How do I host Clawdbot?

ClawdHost provides managed Clawdbot hosting. Sign up, add your API key, and your instance is live in 60 seconds—no VPS setup, no Docker, no SSH required.

Do I need my own API key?

Yes—you bring your own Anthropic, OpenAI, or OpenRouter API key. Your conversations are processed directly through your account, we never see your chat data.

What platforms does Clawdbot support?

ClawdHost supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack. All platforms can be connected through our dashboard with just a few clicks.

Yes. Your Clawdbot instance runs on its own isolated VPS. Your API keys are stored encrypted and your conversations go directly to your LLM provider.

Is ClawdHost the same as Moltbot hosting?

Yes! Clawdbot was renamed to Moltbot in January 2026, and later to OpenClaw. ClawdHost provides managed hosting for all versions and automatically keeps your instance updated to the latest stable release.

How much does ClawdHost cost?

$29/month for your own Clawdbot instance with all features enabled. This includes managed infrastructure, automatic updates, platform integrations, and email support. No hidden fees.

Does Clawdbot work with Claude, GPT-4, and other models?

Yes! Clawdbot supports Anthropic Claude (including Opus and Sonnet), OpenAI GPT-4, and any model available through OpenRouter. You choose which model to use and can switch anytime.

How long does setup take?

About 60 seconds. After signing up and adding your API key, we automatically provision your server, install Clawdbot, and configure all features. You can start connecting platforms immediately.

Can I use Clawdbot on multiple platforms at once?

Yes! You can connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack all at the same time. Each platform runs on the same Clawdbot instance, so your AI assistant has consistent context across all channels.

Do you offer refunds?

Yes—we offer a 24-hour money-back guarantee. If ClawdHost isn't right for you within the first 24 hours, contact us for a full refund. No questions asked.

OpenClaw Hosting at $29/Mo: Real Pricing Breakdown (2026)

"How much does Clawdbot cost?"

It's the most common question people ask after watching a demo. Someone shares a video of their AI assistant booking calendar events, summarizing emails, and managing their smart home — and the first response is always: what does that actually cost?

The short answer: the software is free, but running it costs $30–500+/month depending on how you use it.

The long answer is more nuanced. Let's break down every cost involved in running Clawdbot (now called OpenClaw) so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

Quick Note on the Name

Clawdbot was renamed to Moltbot, then to OpenClaw, all within one week in January 2026 due to a trademark request from Anthropic. Same project, same code, same lobster mascot. If you're searching for "Clawdbot cost" or "Moltbot pricing," you're in the right place.

For the full name change story, read our explainer on Clawdbot vs Moltbot vs OpenClaw.

The Three Costs of Running OpenClaw

Running OpenClaw involves three separate expenses. Most people only think about the first one.

1. The Software: Free

OpenClaw is open-source under the MIT license. You can download it from GitHub (180K+ stars), modify it, and deploy it without paying anything for the code itself.

Cost: $0

2. The AI API: $10–500+/month

This is where the real money goes. OpenClaw is an orchestration layer — it coordinates tasks, but the actual intelligence comes from large language models like Claude or GPT-4. These models charge per token (roughly per word).

Here's what real users report spending:

Usage Level	Monthly API Cost	What It Looks Like
Light	$10–30	A few queries per day, minimal automation
Moderate	$50–150	Daily use, some scheduled tasks
Heavy	$200–500	Always-on, multiple integrations
Power User	$500–2,000+	Full automation, proactive monitoring

Why the range is so wide: OpenClaw sends your full conversation history with every API call. A simple "what's on my calendar?" costs almost nothing. But a 50-message conversation where your assistant browses the web, checks three APIs, and drafts an email can cost $1–5 in a single interaction because each step is a separate API call carrying the full context.

The infamous cases — $3,600/month from MacStories, $200 overnight charges from runaway loops — come from power users with always-on automation and multiple integrations running 24/7.

For a deeper dive into API costs, read our full breakdown of OpenClaw's real operating costs.

3. The Hosting: $0–29/month

OpenClaw needs to run somewhere. You have three options:

Option A: Your own computer ($0) Run it on your laptop or a Mac Mini. Free, but it only works when your machine is on and connected. Turn off your laptop, your assistant goes offline.

