1
Sign in and connect
Sign in with Google, connect your LLM provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or others), and start with built-in chat, file uploads, and session management. Optionally connect Telegram or Slack bots.
Cloud Hosting
OpenClaw cloud hosting and managed VPS alternative
Run OpenClaw without owning day-2 VPS maintenance. You get managed operations, security defaults, hosted browser access, and usage visibility while keeping control of model credentials and bot setup.
What it means
Cloud hosting for OpenClaw means your assistant runs on managed infrastructure with security-by-design defaults. You do not touch servers, networking, or update cycles. You bring your LLM provider credentials, chat directly in the dashboard by default with file uploads and session management, optionally enable a persistent hosted browser, and optionally connect messaging platform tokens.
Claim
Managed OpenClaw cloud hosting is usually the fastest path to production-grade AI agent operations.
Evidence
OpenClaw Setup provides isolated runtime boundaries, no public IP exposure, encrypted credentials, allowlist controls, optional Hosted Browser, and per-model usage/cost analytics by default.
Limitations
Teams requiring deep custom infrastructure control may still prefer self-hosting. For decision criteria, see managed vs self-hosted comparison.
What this page covers
This is a product-focused breakdown of runtime boundaries, security controls, and why managed cloud hosting is the main alternative to running OpenClaw on your own VPS. If you want Q&A style guidance first, start with Answer Hub. For provider comparisons, use the hosting provider guide. For the self-managed path, use the OpenClaw setup guide plus the troubleshooting checklist.
2 min
Time to first message with guided setup.
Zero infra
No servers to provision, patch, or monitor.
BYOK
Bring your own LLM keys. View hosting plans.
Cloud vs Self-hosted
Cloud hosting vs self-hosting for OpenClaw
| Factor | Self-hosted | Cloud hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Hours to days | Minutes |
| Server management | You handle provisioning, OS, updates | Fully managed |
| Security hardening | You design and maintain | Built-in isolation, no public IP |
| Credential storage | You secure API keys in your runtime | Encrypted at rest (AES-256-GCM), keys separated from agent |
| Monitoring | You set up logging and alerts | Built-in usage and cost analytics |
| Access control | You implement allowlists | Allowlist-only messaging by default |
| Browser workflows | You maintain Chrome, VNC/CDP, certificates, and profile persistence | Optional Hosted Browser sidecar with dashboard access |
| Updates | You track and apply | Managed updates |
How it works
3 steps to deployed OpenClaw
2
Configure access
Set up your allowlist so only approved users can message your assistant. Credentials are encrypted and stored separately from your runtime.
3
Start chatting
Your instance deploys to an isolated environment with no public IP. Chat with reusable sessions, upload files, optionally enable Hosted Browser, and monitor usage and cost by model.
Real product screens
What this looks like in the actual app
Security + Cost Control
What you get with hosted OpenClaw
- Isolated runtime: your assistant runs in its own environment, separated from other users and internal services.
- No public IP exposure: your instance is not directly reachable from the public internet.
- Encrypted credentials: your LLM API keys and bot tokens are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM and never exposed to the runtime.
- Allowlist-only access: only people or groups you approve can access your assistant in built-in chat or connected channels like Telegram/Slack.
- Hosted Browser: optional persistent browser sidecar with local CDP for the agent and dashboard access for the user.
- Per-model cost tracking: see token usage and cost broken down by model and time period in the dashboard.
- Workspace export: export your workspace anytime. Secrets are excluded or redacted.
Cost control
With BYOK (bring your own keys), you pay your provider directly for model usage. Hosting plan pricing is shown in our pricing section. The dashboard shows token burn by model so you can catch surprises early.
Trust & operations
How this is operated in practice
Reliability + security
- Uptime target: 99.9% for managed hosting layer.
- Network posture: instances are not exposed with a public IP.
- Isolation: runtime boundaries separate user environments.
- Credential protection: AES-256-GCM encryption at rest; keys are kept separate from agent runtime.
- Access control: allowlist-only messaging to reduce unauthorized access risk.
Maintenance + support
- Update cadence: daily rollouts for security hardening, base OpenClaw updates, and stability improvements.
- Support channels: gregory@lemon-ai.com and @GregoryPotemkin.
- Response expectation: usually within 1 hour, and no later than 12 hours.
FAQ
Common questions about this managed option
You get a managed OpenClaw runtime with deployment, patching, baseline security controls, built-in chat, optional Hosted Browser, and optional messaging channels handled by the platform team.
Self-hosting gives deeper low-level control but requires setup, hardening, patching, and monitoring. Managed runtime removes that recurring work.
Isolated runtime boundaries, no public IP exposure, encrypted credentials (AES-256-GCM), and allowlist-based messaging access.
Yes. You can export your workspace from a self-hosted instance and import it into the managed platform. Secrets and tokens are excluded from exports for security.
Pricing is itemized by instance size: Light is $3.90/month with 1 CPU, 3 GB RAM, and 20 GB storage, Medium is $7.90/month with 2 CPUs, 8 GB RAM, and 80 GB storage, and Large is $15.90/month with 4 CPUs, 16 GB RAM, and 160 GB storage. Paperclip is an optional $3.90/month add-on for new workspace deployments. See pricing.
Learn more
Continue exploring
Self-hosting comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of what you handle vs what we manage.
AI agent hosting guideWhere managed AI/LLM hosting wins and where self-hosted still makes sense.
Telegram setup guideStep-by-step instructions for connecting your Telegram bot.
Cost-effective OpenClawHow to save 5–20x with subscription-based LLM auth instead of raw API keys.
Managed Paperclip hosting$3.90/mo Paperclip workspace that auto-attaches to every present and future agent.
Ready
Deploy OpenClaw in 2 minutes.
No infrastructure work. Secure defaults. Clear cost visibility.