How long does it take to set up MyOpenClaw?

Your personal AI assistant is ready in 60 seconds. Simply pick a username, and we handle everything else - provisioning, SSL, and configuration.

What messaging platforms does MyOpenClaw support?

MyOpenClaw supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, and more. Connect all your channels from one unified dashboard.

Do I need technical knowledge to use MyOpenClaw?

No! MyOpenClaw is designed for non-technical users. Zero DevOps required - we handle all the infrastructure, updates, and security.

Can I get my own custom subdomain?

Yes! Every user gets their own subdomain: yourname.myopenclaw.cloud with automatic SSL certificate.

What happens if I want to cancel?

You can cancel anytime. There are no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Your data remains accessible until the end of your billing period.

How is this different from ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a chat interface you visit. OpenClaw is an autonomous AI agent that lives on your messaging apps and acts on your behalf. It can manage files, run code, browse the web, and integrate with your tools. It remembers everything across conversations and works 24/7.

What happened to Clawdbot and Moltbot?

OpenClaw was previously known as Clawdbot, and before that, Moltbot. The project has evolved significantly: same open-source community, much more powerful software. MyOpenClaw.cloud supports the latest version.

Do I need my own API key?

Yes, you'll need an API key from an AI provider like Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google. This takes about 2 minutes to set up and gives you full control over your AI usage and costs. We walk you through it during onboarding.

How does billing work?

Billing is monthly. You're charged when you subscribe, and your plan renews automatically each month. You can cancel anytime from your dashboard — no hidden fees or penalties.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Yes. You can switch between Starter, Pro, and Business plans at any time from your dashboard. Upgrades take effect immediately with prorated billing. Downgrades apply at the end of your current billing period.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) through our payment partner Polar. All transactions are processed securely with industry-standard encryption.

Is there a free trial?

There's no free trial, but you can cancel anytime with no penalties. Your instance stays active until the end of your billing period. At $29/month for Starter, there's minimal risk to try it out.

Is this an official OpenClaw service?

MyOpenClaw.cloud is an independent managed hosting service. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the OpenClaw open-source project. We provide hosting, support, and a streamlined experience on top of the open-source software.

Mac Mini self-hosting vs MyOpenClaw: the honest comparison

The Mac Mini M4 is the go-to self-hosting choice for OpenClaw in 2026. $2/month in electricity, Apple Silicon, always-on, full control. It's a compelling pitch. We ran the actual numbers.

Why people choose Mac Mini

Apple Silicon is genuinely well-suited for AI workloads. Unified memory means the M4's CPU and GPU share the same RAM pool — useful for local model inference. The M4 Mac Mini uses 5-20W under load. A GPU server burns 250W+. And macOS gives OpenClaw direct access to Notes, Reminders, iMessages, and Shortcuts.

A 16GB M4 runs OpenClaw fine. 24GB lets you also run Ollama with local models.

What setup actually looks like

First-time setup takes 4-8 hours for most people: installing Node.js, configuring openclaw.json, setting up API keys, getting port forwarding or a reverse proxy working for Telegram/WhatsApp, and debugging the config errors (there will be some).

Ongoing, expect 2-4 hours a month: watching for security advisories, updating skills, checking integrations, restarting when it crashes.

The 12-month cost breakdown

CostMac Mini M4MyOpenClaw Pro Hardware$800 ($22/mo amortized)$0 Electricity$2/moIncluded API costs~$80-150/mo typical$10/mo built-in; BYOK available Domain + SSL~$1.25/moIncluded 12-month total$1,345–$2,101$588

Mac Mini wins on cost only if your API bill stays under ~$25/month. Most active users spend more than that.

Where Mac Mini has the edge

Run Ollama with local models and your API bill is essentially zero. That's the strongest case for Mac Mini — if you want Mistral, Llama, or Qwen running locally, managed hosting can't match that. You also get maximum data control (nothing leaves your network) and the full macOS integration stack.

If you enjoy the ops work, it's also more customizable. Fork the runtime, modify the config, do whatever.

Where managed hosting makes more sense

60 seconds from signup to working instance vs 4-8 hours. We handle all security updates — the ClawHavoc supply chain attack in February didn't affect our users because we pin skill versions. 99.9% uptime SLA vs whatever your Mac Mini's uptime is. Telegram/WhatsApp/Discord configured automatically.

The verdict

Choose Mac Mini if you want to run local models via Ollama, need everything on your own hardware, care about macOS-native integrations, or genuinely like the ops work.

Choose MyOpenClaw if you want something working in 60 seconds with zero ongoing maintenance and predictable costs.

Start your free trial →

Mac Mini Self-Hosting vs MyOpenClaw: The Honest Comparison