How to Set Up OpenClaw in 60 Seconds

Introduction

OpenClaw is one of the most powerful autonomous AI agents available, but self-hosting it requires Docker, a server, DNS configuration, TLS certificates, and ongoing maintenance. KiwiClaw eliminates all of that. You sign up, and we provision a dedicated OpenClaw instance for you in under a minute.

This guide walks you through the entire setup process -- from account creation to your first conversation with your agent.

Prerequisites

• An email address or Google account
• A payment method (credit card or debit card)
• If choosing BYOK: an API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or another supported provider

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to app.kiwiclaw.app and sign up with your email or Google account. Account creation takes about 10 seconds.

Step 2: Choose Your Plan

You will see two options:

• BYOK ($15/mo) -- Bring Your Own Keys. You provide API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, or other providers. Best if you already have API access and want to control costs directly.
• Standard ($39/mo) -- Managed LLM access included. We provide access to multiple AI models with usage caps. Best if you want everything handled for you.

Step 3: Name Your Agent

Give your agent a name (e.g., "Jarvis", "Atlas", "Scout") and choose a subdomain slug. Your agent will be accessible at your-slug.kiwiclaw.app.

Step 4: Select a Region

Pick the deployment region closest to you. This affects latency for chat and API calls. Available regions include US East, US West, and Europe. For GDPR compliance, see our Europe deployment guide.

Step 5: Wait for Provisioning

KiwiClaw provisions a dedicated Fly.io machine, installs the latest OpenClaw Docker image, configures TLS certificates, and sets up DNS routing. This takes about 30 seconds. You will see a progress indicator.

Step 6: Start Chatting

Your agent is live. The dashboard opens the chat interface automatically. Send your first message -- try something like "Search the web for the latest news about AI agents and summarize the top 3 stories."

Pro Tips

• Install skills to extend your agent's capabilities. Browse the Skills Marketplace for web search, code execution, image generation, and more.
• Connect channels like Slack, Discord, or Telegram so your agent is available where your team already works.
• Set up scheduled tasks to have your agent run recurring jobs automatically. See our cron jobs guide.
• Use the Standard plan if you are not sure about API keys -- it includes everything you need to get started immediately.

What Happens Behind the Scenes

When you click "Create Agent," KiwiClaw's orchestrator provisions a dedicated virtual machine on Fly.io, pulls the latest stock OpenClaw Docker image, injects your configuration (model preferences, API keys if BYOK, channel tokens), sets up a TLS certificate for your subdomain, and starts the agent. Your agent runs in complete isolation from other tenants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up OpenClaw with KiwiClaw?

Under 60 seconds. Sign up, choose a plan, name your agent, and KiwiClaw provisions a dedicated machine automatically. No server setup, no Docker, no command line required.

Do I need technical skills to set up OpenClaw?

No. KiwiClaw handles all infrastructure -- server provisioning, Docker images, TLS certificates, DNS routing, and updates. You just sign up and start chatting with your agent.

What is the difference between BYOK and Standard plans?

BYOK ($15/mo) lets you use your own API keys from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. Standard ($39/mo) includes managed LLM access with usage caps -- no API keys needed. See our pricing page for full details.