This guide walks you through setting up OpenClaw on a Hostinger VPS from scratch. No coding experience needed. If you can click a button and follow directions, you can do this.

What You Need Before You Start

  • A Hostinger account (or create one at hostinger.com)
  • A credit/debit card for the VPS plan
  • About 15 minutes of your time
  • That's it

Step 1 → Get the Right Hostinger Plan

Why KVM 2?

  1. Go to hostinger.com
  2. Click on VPS Hosting in the top menu
  3. Find the KVM 2 plan
  4. Click Add to Cart
  5. Choose your billing cycle → longer plans save more money
  6. Complete checkout

💡 Use code liamjohnston at checkout for 10% off your plan.

Step 2 → Set Up Your VPS

Once your payment goes through, you'll land in the Hostinger dashboard called hPanel.

  1. Go to hPanel → click VPS in the left sidebar
  2. You'll see your new VPS listed → click Manage
  3. Choose your server location → pick the one closest to you geographically for the best speed
  4. Set your root password → write this down somewhere safe, you will need it later
  5. Wait for the server to finish setting up → this usually takes 1-2 minutes

⚠️ Your root password is the master key to your server. Use a strong, unique password. Do not reuse passwords from other accounts.

Step 3 → Install Docker

Docker is what lets you run OpenClaw inside a secure container on your server. Think of it like a sealed box that keeps everything organized and safe.

  1. In hPanel, go to your VPS dashboard
  2. Look in the left sidebar for Docker Manager
  3. Click Install Docker
  4. Wait for the installation to complete → you'll see a green checkmark when it's done

What if I don't see Docker Manager?

Step 4 → Find and Deploy OpenClaw

Now that Docker is running, you can deploy OpenClaw in just a few clicks.

  1. Inside Docker Manager, click on Catalog (or App Catalog)
  2. In the search bar, type OpenClaw
  3. Click on the OpenClaw listing
  4. Click Deploy
  5. Leave the default settings unless you know what you're changing
  6. Hit Confirm or Start

What happens when you deploy?

How do I know it's working?

Step 5 → Access Your OpenClaw Dashboard

  1. In Docker Manager, find your running OpenClaw container
  2. Look for the port it's running on → it will show something like :3000 or :8080
  3. Copy your VPS IP address from the hPanel dashboard
  4. Open a new browser tab and type → your-ip-address:port-number
  5. You should see the OpenClaw setup screen
  6. Create your admin account with a strong username and password

💡 Bookmark this URL. This is how you'll access your OpenClaw dashboard going forward.

Step 6 → Secure Your Server

This is the most important step. Do not skip this.

6A → Enable the Firewall

6B → Set Up SSH Key Authentication

6C → Keep Everything Updated

6D → Enable Automatic Backups

⚠️ Security is not optional. If you skip these steps and someone gains access to your server, they have access to everything running on it, including your AI agent and any connected services.

Step 7 → Connect Your Channels

Once OpenClaw is running and secured, you can connect it to your messaging platforms.

  • WhatsApp → follow the integration setup inside the OpenClaw dashboard
  • Slack → connect via the Slack app integration
  • Telegram → link your Telegram bot token
  • Other platforms → check the OpenClaw docs for supported integrations

Each integration will have its own setup flow inside the OpenClaw dashboard. Follow the prompts and paste in the required API keys or tokens.

Quick Reference Checklist

Troubleshooting

OpenClaw won't deploy

I can't access the dashboard in my browser

My server feels slow

I forgot my root password

⚠️ Disclaimer

This guide is provided strictly for educational purposes. It walks you through how to securely set up OpenClaw on a Hostinger VPS. That's it.

I do not condone or encourage running any software irresponsibly on a live server. If you choose to proceed with this setup, you are doing so at your own risk and discretion.

By following this guide, you acknowledge the following:

  • We are not liable for any damages, data breaches, hacks, or losses that occur as a result of running OpenClaw or any software on your own server.
  • Setting up a VPS means you are responsible for maintaining its security, applying updates, and monitoring for vulnerabilities.
  • If you skip security steps, misconfigure your server, or fail to maintain it properly, you are exposing yourself to real risks including unauthorized access, data theft, and service disruption.
  • Running software on your own server has consequences. You need to be confident in your ability to manage it, or seek professional help.

This is a setup guide for doing things the right way. What you do after setup is entirely your responsibility. Proceed only if you understand and accept these risks.