Run OpenClaw on a $5 VPS: Full Setup, Fixes, and Real-World Results

I Ran OpenClaw on a $5 VPS (While Everyone Said “You Need a $500 Mac Mini”)

Quick answer first: Yes, it works.

Everyone online says:

You need a Mac Mini to run OpenClaw properly!

As server administrator and DevOps expert, I tested the opposite.

I ran OpenClaw on a $5/month VPS (Ubuntu) and got it working for:

• daily stock market reports

• scheduled motivational messages

• Telegram automation

• browser control/testing

• subagent workflows

Not perfect at first.

But after a few real fixes, it became stable enough for serious usage.

If you want to copy this setup, this article will save you hours. 😉

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My VPS setup (real stack):

• Provider: Hetzner Cloud

• Server size: cx23 small (2 vCPU / ~4GB RAM class, 40 GB SSD) UPGRADEBLE

• OS: Ubuntu 24.04

• OpenClaw: latest stable (updated during setup)

• Main channel: Telegram

• Extras used: Cron jobs, subagents, Chrome relay, managed browser mode

• Docker to run n8n for other testing

• SSH default port changed for security

• Hetzner firewall on with only the SSH port opened for more security

• SSH password off, connected by the private key

If you want to support this blog, use my Hetzner referral link: https://hetzner.cloud/?ref=g1aTOgwu1xST

What I wanted OpenClaw to do (real use case):

I didn’t want a toy demo. I wanted production-like daily value:

1. Morning stock market & crypto anaylitics & brief

2. Post-open US stock market update

3. Daily “Morning Soul” motivational message

4. Reliable Telegram delivery

5. Automated social media marketing

6. Full time job searching and applying

This is where most guides stop.

I’m sharing what happens after install.

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What went wrong first with OpenClaw (and why people think you need expensive hardware):

At one point the VPS became almost unusable:

• CPU looked “100%” because of n8n & docker

• Box felt frozen

Actual root cause:

It wasn’t pure CPU.

It was memory pressure + no swap → kernel thrashing → system CPU spike.

That’s the hidden killer on cheap VPS plans.

The fixes that made it stable:

1) Add swap (most important)

I added a 4GB swapfile and persisted it in /etc/fstab.

This immediately reduced crash risk and helped absorb spikes.

2) Tune memory behavior

I set:

• vm.swappiness=10

• vm.vfs_cache_pressure=50

This improved stability during heavy mixed workloads.

3) Disable services I didn’t need

• Docker + containerd disabled (for now) stopped no need for n8n anymore, OpenClaw did all the needs ;)

• CUPS service disabled (not needed on this host)

• kept only required services alive

4) Improve data-fetch cost + reliability

For recurring reports:

• web_fetch first on known URLs

• web_search brave API only for discovery/fallback

• fixed source map file for canonical links to get the stock market reports that I need

This lowered API cost and reduced noisy output.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_FirbYJRZA

GUI optional, not always-on

Installed lightweight GUI (Openbox + TigerVNC + noVNC), but:

• disabled auto-start

• run only when needed, but why you need it? only to automate logged-in tasks like publishing on X.com , Reddit or here like what you're reading right now 😎

So I get GUI power when needed, without paying RAM cost 24/7, and accessible by VNC.

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OpenClaw browser automation reality (important)

There are two modes in OpenClaw:

A) Managed browser headless (stable)

Great for scraping/research flows, deterministic runs.

B) Chrome relay GUI (needed for real account login)

Needed when you must use your own logged-in browser session (X/Reddit, Facebook, etc).

I found a practical hybrid:

• Login lane: Chrome relay

• Automation lane: managed browser

That gave me both reliability + real-world login capability.

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What “AI modules” I used in OpenClaw

If you’re new, this is the core stack I actually used:

• gpt-5.3-codex (oAuth loggin) monthly subscription no extra credits

• Gateway (main service)

• Cron jobs (scheduled tasks)

• Subagents (isolated long/complex runs)

• Browser tool (profile="chrome" and profile="openclaw")

• Memory files (persistent context)

• Telegram messaging/reactions/inline-buttons

• Session orchestration tools

This is enough to build a real assistant workflow, not just chat.

Want me to help you set up OpenClaw on a low-cost VPS (the stable way)? Send me a message with your server size and goals, and I’ll share the exact setup plan for your case. https://x.com/mustafa_ramax

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Useful OpenClaw Prompts that worked for me:

1) Host diagnosis prompt

Check this VPS for performance bottlenecks in the last 2 hours:
- CPU, RAM, swap, load, disk IO
- kernel logs for memory pressure/OOM
- top processes by CPU and RAM
Then give:
1) root cause
2) immediate fixes
3) safe commands (with explanation)

2) Cost optimization prompt

Refactor my recurring report workflow to:
- use web_fetch first for known URLs
- use web_search only for discovery/fallback
- add a source-map file
- enforce max search calls per run
Then update prompt files and summarize changes.

3) Browser mode strategy prompt

Design a dual-browser operation:
- managed browser for stable automation
- chrome relay for human login/2FA flows
Include exact operating rules to reduce relay drops.

Feel free to ask me for more on https://x.com/mustafa_ramax

Step-by-step blueprint (copy this if you’re building now):

1. Deploy Ubuntu (no GUI) VPS on Hetzner

2. Install OpenClaw + verify gateway

3. Connect Telegram

4. Create first cron job (simple text)

5. Add swap + memory tuning

6. Disable unused services (Docker/CUPS if not needed)

7. Build one real recurring workflow

8. Add source-map + fetch-first policy

9. Add subagent fallback for heavy tasks

10. Add optional lightweight GUI (manual-start only)

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Honest pros vs cons: $5 VPS vs Mac Mini

VPS wins:

• super cheap

• remote-first

• automations run 24/7

• easy to rebuild / scale

Mac Mini wins:

• smoother browser/UI workflows

• more local power headroom

• fewer relay edge-cases

My conclusion:

If you know DevOps basics, $5 VPS is absolutely usable, upgradable as you need ;)

If you want “no tuning, max smoothness,” Mac Mini is easier.

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Final take:

This wasn’t a benchmark flex.

This was a practical build to run real daily workflows with AI.

And it worked.

If you’re technical and budget-aware, you don’t need to wait for expensive hardware.

Start with a cheap VPS , fix the bottlenecks properly, and ship.

Need this fully done-for-you?

I offer a complete OpenClaw VPS setup + stability hardening + automation workflow build.

DM me to book a setup session. (https://x.com/mustafa_ramax)