Self‑hosting vs OpenClaw Setup
Self‑hosting gives maximum infrastructure control. OpenClaw Setup gives secure defaults, fast time‑to‑value, and predictable operations. Choose the tradeoff that fits your team.
Self‑host if you already run production infrastructure and want full control. Use OpenClaw Setup if you want OpenClaw running fast with security‑by‑design, usage visibility, and managed reliability.
Keys kept separate, only approved people can message it, isolated environment, and updates.
Token and cost analytics are built into the dashboard.
Export your workspace anytime. Secrets are excluded or redacted.
You want full infra control
- You already manage production servers.
- You need custom networking or private infrastructure.
- You’re comfortable owning security hardening and updates.
You want time‑to‑value
- You want OpenClaw running in minutes, not days.
- You prefer secure defaults and managed operations.
- You need clear token and cost visibility without extra work.
What you take on vs what we handle
| Dimension | Self‑hosting | OpenClaw Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first message | Often hours or days, depending on infra and troubleshooting | Minutes with guided onboarding |
| LLM key handling | Keys live inside your server and runtime | Keys are kept separate from your agent — OpenClaw never sees them |
| Access control | You must build “only approved people can message it” access and safe defaults | Only people you approve can message it |
| Reliability & monitoring | You own restarts, health checks, and incident response | Managed updates, agent status visibility, and support |
| Cost visibility | Requires custom logging and dashboards | Built‑in token and cost analytics by model and time |
| Maintenance | Track CVEs, breaking changes, and updates | Operational guardrails and managed updates |
| Focus | Infra and troubleshooting compete with product work | Focus on use cases and iteration |
We avoid fear‑based messaging. Self‑hosting is a valid choice for infra‑heavy teams. OpenClaw Setup is for builders who want secure defaults and predictable operations.
The manual setup tax
- Security misconfigurations (open ports, weak secrets handling).
- Dependency and OS updates that break workflows.
- Missing monitoring leads to silent failures or surprise bills.
- Reliability issues from bot disconnects or resource limits.
- Ongoing toil: backups, log retention, and incident response.
- Keys kept separate from your agent.
- Only people you approve can message it.
- Isolated environment.
- Managed updates and agent health visibility.
- Token and cost analytics in the dashboard.
Includes: files, configs
Excludes: secrets and tokens
Move on your terms
You can export your workspace and configuration any time. Secrets are excluded or redacted so you stay in control.
Common questions
Sometimes, but it adds ongoing ops and security work. We trade that for managed operations and built‑in usage visibility.
Yes. Export your workspace anytime. Secrets are excluded or redacted.
Self‑hosting may be the right fit. OpenClaw Setup is for teams who prefer secure defaults and managed reliability.
Continue reading
Step-by-step guides for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Telegram, and Slack.
Cost-effective OpenClawSave 5–20x with subscription-based auth instead of raw API keys.
AI team vs single assistantRun multiple specialized OpenClaw instances with distinct roles.
Use casesCode automation, research, ops, support copilots, and more.
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Security by design, transparent usage, and no DevOps burden.
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