Frequently Asked Questions

OpenClaw is a self-hosted gateway for AI agents. You run it yourself, then connect channels like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or iMessage through a Gateway you control.

OpenClaw is open source. You still need model credentials and a machine to run it. If you want stable 24/7 uptime, a VPS is usually the practical choice.

For a basic Gateway plus one channel, the official FAQ lists 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM, and about 500MB disk as the absolute minimum. A safer starting point is 1-2 vCPU and 2GB RAM or more.

The install itself is usually fast. Most beginners spend more time on onboarding, provider setup, and safe remote access than on the installer command.

You do not need to be an expert, but you should be comfortable opening a terminal, using SSH, and following step-by-step instructions without skipping ahead.

For VPS deployment, use a clean Ubuntu LTS image unless you have a strong reason to do otherwise. That is the safest starting point for a beginner.

If you want the least ambiguity, start with a provider path you can verify against the current OpenClaw docs. DigitalOcean remains a conservative default; Hostinger is also reasonable when you prefer its panel and official Hostinger-oriented setup path.

Entry VPS plans are often enough to start, but prices change frequently and promotions come and go. Treat any price you see on this site as a reference, not a promise.

Yes. You can run OpenClaw on your own Linux server or on your local machine. A VPS mainly matters when you want always-on uptime and cleaner separation from your personal device.