How to Set Up OpenClaw on Vultr VPS (Step-by-Step)
Deploy OpenClaw on Vultr VPS starting at $6/mo with hourly billing. This guide walks you through the complete Docker setup process from scratch.
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Get started with Vultr's affordable VPS plans. Hourly billing with no commitment.
Create Vultr Account →Why Vultr for OpenClaw?
Vultr offers budget-friendly VPS hosting with 16+ global locations and hourly billing. While they don't have a 1-click OpenClaw deploy like Hostinger or DigitalOcean, their competitive pricing and flexible billing make them a solid choice for developers comfortable with Docker setup.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 16+ global server locations
- Hourly billing (pay only for what you use)
- Competitive pricing starting at $6/mo
- Good API for automation
- Marketplace images with Docker pre-installed
- Free DDoS protection
- No long-term contracts
Cons
- No 1-click OpenClaw deploy (manual setup required)
- No pre-integrated AI tokens
- Support quality varies by tier
- Firewall configuration required
- Smaller community than DigitalOcean
Vultr Pricing for OpenClaw
Vultr's Cloud Compute (VC2) plans offer good value. For OpenClaw, we recommend the 2 GB RAM plan ($12/mo) — the $6/mo plan may struggle with memory-intensive AI operations.
| Plan | Price | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VC2 1GB | $6/mo | 1 vCPU | 1 GB | 25 GB SSD | 1 TB |
| VC2 2GB★ Recommended | $12/mo | 1 vCPU | 2 GB | 55 GB SSD | 2 TB |
| VC2 4GB | $24/mo | 2 vCPU | 4 GB | 80 GB SSD | 3 TB |
| VC2 8GB | $48/mo | 4 vCPU | 8 GB | 160 GB SSD | 4 TB |
* Hourly billing available. Bandwidth overages are $0.01/GB.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Unlike Hostinger or DigitalOcean, Vultr requires manual Docker setup. Follow these steps carefully:
Create a Vultr Account
Sign up at Vultr.com. You'll need to add a payment method (credit card or PayPal) to activate your account.
https://www.vultr.com
Screenshot: Vultr signup page with account creation form
Deploy a New Server
Click 'Deploy New Server' in the Vultr dashboard. Choose 'Cloud Compute – Shared CPU' for the best value.
Screenshot: Vultr dashboard showing Deploy New Server button
Choose Server Location
Select a data center close to you. Vultr has 16+ locations worldwide including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Screenshot: Server location selection showing global data centers
Select Server Image
Choose Ubuntu 24.04 LTS for the best compatibility. Alternatively, select the Docker marketplace image to skip Docker installation.
Screenshot: Operating system selection with Ubuntu and Docker options
Choose Server Size
Select at least 2 GB RAM ($12/mo) for stable OpenClaw operation. The 1 GB plan may struggle with memory-intensive AI tasks.
Screenshot: Server size selection showing VC2 plans
Add SSH Key (Recommended)
For security, add your SSH public key. Go to Account → SSH Keys, add your key, then select it during server creation.
Screenshot: SSH key management page
Deploy and Wait
Click 'Deploy Now'. The server will be ready in 1-2 minutes. Note the IP address shown in your server list.
Screenshot: Server deployment progress and IP address display
SSH Into Your Server
Connect to your server using SSH:
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
Install Docker
Run these commands to install Docker and Docker Compose:
# Update system apt update && apt upgrade -y # Install Docker curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh apt install -y docker-compose-plugin # Verify installation docker --version
Screenshot: Terminal showing Docker installation output
Deploy OpenClaw
Create the OpenClaw directory and docker-compose.yml file:
mkdir -p /opt/openclaw && cd /opt/openclaw
cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
services:
openclaw:
image: ghcr.io/nicepkg/openclaw:latest
container_name: openclaw
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "3000:3000"
volumes:
- ./data:/app/data
environment:
- OPENAI_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
- GATEWAY_TOKEN=your-secret-token
EOF
docker compose up -dAccess OpenClaw Dashboard
Open your browser and navigate to your server's OpenClaw interface:
http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:3000
Screenshot: OpenClaw dashboard running on Vultr VPS
Environment Variables
Configure these in your docker-compose.yml file:
| 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 |
Vultr vs Other Providers
See how Vultr compares to other popular OpenClaw hosting options:
| Provider | Price | Ease of Setup | Key Features | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vultr | $6/mo | ★★★☆☆ | Manual Docker setup | Budget option |
| Hostinger | $6.99/mo | ★★★★★ | 1-click, AI tokens | Best value |
| DigitalOcean | $12/mo | ★★★★☆ | 1-click marketplace | Good |
| Oracle Cloud | Free | ★★☆☆☆ | ARM instances | Free tier |
Common Issues & Solutions
Can't access port 3000
Vultr's firewall is permissive by default, but if you enabled the firewall, add a rule for TCP port 3000. Go to your server → Settings → Firewall → Add Rule.
1 GB RAM running out
Add swap space to prevent memory errors:
fallocate -l 2G /swapfile chmod 600 /swapfile mkswap /swapfile swapon /swapfile echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' >> /etc/fstab
Using the Docker marketplace image
When deploying, select the "Docker" marketplace image under "Marketplace Apps" to skip Docker installation. You'll still need to create the docker-compose.yml file manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vultr have a 1-click OpenClaw install?
No, Vultr doesn't have an official OpenClaw marketplace app. You'll need to manually install Docker and deploy OpenClaw using the docker-compose method. This guide walks you through each step.
Which Vultr plan should I choose for OpenClaw?
We recommend the VC2 2GB plan ($12/mo) for stable OpenClaw operation. The $6/mo plan with 1 GB RAM may work for light usage but can hit memory limits when running AI models.
Does Vultr offer hourly billing?
Yes! Vultr charges hourly with a monthly cap. For the $12/mo plan, you pay about $0.018/hour. You can spin up a server, test OpenClaw, and delete it — paying only for hours used.
How many server locations does Vultr have?
Vultr has 16+ global locations including New York, Seattle, Miami, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, and more. Choose the location closest to you for best latency.
Can I use Vultr's Docker marketplace image?
Yes! Vultr offers a Docker marketplace image that comes with Docker pre-installed. This saves you the Docker installation step — you just need to deploy OpenClaw.
Does Vultr charge for bandwidth?
Each plan includes a bandwidth allocation (1-4 TB depending on plan). Bandwidth overages are charged at $0.01/GB. For most OpenClaw usage, you'll stay well within limits.
Ready to Deploy OpenClaw on Vultr?
Get started with affordable VPS hosting. Hourly billing with no commitment.
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