Step 2 of 9
Planning Your Setup
Before you install OpenClaw, you need to make some decisions. These choices affect cost, privacy, performance, and what you can do with it. Let's walk through them.
💡 The Good News
You can change most of these decisions later. Don't overthink it. For beginners, we recommend: local setup + Kimi API. Total cost: ~$0-5/month.
Decision 1: Where Will It Run?
Local (Your Computer)
Runs on your Mac, PC, or Raspberry Pi at home.
- ✓ Free (no server costs)
- ✓ Private — your data never leaves home
- ✓ Easy setup — just install and run
- ✗ Computer must stay on
- ✗ Home internet dependent
Best for: Beginners, privacy-focused users
VPS (Cloud Server)
Runs on a rented server in the cloud (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.).
- ✓ Always on — works 24/7
- ✓ Accessible anywhere — from any device
- ✓ Reliable — data center internet & power
- ✗ Costs $5-20/month
- ✗ More complex setup
Best for: Power users, 24/7 automation needs
Decision 2: Which AI Model?
OpenClaw works with multiple AI providers. You can even switch between them or use local models.
Moonshot / Kimi K2.5
RECOMMENDED- • Very capable for coding and complex tasks
- • Large context window (256k tokens)
- • Often has free tiers or very cheap
- • Good balance of intelligence and cost
Cost: ~$0-2/month for typical use
OpenAI / GPT-4o
MOST CAPABLE- • Best overall capability and reasoning
- • Excellent for complex problem-solving
- • Higher cost but very reliable
- • GPT-4o mini available for cheap simple tasks
Cost: ~$5-20/month for typical use
Local Models (Ollama)
FREE & PRIVATE- • Runs entirely on your computer — zero API costs
- • Complete privacy, no data leaves your machine
- • Requires decent GPU/CPU for good performance
- • Less capable than cloud models but improving fast
Cost: $0 (but needs good hardware)
Decision 3: What Will It Cost?
Typical Monthly Costs
What You Need Before Starting
Required
- ✓ Computer that stays on (Mac/PC/Linux)
- ✓ Node.js 18+ installed
- ✓ API key from an AI provider
- ✓ Basic comfort with command line
Optional (But Recommended)
- ○ Telegram account (for mobile access)
- ○ Brave Search API key (free)
- ○ Docker (for advanced memory)
Ready to Install?
You now have the context to make informed decisions. Next, we'll walk through the actual installation step by step.