OpenClaw Deployment Options Compared: From Local to Cloud

22 deployment methods from one-command local install to Fly.io, Railway, and Oracle Cloud free tier. Cost, difficulty, and feature matrix.

Tags: deployment, comparison, cloud, self-hosted

Category: guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cheapest way to run OpenClaw 24/7?

Oracle Cloud's Always Free tier gives you a 4-OCPU ARM instance with 24GB RAM at zero cost — more than enough for OpenClaw. A Raspberry Pi is the cheapest self-hosted option at $35-80 one-time. Both only cost you the LLM API fees.

Should I use Docker or install directly?

Docker is recommended if you want isolation, easy updates, and reproducible setups. Direct install via npm or the installer script is simpler for single-machine personal use. Docker shines when you're running on a shared server or want sandboxed tool execution.

Can I run OpenClaw on a VPS with only 1GB RAM?

Yes, OpenClaw's gateway is a Node.js process that typically uses 100-300MB RAM. A 1GB VPS works fine for the gateway itself. However, if you want Docker sandboxing or local models via Ollama, you'll need more RAM — at least 4GB.

How do I migrate my OpenClaw setup to a different server?

Copy your workspace directory (config, skills, memory files) and .env to the new server, install OpenClaw, and start the gateway. Your agent's personality, memory, and configuration are all file-based, so migration is straightforward.

What about Railway and Fly.io — are they good for OpenClaw?

Both work well for always-on deployment. Fly.io offers generous free tier with persistent volumes. Railway is simpler to set up with GitHub integration. Both cost roughly $5-7/month beyond free tiers. They're great if you don't want to manage your own server.