The OpenClaw Pricing Landscape
OpenClaw is free, open-source software. You never pay for the software itself. What you pay for is hosting — a server to run OpenClaw 24/7 — and AI model access.
The hosting market ranges from $0 (self-hosted on your own hardware) to $109/mo (ClawCloud Max plan). That's a massive spread, and most people overpay because they don't know all the options.
This guide compares every OpenClaw hosting option available in 2026 — pricing, what's included, and what you actually pay after adding AI model costs.
Complete Pricing Comparison
| Provider | Starting Price | AI Credits | Setup Time | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw Launch | $3/mo* | Included | 10 seconds | Cheapest managed, credits included |
| Self-hosting (VPS) | $5 – $20/mo | BYOK | 2 – 6 hours | Full control |
| OneClaw | $5/mo | BYOK | ~5 min | Mobile app |
| SimpleClaw | $9/mo | BYOK | ~1 min | Simple interface |
| KiloClaw | $14/mo | BYOK | ~1 min | Kilo ecosystem |
| MyClaw | $19/mo | BYOK | ~5 min | Dedicated server |
| ClawHosters | EUR 19/mo | BYOK | ~2 min | German hosting / GDPR |
| xCloud | $24/mo | BYOK | ~5 min | WordPress ecosystem |
| ClawCloud | $29/mo | BYOK | ~1 min | Extensive documentation |
| RunMyClaw | $30/mo | BYOK | ~2 min | Multi-language support |
| ClawHosted | $49/mo | BYOK | ~5 min | White-label options |
* $3/mo for the first month, then $6/mo. All prices as of March 2026.
The Hidden Cost: BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)
Most hosting providers in the table above are BYOK — you must bring your own AI model API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or another provider. That means the hosting price is not the full cost.
Typical AI model API costs for a personal assistant:
- Light usage (20 – 50 messages/day): $5 – $10/mo
- Medium usage (50 – 200 messages/day): $10 – $30/mo
- Heavy usage (200+ messages/day): $30 – $50+/mo
So a provider listed at $19/mo actually costs $29 – $49/mo once you add API costs. A provider at $29/mo becomes $39 – $59/mo.
OpenClaw Launch is the only provider that includes AI credits in the hosting price. Your $3/mo (or $6/mo after the first month) covers both hosting and AI usage — no separate API key needed.
True Monthly Cost (Hosting + AI)
Here's what you actually pay when you factor in AI model costs for typical usage (50 – 100 messages per day):
| Provider | Hosting | AI Cost | True Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenClaw Launch | $3 – $20 | Included | $3 – $20 |
| Self-hosting | $5 – $20 | $10 – $30 | $15 – $50 |
| OneClaw | $5 | $10 – $30 | $15 – $35 |
| SimpleClaw | $9 | $10 – $30 | $19 – $39 |
| KiloClaw | $14 | $10 – $30 | $24 – $44 |
| MyClaw | $19 | $10 – $30 | $29 – $49 |
| ClawHosters | ~$21 | $10 – $30 | $31 – $51 |
| ClawCloud | $29 | $10 – $30 | $39 – $59 |
| ClawHosted | $49 | $10 – $30 | $59 – $79 |
When you compare true costs, OpenClaw Launch is 3 – 10x cheaper than most managed providers.
Best Value by Category
Tightest Budget: OpenClaw Launch ($3/mo)
The cheapest way to run OpenClaw 24/7 with a quality AI model. AI credits included, no API key setup, deploy in 10 seconds. See plans.
Full Control: Self-Hosting ($5 – $20/mo + BYOK)
Rent a VPS from Hetzner or DigitalOcean. You manage everything — Docker, SSL, updates, backups. Best for developers who want root access and custom configurations. See our self-hosting reality check.
GDPR Compliance: ClawHosters (EUR 19/mo + BYOK)
German-hosted with GDPR compliance built in. Good for EU businesses with strict data residency requirements. True cost: ~$31 – $51/mo.
Power Users: MyClaw ($19/mo + BYOK)
Dedicated server with root access. Good if you need custom plugins, multiple bots, or heavy resource usage. True cost: $29 – $49/mo.
Why OpenClaw Launch Is the Cheapest
Three things make OpenClaw Launch less expensive than every other managed option:
- Shared container infrastructure. Instead of giving every user a dedicated VM, we run optimized Docker containers with shared resources. This dramatically reduces per-user hosting costs.
- Warm pool for instant deployment. Pre-warmed containers mean we don't need to provision new servers for each user. Deploy in 10 seconds, not 5 minutes.
- AI credits included. We negotiate bulk AI model pricing and pass the savings to users. No separate API key, no surprise bills from OpenAI.
The result: you pay $3/mo (first month) or $6/mo and get everything — hosting, AI model, monitoring, updates, and a visual dashboard. No hidden costs.
For a deeper look at our plans, visit the pricing page. To see how we compare to self-hosting specifically, read why self-hosting OpenClaw is harder than you think.