ClawBolt is open-source. You can host it yourself. But should you?
Self-hosting requires technical skills, time, and ongoing maintenance. Here's the comparison.
Quick Comparison
| Task | Self-Hosted | ClawBolt Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 45+ minutes | 60 seconds |
| Technical Skills Required | Intermediate | None |
| Server Management | You do it | We do it |
| Security Updates | You apply them | Automatic |
| Cloudflare Tunnel | You configure | Pre-configured |
| Uptime Monitoring | You set up | 24/7 included |
| Support | Community only | Email + priority |
What Self-Hosting Requires
If you want to self-host ClawBolt, here's what you need:
Technical Requirements
- Server — VPS with 4GB+ RAM ($10-20/mo)
- Docker — Installed and configured
- Docker Compose — For orchestrating services
Account Setup
- Telegram Bot Token — Create via @BotFather
- LLM API Key — OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini
- Cloudflare Account — For tunnel connectivity
Configuration
- .env file — API keys, tokens, config
- Cloudflare Tunnel — For Telegram webhook access
- SSL certificates — Let's Encrypt setup
Ongoing Maintenance
- Apply security patches
- Monitor server uptime
- Handle backups
- Update ClawBolt versions
- Troubleshoot issues
Time Investment
Even if you know what you're doing:
- Docker install & config: 10 minutes
- Telegram bot setup: 5 minutes
- Cloudflare tunnel: 15 minutes
- LLM API configuration: 5 minutes
- Testing & debugging: 10+ minutes
Total: 45+ minutes — before you even use the tool.
What You Get with ClawBolt Hosting
⚡ 60-Second Setup
Pick your plan, enter your Telegram username, start texting. We handle everything else.
🛡️ We Handle Security
Security updates applied automatically. No worrying about vulnerabilities.
⏰ 24/7 Monitoring
We monitor your instance. If it goes down, we fix it — before you even know.
💾 Daily Backups
Your data is backed up daily. No manual backup scripts required.
🎧 Real Support
Email support included. Professional plan gets priority response. Talk to the engineers who built it.
Cost Comparison
| Item | Self-Hosted | ClawBolt Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| VPS (4GB RAM) | $15/mo | Included |
| Cloudflare Tunnel | Free | Included |
| Your Time (first month) | ~3 hours | 5 minutes |
| Ongoing maintenance | ~2 hours/mo | Zero |
Who Should Self-Host?
- Developers who enjoy infrastructure work
- People with specific customization needs
- Those already running home lab infrastructure
- Anyone who wants full control at lower cost
Who Should Use Hosting?
- Tradespeople who just want the tool to work
- Anyone who values their time
- Small businesses without IT staff
- Anyone who wants hassle-free operation
Get Started
ClawBolt Hosting starts from $15/month — less than the cost of an hour of your time.
Early access members lock in founding member pricing for life.