How to Set Up OpenClaw
Complete 2026 Guide
Go from zero to a running OpenClaw AI agent in minutes. Step-by-step instructions for every hosting method, from beginner-friendly one-click deployments to advanced self-hosting.
📋 What You'll Need
🤖 LLM API Key
Choose one:
- • Anthropic Claude (recommended)
- • OpenAI GPT-4
- • Groq (free tier available)
💬 Chat Platform
Optional but recommended:
- • Telegram Bot Token
- • Discord Bot
- • WhatsApp Business
🖥️ Hosting
Choose your deployment:
- • Cloud VPS (recommended)
- • Local machine
- • Platform-as-a-Service
⚡ Choose Your Setup Method
Hostinger (Recommended)
Beginner5 minutesOne-click Docker deployment with automated setup
Step-by-step process:
- 1Sign up for Hostinger VPS with Docker
- 2Access your VPS control panel
- 3Click "Deploy OpenClaw" from templates
- 4Set your API keys in the configuration
- 5Connect to Telegram/Discord
- 6Test your first command
DigitalOcean
Beginner8 minutesOfficial marketplace droplet with pre-configured environment
Step-by-step process:
- 1Create DigitalOcean account
- 2Navigate to Marketplace
- 3Search for "OpenClaw" template
- 4Deploy droplet (minimum $6/month)
- 5SSH into your server
- 6Run the setup script
- 7Configure environment variables
- 8Start OpenClaw service
Oracle Cloud (Free)
Advanced20 minutesFree forever tier with generous resources
Step-by-step process:
- 1Create Oracle Cloud account (verification required)
- 2Create ARM instance (4 CPU, 24GB RAM)
- 3Install Docker and Node.js
- 4Clone OpenClaw repository
- 5Build Docker image
- 6Configure environment variables
- 7Set up reverse proxy (optional)
- 8Configure firewall rules
Railway
Beginner3 minutesZero-configuration Git deployment
Step-by-step process:
- 1Connect GitHub account to Railway
- 2Import OpenClaw template repository
- 3Set environment variables
- 4Deploy automatically
- 5Configure domain (optional)
- 6Test webhook endpoints
Self-Hosted (Advanced)
Advanced30 minutesFull control on your own hardware
Step-by-step process:
- 1Prepare Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04+)
- 2Install Node.js 18+ and Docker
- 3Clone OpenClaw repository
- 4Install dependencies with npm
- 5Configure environment variables
- 6Set up systemd service
- 7Configure SSL with Let's Encrypt
- 8Set up monitoring and backups
📖 Detailed Instructions
🥇 Hostinger Method (Recommended)
The fastest way to get OpenClaw running. Hostinger provides one-click Docker deployment with everything pre-configured.
Step 1: Create Hostinger Account
Visit Hostinger and sign up for a VPS plan with Docker support.
KVM 1 - $5.99/month
2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 80GB NVMe
Step 2: Deploy OpenClaw
From your VPS control panel, find the OpenClaw template:
- Navigate to "Applications" → "Docker Templates"
- Search for "OpenClaw" or find it under "AI & Automation"
- Click "Deploy" and wait for installation (2-3 minutes)
- Note down the generated admin password
Step 3: Configure Environment
Set your API keys through the web interface:
https://your-server-ip:3000
# Required environment variables:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_claude_api_key
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your_telegram_token
Step 4: Test Your Setup
Verify everything works:
- Send a message to your Telegram bot
- Check the dashboard for agent activity
- Try basic commands like "what's the time?"
- Review logs for any errors
🌊 DigitalOcean Method
Step 1: Create Droplet
# Search for "OpenClaw"
# Choose $6/month Basic droplet
# Select datacenter region
Step 2: Initial Setup
cd /opt/openclaw
./setup.sh
Step 3: Configure Environment
# Add your API keys:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your_token
NODE_ENV=production
Step 4: Start Service
systemctl start openclaw
systemctl status openclaw
☁️ Oracle Cloud Free Method
⚠️ Advanced Method: Requires ARM compatibility and technical knowledge. Account approval can take 24-48 hours.
Step 1: Create Oracle Account
- Sign up at cloud.oracle.com (no credit card required)
- Wait for account verification (24-48 hours)
- Access Oracle Cloud Console
Step 2: Create ARM Instance
Image: Ubuntu 22.04 (ARM)
Shape: VM.Standard.A1.Flex
CPU: 4 OCPU
Memory: 24 GB
Storage: 200 GB
Step 3: Install Dependencies
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Install Node.js 18+
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
# Install Docker
sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
Step 4: Deploy OpenClaw
cd openclaw
npm install
cp .env.example .env
nano .env # Add your API keys
npm run build
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues
❌ OpenClaw won't start after installation
Check your API keys are correctly set in the .env file. Verify the LLM provider (Claude/OpenAI) is accessible from your server location.
❌ Telegram bot not responding
Ensure your bot token is correct and the bot is not already connected to another OpenClaw instance. Check firewall settings allow webhook access.
❌ High memory usage on small VPS
Disable unnecessary skills/plugins and reduce the context window size in your model configuration. Consider upgrading to a higher memory plan.
❌ SSL certificate errors
For webhook-based platforms like Telegram, you need HTTPS. Use Let's Encrypt or your hosting provider's SSL certificate service.
❌ Docker build fails on ARM
Oracle Cloud ARM instances may need architecture-specific images. Use the arm64 Docker builds or compile from source.
Need Help?
Join the OpenClaw community for support, tips, and troubleshooting help.
🎉 You're All Set!
OpenClaw is now running. Here's what to explore next to get the most out of your AI agent.