing, so check before you buy. "See vendor site" means the official page doesn't say, and we don't guess.

OpenClaw is an AI agent that can talk to you over Telegram and Discord, drive a browser and run scheduled tasks. The software is free, and its website is blunt about it: "No subscription. No hosted tier." There's no official cloud version, so you choose where it lives. This guide puts the three approaches, real vendor prices and the security settings that matter in one place.

Comparison at a glance

None of these include AI model usage, except RoamerHost Advanced (Roamer AI usage included) and Hostinger's managed plan (its site mentions pre-configured AI credits; the amount isn't stated).

Why OpenClaw needs a place to live

At its core OpenClaw runs a long-lived process called the gateway. It has to stay up to receive Telegram and Discord messages and to fire scheduled tasks on time. The official FAQ puts it this way: if you want 24/7 reliability, use a VPS; if you want the lowest friction and can live with sleep and restarts, run it locally. When a laptop sleeps or drops off the network, the gateway disconnects.

So "how should I host it?" really comes down to three questions: does it need to run 24/7, who handles updates and security, and which currency do you want to be billed in?

Option 1: Your own computer or a Mac mini

There's a one-line installer (install.sh for macOS/Linux, install.ps1 for Windows), or you can install globally with npm. Then run the onboarding wizard to set up a model and messaging channels, and use openclaw gateway install to run it as a background service. It needs Node 24.16 or later (Node 26 recommended); the macOS desktop app requires macOS 15 or later.

• Pros: no hosting bill; it can read files on your machine and drive a browser you can see; iMessage requires a Mac signed in to Messages.
• Cons: it stops when your computer sleeps or goes offline, and by default the agent's tools run directly on your machine—meaning the AI can reach your everyday files and logged-in browser sessions.
• Best for: a one-week trial, or tasks that genuinely need local files. A common path is to try it locally, then move to the cloud once you know you'll keep using it.

Option 2: Rent a VPS and self-host

The official docs include deployment guides for DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Fly.io, Railway, Render, Northflank, Oracle, GCP, Azure, Hostinger and more. The official FAQ lists a minimum of 1 vCPU and about 500 MB of disk, recommends 1–2 vCPUs, and suggests Ubuntu LTS.

• DigitalOcean: the OpenClaw docs recommend a clean Ubuntu 24.04 droplet and a manual install, starting around US$6/mo (the docs note you'll need to add swap). DigitalOcean also offers its own OpenClaw 1-Click (launched February 2026, "starting at just $12/month" per its blog) with a firewall, Docker isolation and a TLS reverse proxy built in. Its Marketplace listing recommends a larger size than the $12 plan, so confirm the real starting price at checkout. Updates mean running an update script as root yourself.
• Hetzner: the docs use a Docker deployment with only SSH open in the firewall. No price is given; check Hetzner's site.
• Fly.io: the docs estimate roughly US$10–15/mo. The default deployment gets a public URL; a private setup is documented separately.
• Railway, Render, Northflank: all have one-click templates; you set the gateway token and mount a data volume yourself. Render's free tier sleeps when idle and has no persistent disk, so it isn't suited to long-running use.

What every VPS option shares: the lowest monthly cost, but updates, backups and security are entirely on you. The docs stress that the gateway binds to loopback by default; for remote access use an SSH tunnel or Tailscale instead of exposing the admin port to the internet, and run openclaw security audit periodically. The project also states plainly that it is not designed as a security boundary between mutually untrusted users sharing one gateway.

Option 3: One-click hosting

There's no official hosted tier, so all of these are third parties. Terms are per each vendor's site:

• Hostinger Managed OpenClaw: US$5.99/mo on a 24-month term (renews at US$11.99/mo). Hostinger says it handles security, updates and backups, and includes pre-configured AI credits (amount not stated). It also sells a self-managed OpenClaw VPS template (KVM1 from US$6.49/mo, also a 24-month price). This is the cheapest managed option we found; the trade-off is a long USD prepayment.
• xCloud: US$9.99 for the first month, then US$19.99/mo, bring your own API key. xCloud says updates, security patches and backups are handled for you; no SSH access.
• Elestio: from US$16/mo, billed hourly, on your choice of AWS, Hetzner, DigitalOcean and other clouds and regions; Elestio handles updates and backups.
• MyClaw: Lite at US$19/mo (2 vCPU / 40 GB); model usage is billed separately.
• Taiwan: EASPNET's GWS Claw is a Taiwan VPS with OpenClaw preinstalled, entry plan NT$660/mo (2 cores / 25 GB) with 24/7 support listed. Who handles backups and updates isn't stated; see the vendor site.

