What if your AI assistant lived on your own server — not some cloud API, but right there in your infrastructure?
That is OpenClaw, an open-source AI assistant framework that gives you the power of Claude, Grok, MiniMax, and other AI models without sacrificing privacy or control.
📰 Note: OpenClaw has made headlines — including a Wired article discussing early concerns about autonomous AI agents. The project has since matured significantly, with robust safety features and security controls. This guide covers the latest version with proper safeguards.
What Is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI assistant platform designed for developers and businesses who want AI capabilities without the cloud dependency. Think of it as having your own personal AI that runs on your hardware, answers your emails, manages your servers, and integrates with your tools.
Key Benefit: Unlike cloud-based AI services where your data travels to third-party servers, OpenClaw runs locally. Your conversations, your files, your infrastructure — all stay within your network.
Large Language Models You Can Use with OpenClaw
Cloud-Based Models
| Model | Best For | Context | Pricing (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic Claude | Reasoning, coding, analysis | 200K tokens | $3-15/M tokens |
| OpenAI GPT-4 | General purpose, creativity | 128K tokens | $2.5-10/M tokens |
| xAI Grok | Fast, witty, real-time info | 131K tokens | $0.2-0.5/M tokens |
| MiniMax M2.5 | Multilingual, budget-friendly | 200K tokens | $0.30/M tokens ⭐ |
| Kimi K2 | Long context, research | 1M tokens | $0.50/M tokens |
| Google Gemini | Multimodal, research | 2M tokens | $1.25-5/M tokens |
Self-Hosted Models (Local)
| Model | Parameters | Min RAM | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen 2.5 | 7B-72B | 8GB+ | General purpose ⭐ |
| Llama 3.1 | 8B-405B | 16GB+ | Reasoning tasks |
| Mistral | 7B-22B | 8GB+ | Fast, lightweight |
| Codestral | 22B | 16GB+ | Code generation ⭐ |
💰 Budget Model Recommendations
| 🏆 Best Overall Value | MiniMax M2.5 | $0.30/M tokens, free tier |
| 📚 Best for Long Context | Kimi K2 | 1M token context window |
| 🆓 Best Free Option | Qwen 2.5 7B | Run locally, zero cost |
| 💎 Best Premium | Claude Opus 4 | Best reasoning, worth it |
Pro tip: Run smaller local models like Qwen 2.5 7B for simple tasks (save cloud credits), escalate to Claude Opus for complex reasoning. Use MiniMax M2.5 for everything in between.
Key Use Cases for OpenClaw
🖥️ Server Management
Health checks, service restarts, monitoring automation. AI that proactively diagnoses issues.
🎧 Customer Support
AI support assistant that answers common questions, triages tickets, escalates when needed.
💻 Development
Code review, debugging, documentation. AI that knows your codebase.
✍️ Content & SEO
Blog posts, product descriptions, automated content at scale.
📞 Voice & Phone
AI receptionist via 3CX, voicemail transcription, voice responses.
📊 Data Analysis
Database queries, analytics reports, business intelligence.
Security Tips and Tricks for OpenClaw
| 1 | Network Isolation — Run in isolated VLAN, separate from production |
| 2 | API Key Management — Use env vars, rotate regularly |
| 3 | Rate Limiting — Prevent abuse with per-user limits |
| 4 | Access Control — RBAC, principle of least privilege |
| 5 | Audit Logging — Log all interactions, review regularly |
| 6 | Input Sanitization — Prevent prompt injection |
| 7 | Regular Updates — Patch vulnerabilities fast |
| 8 | Local Models — Use Qwen/Llama for sensitive data |
| 9 | Container Isolation — Docker with resource limits |
| 10 | Backups — Test your recovery procedures |
Hardware Requirements
| Deployment Type | CPU | RAM | Storage | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥧 Raspberry Pi | 4 cores | 4GB | 32GB SSD | Testing/Light use |
| 💻 VPS | 4+ vCPU | 8GB+ | 50GB NVMe | Small team |
| 🖥️ Dedicated | 8+ cores | 32GB+ | 500GB NVMe | Production |
| 🚀 GPU Server | 16+ cores + GPU | 64GB+ | 1TB NVMe | Local AI inference |
Frequently Asked Questions about OpenClaw
❓ What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI assistant framework that lets you run AI models on your own servers. Unlike cloud-based AI services, all your data stays on your infrastructure.
❓ Is OpenClaw safe to use?
Yes, when properly configured with security best practices. OpenClaw includes rate limiting, access controls, audit logging, and network isolation features. Running locally gives you more control than cloud AI services.
❓ What models can OpenClaw use?
OpenClaw supports multiple AI models including Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT-4, xAI Grok, MiniMax M2.5, Kimi K2, Google Gemini, and local models like Qwen 2.5, Llama 3.1, Mistral, and Codestral.
❓ How much does OpenClaw cost?
OpenClaw itself is free and open-source. Costs depend on which AI models you use: local models (Qwen, Llama) are free, while cloud APIs (Claude, GPT-4) charge per token. MiniMax M2.5 is the most budget-friendly at $0.30/million tokens.
❓ Do I need technical skills to run OpenClaw?
Basic Linux and server knowledge helps. For simple deployments, you can use pre-configured images or hosting with one-click installation. For advanced automation, programming skills are beneficial.
❓ Can OpenClaw replace my customer support team?
OpenClaw can handle common questions and triaging, but works best as augmentation rather than replacement. Use it for 24/7 initial response, with human agents handling complex issues.
❓ What is the best hosting for OpenClaw?
For production use, a VPS with 4+ vCPU and 8GB+ RAM, or a dedicated server with 32GB+ RAM for local AI models. Ghosted.com offers optimized VPS and dedicated servers pre-configured for AI workloads.
Get Started with OpenClaw on Ghosted Hosting
Ready to run OpenClaw on your own infrastructure? Ghosted.com offers optimized VPS and dedicated servers pre-configured for AI workloads.
- ✅ High-performance NVMe storage
- ✅ Generous bandwidth for AI models
- ✅ 99.9% uptime guarantee
- ✅ 24/7 technical support
- ✅ One-click OpenClaw installation
🎉 Special offer: Get 20% OFF your first month with code OPENCLAW20
For the latest OpenClaw features and configuration tips, check their GitHub repository or ask Opus and Grok directly — they are always up to date on the newest capabilities.
The future of AI is personal, private, and self-hosted. OpenClaw makes it possible today.
