OpenClaw on DigitalOcean

Want to run OpenClaw 24/7 without keeping your laptop on? DigitalOcean lets you run OpenClaw on a cloud VPS so your AI agent can stay online, connect tools, and handle workflows remotely.

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Why Deploy OpenClaw on DigitalOcean?

Run OpenClaw on a cloud VPS instead of your laptop.
Keep your AI agent online 24/7.
Use OpenClaw even when your computer is off.
Get full control over CPU, RAM, storage, ports, and firewall rules.
Connect tools and channels like Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Gmail, and Calendar.
Run always-on workflows like reminders, research, browser tasks, and chat automation.
Upgrade your Droplet later when your workflows need more power.
Test OpenClaw in a real server environment before using it for bigger workflows.
Best for users who are comfortable with SSH, Linux commands, and basic server maintenance.

When DigitalOcean Is A Good Choice For OpenClaw

Full server control

Use DigitalOcean when you want full control over the VPS, firewall, ports, storage, and OpenClaw configuration.

24/7 OpenClaw runtime

DigitalOcean is useful when you need OpenClaw to stay online even when your laptop is off, sleeping, or disconnected.

Multiple channel workflows

Choose DigitalOcean when you want to connect OpenClaw with Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Gmail, Calendar, or other tools.

Browser automation support

Use DigitalOcean when your OpenClaw setup needs to run browser-based tasks, research workflows, or web automation with enough RAM.

Scalable VPS resources

Start with a smaller Droplet and upgrade CPU, RAM, or storage later as your workflows become heavier.

Developer-friendly setup

DigitalOcean is a good fit if you are comfortable with SSH, Linux commands, firewall rules, updates, and basic server maintenance.

What You Need Before You Start

Requirement	What You Need	Why It Matters
DigitalOcean account	A verified account	Needed to create and manage your Droplet
Ubuntu Droplet	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS recommended	Gives OpenClaw a stable Linux server
SSH access	SSH key or root login	Lets you connect to the server
Node.js	Node.js 24 recommended	Required to run OpenClaw properly
AI model API key	OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or another provider	Lets OpenClaw use an AI model
Gateway token	Strong secure token	Protects OpenClaw gateway access
Firewall rules	SSH, HTTP, HTTPS only when needed	Keeps the VPS safer
Storage path	Persistent folders for state and workspace	Helps save config, sessions, and workflow files
Backup plan	DigitalOcean backups, snapshots, or manual backups	Helps recover if something breaks

Best DigitalOcean Droplet Size for OpenClaw

Use Case	Recommended Droplet	Notes
Basic testing	1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM	Only for light testing
Simple chat workflows	1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM	Better for basic always-on use
Multiple channels	2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM	Good for Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp
Browser automation	2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM minimum	Browser tasks need more memory
Heavy workflows	4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM or higher	Better for larger workflows and multiple agents
Local LLMs	Not ideal on small Droplets	Use API-based models instead

How to Set Up OpenClaw on DigitalOcean

Follow these steps to create the Droplet, install OpenClaw, run onboarding, verify the gateway, and access the Control UI safely.

Create a DigitalOcean Droplet

Create a new Droplet in your DigitalOcean account.

Use these settings:

Setting	Recommended Option
Image	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Size	Basic Droplet, 1 vCPU / 1 GB RAM / 25 GB SSD
Region	Closest to your users
Authentication	SSH key recommended
Backups	Optional, but useful

For better performance, use a 2 GB or 4 GB RAM Droplet if you plan to run heavier workflows, browser tasks, or multiple channels.

Connect to Your Droplet

After the Droplet is created, copy the server IP address and connect with SSH:

ssh root@YOUR_DROPLET_IP

Replace YOUR_DROPLET_IP with your actual DigitalOcean Droplet IP.

Update the Server

Run this command:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

This updates Ubuntu before installing OpenClaw.

Install Node.js 24

OpenClaw needs Node.js. Install Node.js 24:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | bash -
apt install -y nodejs

Check the version:

node -v

Install OpenClaw

Install OpenClaw using the official installer:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Create a Non-Root User for OpenClaw

Do not run OpenClaw as the root user. Create a separate user:

adduser openclaw
usermod -aG sudo openclaw
loginctl enable-linger openclaw

Then switch to the new user:

su - openclaw

Check OpenClaw:

openclaw --version

This keeps OpenClaw state inside:

/home/openclaw/.openclaw/

Cleaner setup. Less “why did root own my entire agent state?” nonsense.

Run OpenClaw Onboarding

Run:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The onboarding wizard helps you set up:

AI model provider
API key
Gateway token
Channel setup
Background daemon service

This step is important because it installs OpenClaw as a background service.

