OpenClaw hosting for free: what each option actually gives you

Description and use

Step‑by‑step recipe to run OpenClaw for free: install, configure a free model, and keep the gateway running in the background.

Choosing a free hosting option for an OpenClaw agent requires understanding the trade‑offs between server uptime and model token costs.

A free, end‑to‑end OpenClaw deployment is achievable with a 1 GB container, a local or free‑tier model, and a background gateway service.

Install OpenClaw via curl or PowerShell
Prepare a free model: install Ollama and pull a model or obtain an API key from OpenRouter or Google AI Studio
Run onboarding with openclaw onboard and configure the provider
Verify gateway status with openclaw gateway status
Install the gateway as a background service with openclaw gateway install

The smallest free cloud machines give you exactly 1 GB.

OpenClaw needs Node 24.16 or 26.1 and newer

OpenClaw verifies it with a real completion, writes ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json