Your Options — How People Use OpenClaw
Everyone's setup looks different — and that is the point
In the last lesson, you saw what OpenClaw can do. Now you might be wondering: what computer did they use? What app do they talk to their agent through? How much does this actually cost each month?
There is no single "right" setup. The best setup is the one that fits your budget, your technical comfort level, and the way you want to use your digital employee. This lesson walks you through every option, with honest tradeoffs.
Where your digital employee will live
Option 1: Your personal computer (the quick start)
This is the simplest way to begin. You install OpenClaw on the laptop or desktop you already use every day. No extra purchases, no extra accounts, no waiting.
Running OpenClaw on your personal computer means the agent has access to your files and programs. Until you configure security boundaries (covered in Module 3), treat this like giving a new hire the keys to your house instead of just their office.
Option 2: A dedicated computer at home
This is the approach that fits the "digital employee" model best. You give your agent its own machine — separate from everything personal. The most popular choice is a Mac Mini (around $500-600), but any spare computer works.
| Dedicated Machine Option | Approximate Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old laptop (any OS) | $0 (you already own it) | Dust it off, plug it in, keep it running |
| Cheapest Mac Mini | $500-600 | Base model is enough; no extra RAM needed for API-based models |
| Mac Mini + external SSD | ~$700 | Only if doing heavy coding projects or video editing |
| Raspberry Pi | ~$50 | Minimal resources but proves the concept |
Option 3: A VPS — a cloud server
A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a computer that lives in a data center and you rent it by the month. Think of it like renting an office for your employee in a shared building.
| VPS Provider | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | ~$6-9/month | Budget-friendly, one-click OpenClaw deployment |
| DigitalOcean | ~$6-12/month | Developer-friendly, simple interface |
| Hetzner | ~$4-8/month | Europe-based, excellent value |
| AWS EC2 (free tier) | $0 for 12 months | Quick test with an 8GB RAM instance |
A fresh VPS can receive over 1,000 brute force login attempts per day from automated bots. Module 3 covers hardening in detail.
Option 4: A managed service
Managed services handle the entire technical setup for you. You sign up, connect your messaging platform, choose your AI model, and start using OpenClaw — without touching a terminal.
Many users start on their personal computer, realize they want 24/7 availability, and then move to either a dedicated machine or a VPS. You are not locked in. Your agent's configuration travels with it.
How you will talk to your digital employee
| Platform | Setup Difficulty | Best Feature | Biggest Limitation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram | Easy | Real-time word streaming, voice notes, Apple Watch support | Single chat thread — older messages scroll away | Beginners, mobile-first users |
| Discord | Moderate | Channels and threads for organized workflows | Can feel complex if you have never used it | Multi-project organization |
| Difficult | Familiar (you already use it), personal feel | Most finicky setup, single-session limitations | Users where WhatsApp is dominant | |
| Slack | Moderate | Familiar workspace UI, team integrations | Costs money (another subscription) | Business teams |
You can connect multiple messaging platforms at the same time. A common approach is to start with Telegram for personal use and add Discord later for organized work.
Your agent's brain: choosing an AI model
| Model | Monthly Cost | Intelligence | Task Completion | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.6 | $200/mo (Max plan) or API | Highest | ~95% one-shot | Primary agent, everything important |
| ChatGPT 5.4 | $20/mo (Plus) | Very high | ~20% one-shot | Smart but struggles to finish tasks |
| Claude Sonnet 4.5 | API: ~$3-15/M tokens | High | High for routine | Scheduled tasks, cron jobs, writing |
| MiniMax M2.5 | ~$10/mo | Good | Moderate | Budget-friendly daily driver |
| Gemini Flash 3 | Near free | Basic | Low for complex tasks | Background checks, heartbeats only |
| Open Router (free) | $0 | Poor | Low | Absolute minimum testing |
The smart approach: different models for different jobs
| Task Type | Recommended Model Tier | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Direct conversations with you | Best available (Opus, GPT-5.4) | Brainstorming, decisions, complex questions |
| Scheduled tasks and cron jobs | Mid-tier (Sonnet, MiniMax) | Morning briefings, email processing, content drafts |
| Background heartbeat checks | Cheapest available (Gemini Flash, Haiku) | "Is everything still running?" checks every hour |
What it will actually cost you: three budget tiers
Budget tier: $6-25 per month
This is the tier where one user runs 19 agents for $6 per month total. Using Open Router with budget models, aggressive cost optimization, and a cheap VPS plan.
Standard tier: $25-50 per month
This is the sweet spot for most users. You get a reliable, mid-tier AI model that handles most tasks well.
Premium tier: $50-200 per month
This is for users who want the best possible experience and maximum automation. Claude Opus 4.6 is the top choice here.
Honest expectations: what the first week looks like
- Expect a 7-10 day ramp-up period. Your agent starts with zero knowledge about you.
- Your agent will make mistakes. AI is powerful but imperfect.
- You are hiring, not buying software. You are onboarding a new team member who needs to learn your world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take Quiz
Pass with 70% to mark this lesson complete.
Which messaging platform do the majority of OpenClaw users choose as their primary channel?