RoamerHost OpenClaw: who it's for, and who it isn't

RoamerHost is a fully managed platform built by a Taiwan-based team (Roamer Tech). Each agent runs in its own isolated container with its own HTTPS subdomain, live about 60 seconds after payment.

Both plans include browser automation, SSL and automatic backups. Advanced adds a Roamer AI business license—an engineer-level AI you don't need technical skills to use. Say "build me a customer-service agent" or "send my to-do list to Telegram every morning at 8," and it goes into your OpenClaw instance to create agents, write their personality and rules, install skills, set schedules and debug from the logs. It snapshots before every change, so "undo" rolls it back. Billing is monthly in NT$ by credit card with no contract, and checkout can issue a company invoice with your Tax ID.

To be straight with you, RoamerHost isn't the best fit if:

• Price is your top priority: if you'll sign a 24-month term in USD, Hostinger's managed plan costs less per month; if you can run a VPS, DigitalOcean or Hetzner is cheaper still.
• You need local files, iMessage, or local models via Ollama: those need your own computer or a machine with a GPU.
• You need SSH access or want to install system packages: RoamerHost is a fully managed container with no host-level access; a self-hosted VPS gives you more freedom.
• Regulations or contracts require your data to stay in a specific country: choose a provider with servers in that country that can commit to data residency in writing.

How to choose: three questions

1. Does it need to run 24/7? Just trying it, or your tasks need local files → install it on your own computer. Need Telegram and schedules → keep going.
2. Do you want to manage a server? Comfortable with SSH, updates and security hardening → self-host on a VPS for the lowest bill. Not interested → one-click hosting.
3. Which host? Fine with a long USD term and price comes first → Hostinger Managed. Need monthly NT$ billing, a company invoice, Traditional Chinese support, or want an AI to set up your agents → RoamerHost OpenClaw.

Not sure yet? Request a free trial—no credit card, and our team will help you get set up.

FAQ

Q: Is there an official OpenClaw cloud version?

No. The website says "No subscription. No hosted tier." The project ships open-source software and install docs only. Every OpenClaw hosting service on the market is a third party with no affiliation to the project.

Q: Does OpenClaw itself cost anything?

No. OpenClaw is free, MIT-licensed open-source software. You pay for two things: somewhere to run it (your computer, a VPS or a host), and AI model usage (your own OpenAI, Claude, Gemini or other API key, or a plan that includes model usage).

Q: Can I run it on a laptop?

Yes, but when the laptop sleeps or goes offline the gateway disconnects—messages won't arrive and schedules won't run. The official advice: use a VPS for 24/7 reliability, or run locally if you can accept interruptions.

Q: What are the minimum specs to self-host OpenClaw?

The official FAQ lists a minimum of 1 vCPU and about 500 MB of disk, and recommends 1–2 vCPUs on Ubuntu LTS. Browser automation uses noticeably more resources, so size up if you plan to use it.

Q: What's the most important security setting when self-hosting?

Don't expose the gateway's admin port to the internet. It binds to loopback by default; for remote access use an SSH tunnel or Tailscale, and if you must bind publicly, set a token or password. Run openclaw security audit after installing. Skills from ClawHub are scanned before listing, but the project still recommends reviewing them yourself.

Q: Do hosting plans include AI model costs?

Most don't—you bring your own API key. RoamerHost Advanced answers with Roamer AI by default (counts toward a daily quota that resets at midnight Taipei time). Hostinger's managed plan mentions pre-configured AI credits; see its site for the amount.

Q: Can I try RoamerHost OpenClaw first?

Yes. Fill in the free trial form—no credit card required, and our team will help set it up. After subscribing, billing is monthly with no contract and no cancellation fee; cancel in one click from the dashboard, and service runs to the end of the current period (fees already paid for that period aren't refunded).

Q: Is there OpenClaw hosting based in Taiwan?

Yes. RoamerHost is a fully managed service run by a Taiwan-based team (monthly NT$ billing, Traditional Chinese support, company invoices). EASPNET's GWS Claw is a VPS with OpenClaw preinstalled, billed monthly in NT$; how the application layer is maintained is per its website. Neither is an official OpenClaw service.

Sources

• OpenClaw website—license and "no hosted tier"
• OpenClaw install docs, hosting and specs FAQ, VPS deployment guides, remote access and security
• DigitalOcean 1-Click announcement, Hostinger Managed OpenClaw, Hostinger OpenClaw VPS
• xCloud, Elestio, MyClaw, EASPNET GWS Claw

Further reading

• What OpenClaw can and can't do, and how to pick a plan
• OpenClaw pre-purchase FAQ: model costs, plans and use cases
• Getting started with OpenClaw
• OpenClaw's container architecture and browser automation resources
• All OpenClaw guides
• RoamerHost OpenClaw hosting plans