How to Deploy OpenClaw (Moltbot) on Vultr VPS: The Ultimate Guide with $300 Free Credit

How to Deploy OpenClaw (Moltbot) on Vultr VPS: The “Free” Way

Keywords: Deploy OpenClaw, Install Clawdbot, Moltbot Vultr Setup

Are you tired of keeping your computer on 24/7 just to keep your AI agent alive? Or maybe you are struggling with Node.js errors while trying to install Clawdbot (now widely known as Moltbot or OpenClaw)?

Moving your AI agent to a Cloud VPS (Virtual Private Server) is the best decision you can make. It’s faster, stable, and doesn’t drain your laptop’s battery.

In this guide, we will show you how to deploy OpenClaw on Vultr in under 5 minutes.

🧐 Why Vultr? (And What is OpenClaw?)

First, let’s clear up the confusion. OpenClaw is the community-maintained version of the project formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot. They are the same core software.

We choose Vultr for this deployment because:

1. Performance: Their “High Frequency” servers are incredibly fast for AI tasks.
2. Price: Plans start cheap, but the performance is enterprise-grade.
3. The Offer: The $300 free credit allows you to pick a powerful server (4GB+ RAM) instead of a slow, cheap one, ensuring your AI never lags.

🚀 Step 1: Create Your Cloud Server (Droplet)

1. Sign Up: Go to Vultr via this link to ensure the $300 coupon code is applied. Create your account.
2. Deploy New Instance: Click the big blue ”+” button or “Deploy Server”.
3. Choose Server Type: Select Cloud Compute -> Shared CPU.
4. Choose Location: Pick a location closest to you (e.g., Tokyo, New York, Frankfurt).
5. Choose Image (OS): Select Ubuntu 24.04 LTS x64 (or 22.04). It’s the most stable for Docker.
6. Choose Plan:
   • Recommendation: Since you have the $300 credit, don’t choose the cheapest one.
   • Select “Regular Performance” or “High Frequency”.
   • Pick the 55 GB SSD / 2 GB RAM plan (usually around $10-$12/mo).
   • Note: OpenClaw runs best with at least 2GB of RAM.
7. Disable Auto Backups: (Optional, saves $2/mo).
8. Deploy: Click “Deploy Now”.

Wait about 60 seconds for the server to say “Running”. Copy the IP Address and the Root Password.

⚡ Step 2: Connect and Install Docker

We will use Docker to install OpenClaw. This is much safer than installing Node.js directly because it keeps the AI “sandboxed” and prevents errors.

1. Open your Terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on Mac).

2. Connect to your server:

   ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
   # Example: ssh root@192.168.1.1

3. Enter Password: Paste the password from Vultr (it won’t show on screen) and hit Enter.

4. Install Docker (One-Command): Copy and paste this entire block to install Docker automatically:

   curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
   sh get-docker.sh

🤖 Step 3: Run OpenClaw (One-Click Deploy)

Now for the magic moment. We will download and start OpenClaw with a single command.

You need your Anthropic API Key (Claude) for this.

Run this command (replace sk-ant-YOUR_KEY_HERE with your actual key):

docker run -d \
  --name openclaw \
  --restart always \
  -p 18789:18789 \
  -e ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-YOUR_KEY_HERE" \
  -e HOST=0.0.0.0 \
  -v $(pwd)/openclaw_data:/root/.openclaw \
  ghcr.io/openclaw/openclaw:latest

What does this command do?

• --restart always: If your server reboots, the AI starts automatically.
• -p 18789:18789: Opens the port so you can access it from your browser.
• -v ...: Saves your AI’s memory to the disk, so you don’t lose data if you restart.

🌐 Step 4: Access Your AI Agent

Open your web browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.) and type:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:18789

Example: http://45.76.123.45:18789

Congratulations! You should see the OpenClaw/Moltbot interface. You can now connect your Telegram or WhatsApp and have a 24/7 AI assistant.

🔧 Troubleshooting & Tips

”Site can’t be reached”

Check if Vultr’s Firewall is blocking port 18789. By default, Ubuntu on Vultr allows all ports, but if you enabled the Vultr Firewall group, add a rule to allow TCP 18789.

”Permission Denied”

Make sure you are logged in as root or use sudo before the docker command.

Updating

To update to the latest version, run:

docker stop openclaw && docker rm openclaw
docker pull ghcr.io/openclaw/openclaw:latest
# Then run the Step 3 command again

🏁 Summary

You now have a powerful, self-hosted AI agent running on the cloud. No more dependency hell, no more keeping your laptop awake.

And the best part? If you used our link, Vultr is paying for it with their free credit.

👉 Didn’t claim the $300 credit yet? Click here to activate it now.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you. In fact, you get $300 in free credit, so it’s a win-win!