Option B: A VPS ($4–18/month) Rent a cloud server from DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or similar. Keeps your assistant running 24/7, but you need to:

Set up Ubuntu/Linux
Install Node.js and dependencies
Configure PM2 or systemd for auto-restart
Manage security updates and SSH access
Handle crashes and monitoring yourself

Most people underestimate the time cost here. Budget 2–4 hours for initial setup, plus ongoing maintenance.

Option C: Managed hosting ($29/month) Services like ClawdHost handle all the infrastructure. You get a pre-configured server with OpenClaw installed, automatic updates, crash recovery, and monitoring. No SSH, no Docker, no Linux knowledge required. See how managed hosting compares to DIY in our managed vs DIY VPS comparison.

Total Cost Summary

Here's what it actually costs to run OpenClaw, by usage level:

Setup	Monthly Cost	Best For
Local + Light API use	$10–30	Trying it out, casual use
VPS + Moderate API use	$54–168	Technical users, daily use
VPS + Heavy API use	$204–518	Developers, always-on assistant
Managed + Light API use	$35–59	Non-technical users, casual use
Managed + Moderate API use	$75–179	Most users, daily assistant

How to Reduce Your OpenClaw Costs

If you're running OpenClaw and want to keep bills down:

Use Prompt Caching

OpenClaw supports prompt caching for Claude models. This reuses cached context instead of resending it every time, which can cut costs by 50–90% on long conversations. Make sure it's enabled in your config.

Choose the Right Model

Not every task needs Claude Opus 4.5. For simple queries:

Claude Haiku costs ~10x less than Opus
Gemini 2.0 Flash offers large context windows at low prices
GPT-4o mini handles basic tasks at a fraction of GPT-4's cost

Configure OpenClaw to route simple tasks to cheaper models and save the expensive models for complex reasoning.

Use the /compact Command

Long conversations accumulate tokens. The /compact command summarizes your chat history, reducing the token payload on every subsequent message. Use it after 20–30 messages.

Limit Proactive Features

Autonomous operations (checking email, monitoring feeds, running scheduled tasks) run API calls in the background while you sleep. Start with manual-only mode and enable proactive features one at a time so you can track the cost impact.

Set Budget Alerts

Both Anthropic and OpenAI let you set spending alerts. Configure them at $25, $50, and $100 so you're never caught off guard.

The Managed Alternative: Predictable Pricing

If unpredictable API bills and VPS management aren't appealing, managed hosting simplifies the equation.

ClawdHost offers managed OpenClaw hosting starting at $29/month with:

Pre-configured OpenClaw on your own isolated VPS (2GB RAM, 2 vCPU)
60-second deployment — add your API key, connect your platform, done
Multi-platform support — Discord, Telegram, and Slack from one instance
Automatic updates — new OpenClaw releases deploy without you lifting a finger
24/7 monitoring — auto-restart on crashes, uptime alerts
AES-256 encrypted credentials — your API keys and bot tokens stay secure

You still bring your own API key (BYOK), so you control your AI provider and data. ClawdHost handles everything else.

The math: A $7/month VPS + 2 hours of setup time + ongoing maintenance vs. $29/month all-inclusive with zero maintenance. For most people, the $22 difference pays for itself in the first week.

Is OpenClaw Worth the Cost?

That depends on what you compare it to.

Compared to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month): OpenClaw costs more, but it can actually do things — send messages, manage files, control smart home devices, run scheduled tasks. ChatGPT is a chatbot. OpenClaw is an autonomous agent.

Compared to hiring a virtual assistant ($500–2,000/month): OpenClaw is dramatically cheaper for routine tasks like scheduling, email triage, and data entry. It won't replace a human for nuanced work, but for repetitive tasks, the ROI is clear.

Compared to building custom automation (100+ dev hours): OpenClaw gives you an AI agent framework out of the box. Building equivalent functionality with n8n, Zapier, or custom code would take weeks of development time.

For most users, the sweet spot is $50–100/month total (managed hosting + moderate API use). That gets you a capable AI assistant running 24/7 across your preferred messaging platforms.

Bottom Line

OpenClaw (Clawdbot) is free software with real operating costs:

Software: Free
AI API: $10–500+/month (most users: $30–150)
Hosting: $0–29/month (local, VPS, or managed)
Total for most users: $50–100/month

The "free" label gets people in the door. The API bill is the reality check. Go in with realistic expectations, set budget alerts, and start small — you can always scale up once you understand your usage patterns.