Pricing

How much does OpenClaw setup cost?

OpenClaw is free. Setup takes time, expertise, and security care. Here's the full cost breakdown.

The short answer

DIY Self-Install

OpenClaw softwareFree (open source)
VPS hosting (cloud)$5–10 AUD/month
Your setup time3 hrs (technical) / 30+ hrs (non-technical)
Security hardeningOften skipped ⚠️
Total cash outlay~$10/month

SetupClaw — Professional Setup

Hosted Setup (one-time)$3,000 AUD
Mac Mini Setup$5,000 AUD
Mac Mini In-Person (Sydney/Mumbai/Dubai)$6,000 AUD
Additional agents+$1,500 each
VPS hosting~$120/yr (your cost)
Includes14-day hypercare

What makes OpenClaw setup complex (and expensive to get right)

OpenClaw itself is free. But running it securely for a business requires several layers that most self-installs skip:

Security hardening

Docker sandboxing, firewall rules, exec allowlists. Every self-install we've audited was missing at least one of these. The default install is not production-ready.

Composio OAuth middleware

Without Composio, your OAuth tokens sit in a plain config file. Composio separates credentials from the agent, adds an audit trail, and gives you instant revoke capability.

Integration configuration

Connecting Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, HubSpot, WhatsApp and getting them all to work together takes time. Each integration needs OAuth scopes configured correctly.

Workflow setup

Telling OpenClaw what to do — heartbeat cadence, email triage rules, meeting prep triggers, CRM update logic — requires knowing what's possible and how to express it.

Ongoing maintenance

OAuth tokens expire. OpenClaw ships updates. Integrations break. Without someone watching, your agent quietly stops working.

DIY vs. SetupClaw: the true cost

The DIY route looks cheap on paper — $10/month for a VPS. But consider your time:

If your time is worth $200/hour, 3 hours of technical setup = $600
If you're non-technical, multiply that by 5–10× (learning curve)
Plus ongoing maintenance: ~2–4 hours/month for a self-managed install
Plus security risk: one breach can cost far more than the setup fee

“I could have set it up myself, but every self-install I've seen has security gaps. The hardening alone was worth it.”

— Customer, early-stage VC fund

What's included in our setup fee

VPS or Mac Mini provisioning (we handle the server)
OpenClaw installation and configuration
Security hardening: Docker sandbox, firewall, exec allowlists
Composio OAuth middleware setup
Email, calendar, and up to 3 tool integrations
Workflow configuration (heartbeats, triage rules, meeting prep)
Telegram/Slack/WhatsApp pairing
Documentation of your setup
14-day hypercare: dedicated Slack channel, tuning, fixes
100% satisfaction guarantee — full refund if you're not happy

FAQ — OpenClaw setup cost

Can I set up OpenClaw for free?

Yes — it's open source. You'll need a VPS ($5–10/month) and technical time. The challenge is security hardening, OAuth configuration, and ongoing maintenance. Most teams underestimate how much this costs in engineer time.

Is there a monthly fee for SetupClaw?

No. Our setup fee is one-time. You pay for the VPS directly (~$5–10/month). If you want ongoing monitoring, updates, and support, we offer Managed Care — ask us about pricing on the discovery call.

Do I pay for the VPS separately?

Yes. You pay the hosting provider directly (e.g., Vultr, Hetzner, DigitalOcean). This keeps you in control of your infrastructure. Most customers pay $5–10 AUD/month.

What if I already have OpenClaw installed?

We offer a security audit and hardening service at the same price. Many customers come to us with a working but insecure install — we add Composio, Docker sandboxing, and proper firewall rules.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes — 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you're not happy with the setup, we'll refund you in full, no questions asked.

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