Short Answer: Yes, OpenClaw Is Free
OpenClaw is 100% free and open-source. You can download it, inspect the code, and run it on your own computer for $0. There are no license fees, no per-user charges, and no feature gates.
But "free software" doesn't mean "free to operate." To make OpenClaw useful — running 24/7 as an AI assistant on Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp — you need two things that cost money:
- Hosting — a server to keep OpenClaw running around the clock
- An AI model — Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Gemini, or a local model like Llama
The good news: both can be free if you're willing to make trade-offs. Let's break down every option.
The 4 Cost Components
| Component | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw software | Free | Open-source, always free |
| Hosting | $0 – $20/mo | Your computer (free) or a VPS/managed service |
| AI model API | $0 – $50/mo | Depends on model and usage volume |
| Domain + SSL | $0 – $15/yr | Optional — only needed for web chat or custom URLs |
Your total monthly cost depends on which combination you choose. Here are the four main options.
Option 1: Completely Free (Run on Your Computer)
Install OpenClaw on your laptop or desktop and use Ollama to run a local AI model like Llama 3 or Mistral. Total cost: $0.
How it works:
- Install Docker Desktop on your computer
- Pull the OpenClaw Docker image
- Install Ollama and download a model (e.g., Llama 3.1 8B)
- Configure OpenClaw to use your local model
- Connect to Telegram or Discord
Limitations:
- Only works when your computer is on and connected to the internet
- Local models are slower and less capable than cloud models (Claude, GPT)
- No mobile access unless you set up port forwarding
- Your computer's GPU affects response quality and speed
This option is great for testing and experimentation. For a bot that's available 24/7, you'll need one of the other options.
Option 2: Self-Hosting on a VPS ($5 – $25/mo)
Rent a virtual private server from Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or Vultr. Install OpenClaw yourself. Bring your own AI model API key.
Typical costs:
- VPS: $5 – $20/mo (need at least 2GB RAM)
- AI model API: $5 – $50/mo depending on usage
- Domain: $10 – $15/yr (optional)
- Total: $5 – $25/mo for light usage
Requirements:
- Docker and Linux command-line knowledge
- Ability to configure SSL, reverse proxies, and firewalls
- Time for setup (2 – 6 hours) and ongoing maintenance
For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our VPS installation guide.
Option 3: OpenClaw Launch — Managed Hosting ($3 – $20/mo)
OpenClaw Launch is the easiest and cheapest way to run OpenClaw 24/7. No Docker setup, no server maintenance, no API key configuration.
What you get:
- Deploy in under 60 seconds — no technical knowledge needed
- AI credits included in every plan (no separate API key required)
- Visual configurator — no JSON files to edit
- Automatic updates and monitoring
- Dashboard to manage your bot, view logs, and change settings
Pricing:
- Lite plan: $3/mo (first month), then $6/mo — includes AI credits
- Pro plan: $20/mo — more AI credits and priority support
See the full breakdown on our pricing page.
Option 4: Other Managed Hosting Providers
Several other companies offer managed OpenClaw hosting. All are more expensive than OpenClaw Launch and require you to bring your own AI model API key:
- SimpleClaw: $9/mo — simple interface, BYOK
- KiloClaw: $14/mo — part of the Kilo ecosystem, BYOK
- MyClaw: $19/mo — dedicated server, BYOK
- ClawHosters: EUR 19/mo — German hosting with GDPR compliance, BYOK
- ClawCloud: $29/mo — extensive documentation, BYOK
With these providers, add $10 – $50/mo for your own AI model API key on top of the hosting fee.
AI Model Costs Compared
If you're bringing your own API key (self-hosting or BYOK providers), here's what the major models cost:
| Model | Input Cost (per 1M tokens) | Output Cost (per 1M tokens) | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek V3 | $0.14 | $0.28 | Budget — cheapest cloud model |
| Gemini 2.0 Flash | $0.10 | $0.40 | Budget — fast and capable |
| Llama 3.1 (local) | Free | Free | Free — requires local GPU |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | $1.25 | $10.00 | Mid — strong reasoning |
| Claude Sonnet 4 | $3.00 | $15.00 | Premium — excellent quality |
| GPT-5 | $5.00 | $15.00 | Premium — widely known |
For most personal AI assistants handling 50 – 200 messages per day, expect to spend $5 – $15/mo on API costs with a mid-tier model. Budget models like DeepSeek bring this under $2/mo.
With OpenClaw Launch, AI credits are included — you don't need to set up or pay for a separate API key.
Bottom Line: What Does OpenClaw Actually Cost?
OpenClaw the software is free. Here's a summary of what it costs to run it:
| Option | Monthly Cost | Setup Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (your computer + Ollama) | $0 | 1 – 2 hours | Testing and tinkering |
| Self-hosted VPS + BYOK | $10 – $70 | 2 – 6 hours | DevOps enthusiasts |
| OpenClaw Launch | $3 – $20 | Under 1 minute | Everyone else |
| Other managed hosts + BYOK | $19 – $79 | 5 – 30 minutes | Specific platform preferences |
The cheapest way to run OpenClaw 24/7 with a quality AI model is OpenClaw Launch at $3/mo. No setup, no API keys, no maintenance.