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Intermediate25 min readUpdated Mar 14, 2026

How to Install OpenClaw on Hostinger VPS [2026 Guide]

Quick Answer

Purchase a Hostinger VPS plan (KVM2+), connect via SSH, install Docker and Docker Compose, pull the OpenClaw Docker image, run the onboarding wizard to configure your AI provider keys and messaging integrations, then access the Control UI via SSH tunnel. Total setup time: ~15 minutes.

Prerequisites

  1. Hostinger VPS plan (KVM2 or higher recommended — minimum 2 GB RAM)
  2. SSH client (Terminal on Linux/macOS, PuTTY or Windows Terminal on Windows)
  3. API key from Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI — or use nexos.ai credits
  4. Basic command-line knowledge
1

Choose the right Hostinger VPS plan

OpenClaw requires at least 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended for better performance) and 10 GB disk space for Docker images and application data. The KVM2 plan ($5.99/mo) with 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, and 100 GB NVMe is the sweet spot for personal use. For team deployments or running local AI models via Ollama alongside OpenClaw, choose KVM4 or higher.

Hostinger also offers a one-click OpenClaw VPS template that pre-installs everything — if you prefer automated setup, select the OpenClaw template during checkout and skip to Step 5.
Tip
The one-click template is the fastest path. Manual Docker setup gives you more control over versions and configuration.
2

Connect to your VPS via SSH

After purchasing, go to hPanel → VPS → Overview to find your server IP, SSH port (default 22), and root password. Connect from your terminal:
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
Enter the root password from hPanel. Once connected, update the system:
apt update && apt upgrade -y
Tip
Use hPanel's built-in browser terminal for quick initial access without configuring an SSH client.
3

Install Docker and Docker Compose

OpenClaw runs in Docker containers for isolation and easy updates. Install Docker with the official script:
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker
Verify the installation:
docker --version
docker compose version
Both commands should return version numbers. Docker Compose v2 is included with modern Docker installations.
4

Deploy OpenClaw with Docker Compose

Create a directory for OpenClaw and set up the configuration:
mkdir -p ~/openclaw && cd ~/openclaw
Generate a secret key for the gateway:
openssl rand -base64 32 > .env
echo "OPENCLAW_SECRET=$(cat .env)" > .env
Create the docker-compose.yml:
cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
version: '3.8'
services:
  openclaw:
    image: openclaw/gateway:latest
    container_name: openclaw
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    env_file: .env
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production
EOF
Start the container:
docker compose up -d
Tip
Binding to 127.0.0.1 instead of 0.0.0.0 keeps the UI private — access it securely via SSH tunnel.
5

Run the onboarding wizard

Open an SSH tunnel to access the Control UI from your browser:
ssh -L 3000:localhost:3000 root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
Then visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser. The onboarding wizard will guide you through:
  • AI Provider: Enter your Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI API key, or use nexos.ai credits for multi-model access
  • Messaging Apps: Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or Slack
  • Security: Set a gateway password for the Control UI
  • Preferences: Configure language, timezone, and default behaviors
Tip
Start with one messaging app (Telegram is easiest) and add more later.
6

Configure firewall and security

Set up UFW to allow only SSH traffic (OpenClaw stays on loopback):
ufw allow 22/tcp
ufw enable
ufw status
For extra security, change the default SSH port and disable password authentication in favor of SSH keys:
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
# Change: Port 2222
# Change: PasswordAuthentication no
systemctl restart sshd
Install Fail2Ban for brute-force protection:
apt install fail2ban -y
systemctl enable fail2ban
Tip
Update the SSH port in hPanel's firewall settings after changing it.
7

Set up automatic updates

Keep OpenClaw updated with a simple cron job. Create an update script:
cat > ~/openclaw/update.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
cd ~/openclaw
docker compose pull
docker compose up -d
docker image prune -f
EOF
chmod +x ~/openclaw/update.sh
Add a weekly cron job:
crontab -e
# Add: 0 4 * * 0 /root/openclaw/update.sh >> /root/openclaw/update.log 2>&1
Tip
Check the OpenClaw changelog before major updates to avoid breaking changes.

Troubleshooting

Docker container fails to start or crashes immediately
Check logs with docker logs openclaw. Common causes: insufficient RAM (need 2 GB+), missing .env file, or port 3000 already in use. Free up memory with docker system prune -a or stop conflicting services.
Cannot access Control UI via SSH tunnel
Verify the container is running: docker ps. Ensure the SSH tunnel command uses -L 3000:localhost:3000 (not the server IP). Check that port 3000 isn't blocked by the container binding — it should bind to 127.0.0.1:3000.
WhatsApp or Telegram integration not connecting
Check your API keys in the Control UI settings. For WhatsApp, ensure you're scanning the QR code within 60 seconds. For Telegram, verify your bot token from @BotFather is correct. Restart the container after changing integration settings: docker compose restart.
AI responses are slow or timing out
This is usually an API provider issue, not a server issue. Check your API key quota and rate limits. If running local models via Ollama, ensure your VPS has enough RAM (8 GB+ recommended for 7B models). Consider upgrading to a higher Hostinger plan.

Related Guides

More OpenClaw Tutorials

How to install on Contabo VPS

How to install on DigitalOcean

Other Tool Tutorials

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ChatGPT Tutorials

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Claude Tutorials

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Cursor Tutorials

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