OpenClaw Hosting for Beginners: Zero to Running Bot

If you have heard about OpenClaw and want to try it but are not sure where to start, this guide is for you. No prior experience with servers, Docker, or command-line tools is required. By the end, you will have a working AI assistant that you can talk to through Discord, Telegram, or WhatsApp.

What Is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source platform that lets you run your own AI coding assistant. Think of it as a private AI chatbot that you control, that connects to your preferred messaging apps, and that uses the AI model of your choice (like GPT-4 from OpenAI or Claude from Anthropic).

Because it is open-source, you pay only for AI model usage and a small hosting fee -- no subscription to a platform vendor.

What Does Hosting Mean?

Hosting means running a program on a computer that is always connected to the internet. Your laptop could technically do this, but it would need to stay on 24/7. In practice, people use servers -- computers in data centers designed to run continuously.

When you send a message to your bot on Discord at midnight, the server receives it, sends it to the AI model, gets a response, and delivers it back. All of this happens whether your personal computer is on or off.

The Three Ways to Host OpenClaw

Option 1: Managed Platform (Easiest)

A managed platform is a company that runs OpenClaw for you. You sign up, pay a monthly fee, and they handle everything technical. This is the equivalent of renting a fully furnished apartment instead of building a house.

Pros: No technical knowledge required. Someone else handles updates, security, and maintenance.

Cons: Higher cost. Less control over your data and configuration. You depend on the provider's availability.

Option 2: Railway with SimpleOpenClaw (Recommended)

Railway is a cloud platform that makes it easy to deploy applications. SimpleOpenClaw is a template that packages OpenClaw for one-click deployment on Railway. This is the middle ground: Railway handles the server and networking, while you keep full control of your OpenClaw instance through a web-based setup wizard.

Pros: Setup takes about 10 minutes. No command-line work. You control your instance and data. Costs are transparent and low.

Cons: You handle OpenClaw updates yourself (though this is just a button click in Railway). Basic troubleshooting may occasionally be needed.

This is the option we recommend for most beginners, and it is the one this guide walks through in detail.

Option 3: VPS Self-Hosting (Advanced)

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a virtual computer you rent from a provider like Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or OVHcloud. You connect to it via a terminal, install OpenClaw manually, and manage everything yourself.

Pros: Maximum control. Lowest possible cost. Full access to the server environment.

Cons: Requires comfort with the command line, Linux, and Docker. You are responsible for security, updates, and troubleshooting.

This option is best for people with existing server management experience.

Step-by-Step: Deploy OpenClaw on Railway

This walkthrough covers the recommended path. You will need about 10-15 minutes and the following:

• A web browser
• An email address (for creating accounts)
• A credit card (Railway requires one for the Pro plan, which starts at $5 per month)
• An API key from an AI provider (we will explain how to get one)

Step 1: Get Your AI Provider API Key

You need an API key from the AI provider whose model you want to use. An API key is like a password that lets OpenClaw send requests to the AI model on your behalf.

• OpenAI (for GPT-4): Sign up at platform.openai.com, go to API Keys, and create one.
• Anthropic (for Claude): Sign up at console.anthropic.com, go to API Keys, and create one.

Both charge per usage. A typical user spends $5-30 per month on API costs. Set spending limits in the provider's dashboard to avoid surprises.

Step 2: Create a Railway Account

Go to railway.app and sign up. Connect a GitHub account when prompted. Upgrade to the Pro plan (starting at $5 per month) -- free-tier resources are too limited for OpenClaw.

Step 3: Deploy the SimpleOpenClaw Template

Navigate to the SimpleOpenClaw Railway template page and click "Deploy on Railway." Set the SETUP_PASSWORD variable to a strong password -- this protects your admin interface. Leave the other variables at their defaults and click "Deploy." The build takes two to three minutes.

Step 4: Enable Public Networking

In your service's Settings tab, find the Networking section and click "Generate Domain." Railway assigns a URL like your-service.up.railway.app to your instance.

Step 5: Run the Setup Wizard

Open your browser and go to https://your-service.up.railway.app/setup (replace with your actual Railway URL). You will be prompted for a username and password. The username is any value (it is ignored), and the password is the SETUP_PASSWORD you set in Step 3.

The setup wizard walks you through:

1. Choosing your AI provider: Select OpenAI, Anthropic, or another supported provider and enter the API key you obtained in Step 1.
2. Configuring gateway settings: The defaults work for most users. The wizard handles the technical details.
3. Connecting messaging channels: This is where you link Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp, or other platforms.

Step 6: Connect a Messaging Channel

The setup wizard includes a section for adding channels. For your first channel, Telegram is the simplest: message @BotFather on Telegram, send /newbot, follow the prompts, and paste the resulting token into the wizard.

Discord requires a few extra steps: create an application at discord.com/developers, create a bot, enable the "Message Content Intent" toggle (critical -- your bot cannot read messages without it), generate an invite link, and paste the bot token into the wizard.

WhatsApp uses the Business API and involves a Meta Business account and webhook configuration. Consider starting with Telegram or Discord if this is your first time.

After entering your channel credentials, complete the setup. The wizard configures OpenClaw, starts the gateway, and connects to your channel.

Step 7: Test Your Bot

Send a message to your bot through the channel you just connected. If everything is configured correctly, you should receive a response within a few seconds. The first message may take slightly longer as the system warms up.

If the bot does not respond, go back to https://your-service.up.railway.app/setup and check the status indicators. The setup wizard shows whether the gateway is running and whether the channel connection is active.

What to Expect Cost-Wise

Running OpenClaw on Railway involves two cost categories:

A single-user instance with moderate usage typically falls in the $5-10 range for Railway hosting. Monitor both costs in their respective dashboards.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Learning from other people's mistakes saves time. Here are the ones that come up most frequently.

Forgetting the Discord Message Content Intent

If your Discord bot seems connected but never responds, this is almost always the reason. Go to the Discord Developer Portal, select your application, navigate to the Bot section, and enable the Message Content Intent toggle.

Using a Weak Setup Password

The setup password protects your entire OpenClaw configuration, including your AI API keys. Use a strong, unique password -- anyone who guesses it can reconfigure your instance.

Not Setting API Spending Limits

AI API costs can spike unexpectedly. Set a monthly spending limit in your AI provider's dashboard to avoid surprises. Both OpenAI and Anthropic support this.

Skipping the Persistent Volume

Without a Railway volume mounted at /data, your configuration is lost on every redeployment. The template should handle this, but verify a volume is attached in your Railway service Settings.

Setting Up Everything at Once

Start with one AI provider and one messaging channel. Get that working before adding more. Configuring multiple channels and providers simultaneously makes errors harder to diagnose.

What Is Next

Once your bot is running and you have used it for a few days, here are the natural next steps:

• Add more channels: Connect additional messaging platforms to reach your bot from more places.
• Experiment with AI models: Try different providers or model versions to find the best balance of quality, speed, and cost for your use case.
• Explore the Control UI: Visit your-railway-url/openclaw to adjust assistant behavior and monitor activity.
• Set up backups: Use the export feature at your-railway-url/setup/export to download a backup of your configuration and workspace.
• Join the community: Connect with other OpenClaw users to share tips and learn about new features.

The most important thing is to start. A running bot that you use every day teaches you more than a week of reading documentation. Deploy, experiment, and iterate.