OpenClaw Cloud Deployment Guide - DigitalOcean, Docker, Tencent Cloud
Running OpenClaw on your laptop is great for testing, but for a truly always-on AI assistant, you'll want to deploy it to the cloud. This guide covers the most popular deployment options.
Choosing a Deployment Platform
OpenClaw can run on any Linux server with Node.js 22+. The best option depends on your location, budget, and technical expertise. Here's a quick comparison:
| Platform | Best For | Price | Region | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | DigitalOcean | Beginners, one-click deploy | $6/mo | Global | | Hostinger VPS | Budget-friendly VPS | $4/mo | Global | | Tencent Cloud | China-based users | ¥45/mo | China | | Alibaba Cloud | China enterprise | ¥58/mo | China | | AWS/Azure/GCP | Enterprise, existing infra | Varies | Global |
DigitalOcean (Recommended for Beginners)
DigitalOcean offers the simplest deployment path with their one-click app marketplace and straightforward pricing.
# 1. Create a Droplet (2GB RAM, Ubuntu 24.04)
# Choose the $12/mo droplet for best performance
# 2. SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip
# 3. Install Node.js 22
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
# 4. Install OpenClaw
npm install -g openclaw@latest
# 5. Run onboarding
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
# 6. Enable firewall
sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw deny 18789/tcp
sudo ufw enable
Tip: Use the $12/mo Droplet (2GB RAM) for optimal performance. The $6/mo (1GB) works but may be tight when running browser automation tasks.
Docker Deployment (Any Platform)
Docker provides the most portable and isolated deployment option. Works on any cloud provider, NAS, or home server.
# Pull the official image
docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest
# Run with persistent config
docker run -d \
--name openclaw \
--restart unless-stopped \
-p 127.0.0.1:18789:18789 \
-v openclaw-data:/root/.openclaw \
--cap-drop ALL \
--cap-add NET_BIND_SERVICE \
--security-opt no-new-privileges:true \
openclaw/openclaw:latest
# Check logs
docker logs -f openclaw
# Run onboarding inside container
docker exec -it openclaw openclaw onboard
Tip: Always bind port 18789 to localhost (127.0.0.1) unless you're using a reverse proxy with authentication. Never expose the admin port directly to the internet.
Tencent Cloud (China Users)
For users in mainland China, Tencent Cloud offers low-latency servers with good domestic network connectivity.
# 1. Purchase a Lighthouse instance
# Recommended: 2 core / 4GB / Ubuntu 24.04
# Region: Shanghai or Guangzhou
# 2. Configure security group
# Allow: 22 (SSH)
# Deny: 18789 from public
# 3. SSH and install
ssh ubuntu@your-tencent-ip
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
# 4. Install and configure OpenClaw
npm install -g openclaw@latest
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
# 5. (Optional) Use Tailscale for secure remote access
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
sudo tailscale up
Tip: If you need to access international AI APIs from China, consider using Tencent Cloud's Hong Kong region for better connectivity.
Alibaba Cloud (China Enterprise)
Alibaba Cloud ECS provides enterprise-grade infrastructure with strong compliance features for business deployments in China.
# 1. Create an ECS instance
# Recommended: ecs.s6-c1m2.large (2 vCPU / 4GB)
# OS: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
# 2. Configure security group
# Inbound: Allow SSH (22)
# Inbound: Deny 18789 from 0.0.0.0/0
# 3. Install via Docker (recommended)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest
sudo docker run -d --name openclaw \
--restart unless-stopped \
-p 127.0.0.1:18789:18789 \
-v openclaw-data:/root/.openclaw \
openclaw/openclaw:latest
Secure Remote Access with Tailscale
Never expose OpenClaw's admin port to the public internet. Use Tailscale for secure, zero-config remote access to your deployment.
# Install Tailscale on your server
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
sudo tailscale up
# Now access your OpenClaw dashboard securely:
# http://your-tailscale-ip:18789/
# Or use Tailscale Serve for HTTPS:
tailscale serve https / http://localhost:18789
Post-Deployment Monitoring
After deploying, set up monitoring to ensure your OpenClaw instance stays healthy.
# Check OpenClaw status
openclaw status
# View logs
openclaw logs --tail 50
# Set up a simple health check cron
# (OpenClaw can even monitor itself!)
openclaw cron add "*/5 * * * *" "Check if gateway is responsive"
# Monitor system resources
htop # or: docker stats openclaw
What's Next?
Your cloud deployment is running. Now secure it and start automating.