OpenClaw Hosting Options Compared: Self-Host vs Managed vs Cloud (2026)

TL;DR

Self-hosting gives you maximum control and lowest cost ($5-12/mo) but requires technical knowledge. Managed platforms (SimpleClaw, Clawctl, hostmenow) cost $15-50/mo but handle everything. The right choice depends on your technical comfort level, budget, and how much customization you need. Regardless of hosting choice, security auditing matters — most breaches happen because of configuration, not infrastructure.

The Complete Comparison

Option 1: Self-Hosting on a VPS

Best providers: Hetzner ($4.50/mo), DigitalOcean ($6/mo), Linode ($5/mo), Vultr ($5/mo)

Pros:

Cons:

Recommended specs: 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM, 40GB SSD minimum. More if running local models.

Security note: If you self-host, you MUST configure authentication, bind to localhost, and set up a reverse proxy. Use the free security audit to verify your config or Milo Shield for ongoing monitoring.

Option 2: Self-Hosting on Raspberry Pi / Home Server

Pros:

Cons:

Hardware: Raspberry Pi 5 ($80) or any old laptop/mini PC. 4GB RAM minimum.

Security note: Home deployments are actually safer by default — they're behind NAT and not directly reachable from the internet. Just don't port-forward 3000.

Option 3: SimpleClaw (Managed)

Price: $19/mo (Starter), $39/mo (Pro), $79/mo (Team)

What you get: Fully managed OpenClaw with web dashboard, pre-configured security, automatic updates, built-in backups.

Pros:

Cons:

Best for: Non-technical users who want OpenClaw without the ops work.

Option 4: Clawctl (Managed)

Price: $25/mo (Individual), $49/mo (Team), $99/mo (Business)

What you get: Managed OpenClaw with CLI and API access, team features, moderate customization.

Pros:

Cons:

Best for: Developers and small teams who want managed hosting with more control.

Option 5: hostmenow (Budget Managed)

Price: $15/mo flat

What you get: Basic managed hosting, single agent, community support.

Pros:

Cons:

Best for: Budget-conscious users who want managed but don't need bells and whistles.

Option 6: Majordomo (Enterprise)

Price: $49/mo (Starter), custom pricing for enterprise

What you get: Enterprise-grade managed OpenClaw with compliance features, priority support, SLA guarantees.

Pros:

Cons:

Best for: Businesses with compliance requirements or multiple agents.

The Security Reality

Here's the thing most hosting comparisons won't tell you: the hosting platform matters less than your configuration.

The 135,000+ exposed OpenClaw instances aren't on a particular hosting provider — they're everywhere. VPS users forget to configure auth. Managed platform users override security defaults. Home users port-forward without thinking.

Regardless of where you host, you should:

The free security audit at getmilo.dev works with any hosting setup. If you want automated ongoing monitoring, Milo Shield runs on any OpenClaw instance regardless of hosting provider.

FAQ

Q: What's the cheapest way to run OpenClaw?

Self-hosting on a Hetzner VPS at $4.50/month. Or free on a Raspberry Pi you already own (just electricity costs). For managed hosting, hostmenow at $15/month is the cheapest.

Q: Which hosting is most secure by default?

Majordomo has the strongest security defaults (enterprise-grade with SOC 2 compliance). Among budget options, SimpleClaw and Clawctl both ship with pre-hardened configurations. Self-hosting has no security by default — it's entirely up to you.

Q: Should I self-host or use managed hosting?

Self-host if: you're technical, you enjoy tinkering, you want full control, and you'll actually maintain security. Use managed if: you want it to just work, you're not comfortable with Linux, or you don't want to think about security and updates.

Q: Can I migrate between hosting options?

Yes. OpenClaw configs and skills are portable. Export your config, SOUL.md, memory files, and installed skills. Import them on the new platform. The main friction is with managed platforms that use custom skill marketplaces.

Q: Do I need a powerful server for OpenClaw?

Not if you're using API-based models (Claude, GPT, Gemini). OpenClaw itself is lightweight — 2 vCPU and 2GB RAM is plenty. You only need serious hardware if running local LLMs (then you want GPU + 16GB+ RAM).

*Check your security config (any hosting) →*

*Set up OpenClaw securely from scratch →*