# hetzner-vs-vultr > Compare Hetzner and Vultr for OpenClaw. This guide breaks down pricing, server value, setup effort, and long-term hosting differences so you can choose the better option for your needs. **Author:** Ampere.sh Team --- ## Quick Comparison: Hetzner vs Vultr **Hetzner**: From low monthly VPS pricing — Starting Plan: CPX22 plan **Vultr**: From $24/mo — Regular Performance Cloud Compute **Ampere**: From $9.99/mo (4GB RAM) — Best for: Users who want OpenClaw hosting without managing a VPS. - 2 vCPU - 4 GB RAM - 80 GB NVMe SSD - Hourly billing with monthly cap - Better raw value for the money - Good choice if you want full server control - Strong fit for users optimizing for cost first - Still a self-managed VPS - You handle OpenClaw setup, updates, security, backups, and uptime - Region pricing varies - 100 GB storage - 5 TB bandwidth - Shared vCPU VPS - Broader region coverage - More familiar general-purpose VPS experience - Easier pick if location flexibility matters more than absolute price - More expensive than Hetzner at the same 4GB RAM level - Much lower transfer allowance than Hetzner - OpenClaw setup and maintenance are still on you - Starter plan - 4 vCPU - 40 GB disk - Free Hosting - Bring your own keys - Unlimited web search - Cloud backup - Auto update - Browser automation - Priority support ## What OpenClaw Needs From a Hosting Provider - **Persistent storage** for memory, logs, files, and configuration so data is not lost after restarts - **Stable always-on hosting** because OpenClaw works better on hosting that stays online reliably and handles restarts properly - **Enough CPU and RAM** to keep OpenClaw stable and responsive in real use - **Reliable network access** because OpenClaw depends on web access, APIs, and connected tools - **Secure production setup** because the host is part of OpenClaw’s trust boundary - **Easy deployment and restarts** so it is easier to update and recover if something breaks ## Common Problems When Running OpenClaw on a VPS Running OpenClaw on a VPS is possible, but it is not always as simple as it looks at first. - **Setup can be confusing** because you still need to install, connect, and configure everything properly - **Domain and browser access need extra setup** before OpenClaw opens correctly in the browser - **SSL and HTTPS can cause problems** if secure access is not configured correctly - **Keeping OpenClaw online takes effort** because if something stops working, you have to fix it yourself - **Wrong API or model settings can break the setup** even if the server itself is fine - **Updates can create new issues** and break something that was working before - **Maintenance does not stop after setup** because you still need to monitor the server and manage updates - **Security is still your responsibility** with access control, firewall settings, and safe configuration ## Self-Hosting vs Managed Hosting for OpenClaw | What matters | Self-Hosting | Managed Hosting | | --- | --- | --- | | Getting started | Slower because you handle setup yourself | Faster because the hosting setup is already handled | | Server and deployment work | You manage the VPS, install process, and deployment | The platform handles the hosting and deployment setup | | Updates and restarts | You manage them yourself | Handled for you | | Ongoing maintenance | You keep the setup running, fix issues, and manage changes over time | Much less ongoing work after launch | | Security setup | You need to secure the environment yourself | Less manual security setup on the server side | | Storage | You manage logs, files, and config | Already handled for you | | Day-to-day effort | More technical work on your side | Easier to manage in daily use | | Best for | Users comfortable with VPS setup and server management | Users who want the simplest and fastest way to run OpenClaw | ## Which Option Should You Choose? **Hetzner** Best if you want a strong VPS setup for OpenClaw. Good for users who mainly need compute, storage, and a reliable VPS without paying much more for extra cloud services. Hetzner is the better fit when your focus is running OpenClaw on your own server and getting stronger specs in common VPS sizes. **Vultr** Best if you want a broader cloud platform around your VPS. Good for users who may want services like managed PostgreSQL, managed Redis, managed Kubernetes, object storage, or GPU servers in the same provider ecosystem. Vultr makes more sense when you want more infrastructure options beyond a basic VPS. **Managed Hosting** Best if you want to start using OpenClaw without handling the server yourself. Good for users who do not want to deal with deployment, updates, restarts, storage setup, and ongoing maintenance. This is the better path if your goal is to use OpenClaw, not spend time managing infrastructure. Best if you want a strong VPS setup for OpenClaw. Good for users who mainly need compute, storage, and a reliable VPS without paying much more for extra cloud services. Best if you want a broader cloud platform around your VPS. Good for users who may want services like managed PostgreSQL, managed Redis, managed Kubernetes, object storage, or GPU servers in the same provider ecosystem. Best if you want to start using OpenClaw without handling the server yourself. Good for users who do not want to deal with deployment, updates, restarts, storage setup, and ongoing maintenance. ## Launch OpenClaw Without VPS Setup No servers. No setup. No maintenance. Deploy your 🦞 OpenClaw agent in 60 seconds. [Get Started Free](https://www.ampere.sh/setup) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Hetzner better than Vultr for OpenClaw? Hetzner is usually the better choice if you want a strong VPS for self-hosting OpenClaw at a lower cost. Vultr makes more sense if you want more managed cloud services around your VPS. ### Which is cheaper: Hetzner or Vultr? Hetzner is usually cheaper for comparable VPS resources. Hetzner’s small and medium VM examples offer more CPU and RAM for less money than Vultr’s comparable setups. ### Is Vultr better if I need more than a basic VPS? Yes. Vultr offers more managed infrastructure options such as managed PostgreSQL, managed Redis, managed Kubernetes, object storage, and a larger GPU fleet. ### Which is better for beginners: Hetzner, Vultr, or managed hosting? If you are a beginner and want the easiest path, managed hosting is the better fit. Hetzner and Vultr can both work, but both still require self-hosting work and server management. ### What is the main difference between Hetzner and Vultr? Hetzner is stronger for raw VPS value, while Vultr is stronger for broader cloud services and larger global coverage. ### What is the easiest way to run OpenClaw without managing a server? The easiest path is managed hosting platforms like Ampere.sh, because it removes most of the server setup, maintenance, and deployment work that comes with self-hosting on a VPS.