OpenClaw Tutorial: How to Deploy Your First AI Agent in 2026

What You Need Before Deploying OpenClaw

Before you begin your OpenClaw deployment, make sure you have the following:

• An API key from an AI provider — Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT), or Google (Gemini).
• A Telegram account (the most popular channel for OpenClaw agents).
• For manual setup: a VPS or always-on machine with Node.js 22+ installed.
• For one-click setup: just a Google account and a browser.

Method 1: Traditional OpenClaw Setup (Manual Deployment)

The traditional OpenClaw deployment involves provisioning a server, installing dependencies, and configuring the agent manually. This method gives you maximum control but requires technical knowledge.

Step 1: Provision a Virtual Private Server

You need a server that stays online 24/7. Popular VPS providers include Hetzner, DigitalOcean, and Linode. For OpenClaw, a minimum of 2 vCPUs and 4 GB RAM is recommended. Choose a Linux distribution like Ubuntu 24.04.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server via SSH

Generate an SSH key pair on your local machine, add the public key to your server, and connect:

Step 3: Install Node.js on Your Server

OpenClaw requires Node.js version 22 or higher. Install it using your package manager:

Step 4: Install OpenClaw

Install OpenClaw globally via npm:

Step 5: Run the OpenClaw Onboarding

OpenClaw includes an onboarding command that walks you through the initial configuration:

This command installs the OpenClaw daemon (so it keeps running in the background), creates your configuration file at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json, and prompts you for your AI provider API key.

Step 6: Connect OpenClaw to Telegram

Log into your messaging channels through the OpenClaw CLI:

Follow the prompts to pair your Telegram account with your OpenClaw instance.

Step 7: Start the OpenClaw Gateway

Launch the OpenClaw Gateway to begin processing messages:

Your OpenClaw control dashboard is now available at http://your-server-ip:18789. Send a message on Telegram to test your agent.

Method 2: One-Click OpenClaw Deployment with OneClickClaw

If the traditional OpenClaw setup feels overwhelming — or you simply want to get running as fast as possible — OneClickClaw automates the entire process.

Step 1: Sign In with Google

Go to oneclickclaw.dev and sign in with your Google account. No separate registration required.

Step 2: Choose Your AI Model

Select from seven supported AI models across three providers:

• Anthropic: Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus 4.6, Claude Haiku 4.5
• OpenAI: GPT-5.2, GPT-5 Mini
• Google: Gemini 3 Flash, Gemini 3 Pro

Step 3: Pick Your Server Size

Choose a VPS instance based on your needs:

Step 4: Connect Telegram and Deploy

Pair your Telegram account, confirm your subscription, and OneClickClaw handles the rest — VPS provisioning, OpenClaw installation, configuration, and channel pairing all happen automatically.

Configuring Your OpenClaw Agent After Deployment

Once your OpenClaw agent is running, here are some common configurations:

Switching AI Models

You can change the AI model powering your OpenClaw agent at any time. If you deployed through OneClickClaw, this is a one-click change in the dashboard. For self-hosted setups, update the model setting in your OpenClaw configuration file.

Adding Integrations

OpenClaw supports 50+ integrations out of the box. Connect your Gmail, GitHub, Spotify, and other services through the OpenClaw control dashboard or configuration file.

Security Settings

By default, OpenClaw uses per-sender sessions for isolation. You can further restrict access by configuring allowlists, requiring group mentions, and setting up security policies in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.

OpenClaw Deployment: Monitoring and Management

After deploying your OpenClaw agent, you'll want to monitor its performance:

• Control dashboard — OpenClaw includes a web-based dashboard for monitoring conversations and managing settings.
• OneClickClaw dashboard — If you deployed via OneClickClaw, the platform provides additional monitoring including AI credit usage, uptime tracking, and VPS cost breakdown.
• Credit management — Track your AI API spending. OneClickClaw includes $16/month in AI credits, or you can bring your own API key.

Common OpenClaw Deployment Issues and Fixes

OpenClaw Gateway won't start

Make sure Node.js 22+ is installed. Run node --version to check. If you're on an older version, update Node.js before trying again.

Telegram messages not reaching OpenClaw

Verify that channel login was successful by running openclaw channels login again. Ensure the Gateway is running and your firewall allows the required ports.

High API costs

If your OpenClaw agent is consuming more API credits than expected, consider switching to a more cost-effective model like Claude Haiku 4.5 or GPT-5 Mini for routine tasks, and reserving powerful models like Claude Opus 4.6 or GPT-5.2 for complex requests.

Summary: Deploying OpenClaw in 2026

Whether you choose the traditional self-hosted OpenClaw setup or the managed one-click deployment, the result is the same: a powerful, always-on AI agent that lives in your messaging apps and works for you around the clock.

For developers who want full control, the manual OpenClaw setup is straightforward. For everyone else, OneClickClaw removes the technical barriers entirely. Either way, you end up with a personal AI assistant that can handle email, scheduling, research, and dozens of other tasks.