ScalaHosting $20/month if you want support when things break. Vultr $5-10/month if you're comfortable managing Linux yourself. Both work great for OpenClaw.
What Your AI Bot Actually Needs
Running something like OpenClaw, a Telegram bot, or any AI assistant 24/7 isn't demanding. You're not training models—you're making API calls and keeping a process alive.
Minimum specs that work:
- 1 vCPU — More than enough for a single bot
- 1GB RAM — Node.js/Python bots run fine here
- Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 — Best compatibility
- SSD storage — Any amount over 10GB is fine
What matters more than raw specs: uptime, network quality, and not getting your account randomly suspended. Budget providers sometimes flag bot traffic as abuse. The ones below don't.
The Recommendations
ScalaHosting
Best for most users. 24/7 support + control panel included.
- 24/7 human support—they'll actually help you debug issues
- SPanel control panel included (like cPanel but free)
- No ports blocked—perfect for bots and APIs
- VNC console if SSH breaks
- Choose your OS: Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky Linux
⚠️ SSH uses port 6543, not 22. Connect with: ssh root@YOUR_IP -p 6543
Affiliate link · $19.95/mo intro pricing
Vultr
Cheapest option. Good if you're comfortable with Linux.
- Deploy a server in under a minute
- Web console built-in (no SSH client needed)
- Hourly billing—delete anytime, pay for what you used
- No questions asked about running bots
- Snapshots for easy backups
Affiliate link · No managed support—you're on your own
ScalaHosting vs Vultr: Which to Choose?
Choose ScalaHosting ($20/mo) if:
- You want someone to help when things break (24/7 support)
- You prefer a control panel over command-line
- You don't want to learn Linux sysadmin
- You're running something important that can't be down
Choose Vultr ($5-10/mo) if:
- You're comfortable with Linux and SSH
- You want the absolute cheapest option
- You like hourly billing (pay only for hours used)
- You're just experimenting and might delete it
Our recommendation: Most people underestimate how much time they'll spend debugging server issues. ScalaHosting's support has saved us hours. Worth the extra $10/month.
What About Other Providers?
DigitalOcean, Linode, Hetzner—they all work. If you already have an account somewhere, use it. Your bot doesn't care which datacenter it lives in.
- DigitalOcean — Similar to Vultr, but $6/mo minimum
- Linode — Good reputation, nothing wrong with it
- Hetzner — Cheapest in Europe, but more technical setup
The main setup guide on this site defaults to ScalaHosting because the support is worth it for beginners. But Vultr instructions are included too.
The Actual Setup
Once you have a VPS, installing OpenClaw takes about 3 minutes:
One-line install: curl -fsSL https://molt.bot/install.sh | bash
The installer handles Node.js, dependencies, and walks you through connecting Telegram/WhatsApp. Full guide: Set Up OpenClaw in 30 Minutes
FAQ
Can I run this on my own computer instead?
Yes, but then it only works when your computer is on and connected. A $5/month VPS runs 24/7, accessible from anywhere. Worth it for something you'll use daily.
What if I need more power later?
All these providers let you resize. Start small, upgrade if you actually need it. Most people never do—a single bot doesn't use much.
Is my data safe on a VPS?
As safe as you make it. The bot runs on YOUR server, not some shared service. Enable the firewall, use SSH keys instead of passwords, and you're fine. OpenClaw's installer configures sensible defaults.
Why not just use a Raspberry Pi?
You can! But: your home IP changes, your ISP might block ports, power outages happen, and you're responsible for everything. VPS is $5/month for someone else to deal with all that.