OpenClaw Hosting

No, you don’t need any technical knowledge to install OpenClaw. Simply select it during the VPS ordering process and it will be set up automatically.

For further configuration and management of your AI agent, a basic understanding of Linux (SSH) is helpful. As you have full root access to the Linux system, you should be comfortable with the command line (SSH) as well as configuring Docker or Node.js. VPS+ gives you the maximum flexibility of a professional self-hosting system, but requires you to take responsibility for securing and maintaining the server yourself.

An IONOS VPS+ offers three decisive advantages: 24/7 availability, security, and a fixed IP address. While your private PC would have to be constantly running to operate OpenClaw, the VPS+ continues to work autonomously in the data centre. In addition, the VPS+ isolates the in-depth AI processes from your private network in a secure sandbox. The fixed IP address also guarantees that webhooks (e.g. for WhatsApp or Slack) remain reliably accessible at all times.

In addition to the monthly fees for your IONOS VPS+ package, costs may be incurred for the AI models used (such as GPT-4 or Claude). As OpenClaw acts as an interface, you usually need your own API keys from the respective providers, which are billed according to usage. Alternatively, you can connect OpenClaw to services such as Nexos AI to control access to different models via a centralised credit system without having to take out separate subscriptions for each provider.

Yes, you can adapt your IONOS VPS+ to growing requirements at any time. If your AI agent takes on more complex tasks and requires more resources, you can upgrade to a more powerful VPS+ package (with more CPU, RAM, and SSD storage) directly via the IONOS customer area.