Add Swap for 1 GB Droplets

If you use a 1 GB RAM Droplet, add 2 GB swap:

fallocate -l 2G /swapfile
chmod 600 /swapfile
mkswap /swapfile
swapon /swapfile
echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' >> /etc/fstab

Swap helps reduce memory issues on small Droplets. It does not make 1 GB RAM powerful. It just makes it slightly less tragic.

Verify the Gateway

Check if OpenClaw is running:

openclaw status

Check the gateway service:

systemctl --user status openclaw-gateway.service

View live logs:

journalctl --user -u openclaw-gateway.service -f

Access the Control UI Safely

OpenClaw gateway binds to loopback by default. That means you should not expose it directly to the public internet.

Use an SSH tunnel from your local computer:

ssh -L 18789:localhost:18789 root@YOUR_DROPLET_IP

Then open this in your browser:

http://localhost:18789

This is the safest simple method.

Do not publicly open port 18789 unless you know how to secure it properly.

Persistence and Backup

OpenClaw state is stored under:

~/.openclaw/

The workspace is stored under:

~/.openclaw/workspace/

To create a portable backup, run:

openclaw backup create

You can also use DigitalOcean snapshots to back up the full Droplet.

DigitalOcean Cost Reality For OpenClaw

DigitalOcean can look cheap at first, but the real cost is more than the Droplet price. Tiny surprise: servers need more than vibes and a monthly invoice.

Cost Item	Estimated Cost
Basic Droplet for testing	Starts around $4/month
Practical OpenClaw VPS	Usually $12-$24/month
Larger VPS for browser automation	Usually $24+/month
Backups	Extra monthly cost
Extra storage	Around $0.10/GiB/month
Domain name	Usually $10-$20/year
AI model/API usage	Varies by usage and provider
Monitoring or uptime tools	Free to paid, depending on tool
Maintenance time	Your own time, sadly not free

DigitalOcean vs Managed OpenClaw Hosting

DigitalOcean	Managed OpenClaw Hosting
Best for users who want full VPS control	Best for users who want less server work
You manage SSH, Linux, firewall, storage, updates, and uptime	Hosting layer is handled for you
More flexible for technical users	Easier for beginners and teams
Can look cheaper at first	Saves setup and maintenance time
Requires server maintenance	Reduces server maintenance
Good for custom infrastructure	Good for faster OpenClaw deployment

Use DigitalOcean if you want control.
Use managed hosting if you want OpenClaw running without dealing with server setup, Docker, ports, updates, and uptime maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run multiple OpenClaw agents on one DigitalOcean Droplet?

Yes, but the Droplet needs enough CPU, RAM, and storage. For multiple agents or heavier workflows, use at least 4 vCPU and 8 GB RAM to reduce slow performance, crashes, and workflow failures.

Can OpenClaw run 24/7 on DigitalOcean?

Yes. OpenClaw can run 24/7 on DigitalOcean if you run it as a background service using systemd, Docker Compose, or another process manager. Avoid running it only inside an SSH session, because it may stop when you log out.

Do I need Docker to run OpenClaw on DigitalOcean?

Not always. Docker is useful for cleaner deployment, repeatable setup, and easier service management, but your best method depends on how you install and run OpenClaw.

What happens if my Droplet runs out of memory?

OpenClaw may slow down, crash, stop browser tasks, disconnect channels, or fail workflows. If this happens often, upgrade RAM or reduce background workloads.

How do I update OpenClaw on DigitalOcean?

Follow the official OpenClaw update method for your install type. Before updating, back up your state, workspace, and config files. After updating, test the gateway, channels, and workflows.

Which ports should I open for OpenClaw on DigitalOcean?

You usually need port 22 for SSH and ports 80 and 443 if you use a domain with HTTPS. Only expose the OpenClaw gateway port if needed, and protect it with a strong token and firewall rules.

How do I keep OpenClaw data safe on DigitalOcean?

Store OpenClaw state, config, sessions, and workspace files in persistent directories. Back up those folders before updates, server changes, or migration.

What is the best setup for beginners?

For beginners who want to learn server setup, start with a small DigitalOcean Droplet and simple OpenClaw workflows. If you mainly want OpenClaw running without managing SSH, Docker, ports, updates, and uptime, a managed hosting option like Ampere.sh is easier.

Also Read

Installation

How to Run OpenClaw on Hetzner VPS

Installation

How to Run OpenClaw with Linode

Comparison

DigitalOcean vs Hetzner: Which Cloud Hosting Platform Is Better?

Written by

Alex Chen

Cloud Infrastructure Writer

Alex specializes in cloud infrastructure and distributed systems architecture. With 8+ years of experience deploying production AI systems, he focuses on scalable hosting solutions across DigitalOcean, Hetzner, AWS, and bare-metal servers. Expert in platform optimization, GPU infrastructure, and high-availability deployments.

Want to Run OpenClaw Without Managing a VPS?

Use Ampere.sh if you want to run OpenClaw without managing DigitalOcean setup, SSH, ports, updates, or server maintenance.

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