How to Set Up OpenClaw on DigitalOcean (Complete Guide)
Deploy OpenClaw on DigitalOcean Droplets using the official 1-Click Marketplace app. Get a fully-configured instance in minutes with DigitalOcean's reliable infrastructure.
Ready to deploy?
Deploy OpenClaw on DigitalOcean with the official 1-Click Marketplace app.
Create OpenClaw Droplet →Why DigitalOcean for OpenClaw?
DigitalOcean is a developer-favorite cloud provider known for simplicity and excellent documentation. Their official OpenClaw Marketplace app gives you a pre-configured Droplet with Docker and OpenClaw ready to run. With 15+ global data centers and hourly billing, it's a solid choice for developers who want reliable infrastructure without complexity.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Official 1-Click OpenClaw Marketplace app
- Simple, intuitive control panel
- Excellent documentation and tutorials
- 15 global data center locations
- Hourly billing (pay only for what you use)
- Strong community support
- Free monitoring and alerting included
Cons
- More expensive than Hostinger ($12/mo minimum)
- No free tier available
- No pre-integrated AI tokens (need your own API key)
- Support can be slow on free tier
DigitalOcean Pricing for OpenClaw
DigitalOcean's Basic Droplets are the most cost-effective option for OpenClaw. We recommend the 2 GB RAM plan ($12/mo) as a minimum — anything less may struggle with memory-intensive AI operations.
| Plan | Price | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic - 2 GB★ Recommended | $12/mo | 1 vCPU | 2 GB | 50 GB SSD | 2 TB |
| Basic - 4 GB | $24/mo | 2 vCPU | 4 GB | 80 GB SSD | 4 TB |
| Basic - 8 GB | $48/mo | 4 vCPU | 8 GB | 160 GB SSD | 5 TB |
| Premium - 4 GB | $32/mo | 2 vCPU | 4 GB | 100 GB NVMe | 4 TB |
* Hourly billing available. Prices shown are monthly caps. Bandwidth overages are $0.01/GB.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Open the OpenClaw Marketplace App
Go to the DigitalOcean Marketplace and find the official OpenClaw 1-Click App.
https://marketplace.digitalocean.com/apps/openclaw
Screenshot: DigitalOcean Marketplace page for OpenClaw showing Create button
Create Your Droplet
Click 'Create OpenClaw Droplet' to start the provisioning process. This pre-selects the OpenClaw image for you.
Screenshot: Droplet creation flow with OpenClaw image pre-selected
Choose a Data Center Region
Select the region closest to you or your users. DigitalOcean has 15+ locations including New York, San Francisco, London, Frankfurt, Singapore, and more.
Screenshot: Data center region selection showing global options
Select Your Plan
Choose the Basic plan with at least 2 GB RAM ($12/mo). For better performance with multiple AI models, consider 4 GB RAM ($24/mo).
Screenshot: Plan selection showing Basic, General Purpose, and CPU-Optimized options
Add SSH Key or Set Password
For security, add your SSH public key. Alternatively, DigitalOcean will email you a root password (less secure).
Screenshot: Authentication options with SSH key upload
Click Create Droplet
DigitalOcean will provision your Droplet with OpenClaw pre-installed. This typically takes 1-2 minutes.
Screenshot: Droplet creation progress indicator
Access Your OpenClaw Dashboard
Once the Droplet is ready, find its IP address in the control panel and open it in your browser:
http://YOUR_DROPLET_IP:3000
Screenshot: OpenClaw dashboard running on DigitalOcean Droplet
Configure Your API Key
OpenClaw needs an AI API key. SSH into your Droplet and edit the environment file:
ssh root@YOUR_DROPLET_IP cd /opt/openclaw nano .env # Add: OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key-here docker compose restart
Environment Variables
Configure these environment variables to enable AI features in OpenClaw:
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OPENAI_API_KEY | Yes | Your OpenAI API key |
| ANTHROPIC_API_KEY | Optional | Your Anthropic API key for Claude models |
| GATEWAY_TOKEN | Yes | Secret token to protect your gateway |
DigitalOcean vs Other Providers
See how DigitalOcean compares to other popular OpenClaw hosting options:
| Provider | Price | Ease of Setup | Key Features | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | $12/mo | ★★★★☆ | 1-click marketplace | Good |
| Hostinger | $6.99/mo | ★★★★★ | 1-click, AI tokens | Best value |
| Vultr | $6/mo | ★★★☆☆ | Manual Docker setup | Budget option |
| Oracle Cloud | Free | ★★☆☆☆ | ARM instances | Free tier |
Common Issues & Solutions
Port 3000 blocked
Go to Networking → Firewalls in the DigitalOcean dashboard. Create a firewall rule allowing inbound TCP on port 3000 from your IP (or 0.0.0.0/0 for public access).
2 GB RAM hitting limits
If you see memory errors, add swap space or upgrade to a larger Droplet:
fallocate -l 2G /swapfile chmod 600 /swapfile mkswap /swapfile swapon /swapfile
Container not starting
Check logs with docker compose logs -f openclaw. Common issues: missing API key, invalid GATEWAY_TOKEN, or port conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DigitalOcean have a 1-click OpenClaw install?
Yes! DigitalOcean offers an official OpenClaw 1-Click App in their Marketplace. Select it when creating a Droplet and OpenClaw is pre-installed and running.
Which DigitalOcean plan do I need for OpenClaw?
The Basic 2 GB plan ($12/mo) is the minimum for stable OpenClaw operation. If you plan to run multiple AI models or heavy integrations, consider the 4 GB plan ($24/mo).
Do I need my own API key for OpenClaw on DigitalOcean?
Yes, DigitalOcean doesn't offer pre-integrated AI tokens like Hostinger. You'll need an OpenAI or Anthropic API key to use OpenClaw's AI features.
How does DigitalOcean pricing work?
DigitalOcean charges hourly (about $0.018/hour for the 2 GB plan) with a monthly cap. You can spin up a Droplet, test OpenClaw, and delete it — you'll only pay for the hours used.
Can I upgrade my DigitalOcean Droplet later?
Yes, you can resize your Droplet to a larger plan through the DigitalOcean control panel. The process takes a few minutes of downtime.
Does DigitalOcean offer IPv6 for OpenClaw?
Yes, all DigitalOcean Droplets include IPv6 addresses at no extra cost. This is useful if you need IPv6 connectivity for your OpenClaw instance.
Ready to Deploy OpenClaw on DigitalOcean?
Get started with the official 1-Click Marketplace app. Hourly billing with monthly caps.
Create OpenClaw Droplet Now →