Running OpenClaw on a VPS

A VPS keeps your agent online around the clock. This checklist covers what to prepare so it stays secure and running.

VPS checklist

  1. Pick a size — The agent itself is light; browser automation and code execution need more memory. 2 GB RAM is a practical minimum if you use the browser.
  2. Create a non-root user — Run the agent under its own user account with SSH keys only.
  3. Install Node with a version manager — Avoid global sudo installs; match the Node version the OpenClaw docs require.
  4. Install and onboard OpenClaw — Install the CLI, run onboarding and install the daemon so it survives reboots.
    npm install -g openclaw@latest
    openclaw onboard --install-daemon
  5. Lock it down — Enable a firewall, keep the OS updated, and sandbox command execution in Docker.
  6. Monitor — Set up uptime alerts and log rotation so you know when the gateway stops.

Prefer not to run a server?

MobiClaw runs OpenClaw-style agents for you with sandboxing, browser automation, scheduling and chat-app connections already configured. You get the always-on agent without the sysadmin work.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a GPU to host an AI agent?

No. The agent calls hosted AI models over the internet, so a regular CPU server is enough.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Every paid plan starts with a 24-hour trial for $1 so we can keep abuse out. If you do nothing, the subscription starts automatically after the trial; cancel any time before that from Billing and you will not be charged again.

Start your $1 trial

MobiClaw is an independent hosted AI agent platform. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the OpenClaw project or Nous Research. OpenClaw and Hermes Agent are names of their respective open-source projects.