The easiest way to get OpenClaw running is to pick the right server from day one — no wrestling with local environments, no dependency nightmares. The four options below cover pretty much every situation, from total beginners just testing the waters to people who want something more serious. Just choose whatever actually matches what you need.
Alibaba Cloud (¥68/year for new users)
A 2-core 2GB setup for just ¥68 in the first year makes this the cheapest way in. It’s a domestic server, so access speeds inside China are excellent, the console is clean and beginner-friendly, and when you hit a snag there’s tons of Chinese docs and community help ready to go.
It’s perfect for playing around with OpenClaw’s features, running light bots, or just personal projects. If you’re not sure yet whether OpenClaw is the right fit and you want the lowest-risk way to try it, Alibaba Cloud is hard to beat.
Two things you should think about ahead of time though. First, since it’s a domestic server there are data compliance rules to keep in mind — you’ll want to make sure your project and the data you’re handling are okay with that. Second, overseas access isn’t great. If your OpenClaw needs to talk to Telegram, Discord, or call foreign APIs, you’ll feel the network friction pretty quickly. In those cases, Alibaba Cloud just isn’t the move.
Tencent Cloud (¥99/year)
Also 2-core 2GB, but ¥99 for the first year — only ¥31 more than Alibaba. That extra ¥31 gets you overseas node options. Tencent’s lightweight servers include places like Silicon Valley, the management interface is just as easy for new users, and deployment is still dead simple.
If your OpenClaw setup needs to connect to Telegram, Discord, or overseas model APIs, Tencent Cloud’s Silicon Valley node is probably the most cost-effective way to do it. Overseas servers also dodge the domestic compliance stuff, and talking to foreign platforms feels way smoother.
A couple of things to watch: the lower-tier plans have fairly tight traffic limits, so if your bot is going to be busy or push a lot of data, double-check the quota first. Also, the cheap price is a new-user promo — renewal rates go up, so keep long-term costs in mind.
AWS (Amazon Cloud)
AWS gives new users a free tier on certain instances for up to six months, plus around $200 in credits. Upfront cost can be almost nothing. The global node coverage is huge, the infrastructure is enterprise-grade, and both compute power and network quality are the strongest of the four. Plus the scaling headroom is massive — you can start with a personal project and grow into a real commercial AI service without ever switching platforms.
The catch is the learning curve. You need an overseas payment method (PayPal or foreign credit card), billing is complicated because compute, storage, and traffic are all charged separately, and it’s surprisingly easy for beginners to get surprised by the bill. A lot of people have learned that the hard way. The console is also more technical — English-only, tons of options, and it takes time to feel comfortable if you don’t already have some cloud experience.
AWS makes sense if you’ve got a bit of technical background and you’re thinking long-term about building a real AI workflow. If you’re not just testing OpenClaw but actually planning to grow something sustained on top of it, AWS’s scalability and global reach are tough to beat.
Google Cloud
A three-month free trial with $300 in credits is the most generous intro offer here. Network quality is excellent and the integration with the rest of Google’s ecosystem is deep. If you’re already living in Google Workspace, Google Drive, or using Gemini stuff, everything just clicks together naturally.
If you want to hook OpenClaw deeply into Google services — pulling files from Drive, syncing with Calendar, calling Google AI APIs — doing it on Google Cloud feels noticeably smoother than anywhere else.
The downsides are similar to AWS: you need overseas payment, the console is more technical, and after the free credits run out it becomes the most expensive of the bunch. It’s best if you’re already deep in the Google world or you have clear plans for big-scale deployment. If keeping long-term costs low is your top priority, this one will feel the heaviest on your wallet.
How to choose
It’s actually pretty straightforward — just match your real needs to the right one.
Want to try OpenClaw, test the features, or mess around with a personal project? Grab Alibaba Cloud for ¥68 a year and almost zero risk. Need to connect to overseas platforms or call foreign APIs? Tencent Cloud’s Silicon Valley node gets you there for just ¥31 more. Already have some tech experience, planning a long-term AI service, and want global nodes? Start on AWS and use the free tier to build your architecture. Already living in the Google ecosystem and planning tight integration with their services? Google Cloud is the obvious choice.
Don’t overthink it trying to find the “perfect” setup on day one. Get OpenClaw running as cheaply as possible first. Once it’s live and you’re actually using it, you’ll figure out pretty fast what you really need — and upgrading from there is easy.