If you're here, you probably already know the situation: Anthropic updated its subscription policy on April 4, 2026, and thousands of OpenClaw users suddenly found themselves needing managed hosting with their own API key. The free-ride on subscription credits is over. Now you need a real hosting solution — and the pricing spread is enormous ($3.99 to $129/mo).
We compared all six major OpenClaw hosting providers: pricing, features, support quality, and where each one makes sense. No fluff. Here's everything you need to make the right call.
Why Everyone's Looking for an OpenClaw Host Right Now
Anthropic restricted Claude API credits for third-party tools in its subscription tiers. Hundreds of thousands of OpenClaw users who relied on these bundled credits for free or subsidized usage now face direct API costs. Managed hosting — where you bring your own API key — is suddenly the most cost-effective path forward.
OpenClaw is one of the most powerful AI workflow platforms available — it lets you build complex multi-step automations, hook into dozens of services, and run autonomous agents. But it was never designed to be self-hosted at scale. The options are:
- Self-host on your own VPS — Free, but requires DevOps knowledge. Nginx config, Docker, SSL, uptime monitoring. Most people don't want to deal with this.
- Use managed hosting — Someone else handles the infrastructure. You just bring your Anthropic API key and your workflows.
Managed hosting wins for 95% of users. The only question is which provider — because they range from $3.99 to $129/mo for roughly the same underlying product.
Quick Comparison: All 6 Providers at a Glance
Here's the full pricing and features matrix. We'll go deep on each provider below.
| Provider | Starting Price | Infrastructure | Skills Marketplace | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agent37 BEST VALUE | $3.99/mo | Dedicated instances | ✓ Yes | Everyone — price + features win |
| MyClaw | $19/mo | Shared / dedicated | ✗ No | Budget-conscious teams |
| xCloud | $24/mo | Shared infrastructure | ✗ No | Users migrating from panel hosting |
| GetClaw | $29/mo | Dedicated (higher tiers) | ✗ No | Teams needing SSO / audit logs |
| RunMyClaw | $30/mo | Shared infrastructure | ✗ No | Security-focused businesses |
| EasyClaw | $30/mo | Shared infrastructure | ✗ No | Non-technical users |
The short version: Agent37 is $3.99/mo — dedicated instances, a skills marketplace no one else has, and all channels included. The next cheapest option (MyClaw at $19/mo) is nearly 5x more expensive. We'll explain why below, but if you just need the answer: try Agent37 first.
1. Agent37 — $3.99/mo
Agent37 is built specifically for the post-April-4 world. You bring your own Anthropic API key, pay $3.99/mo for a dedicated hosting instance, and keep full control of your costs. There are no hidden per-message charges — your API key, your bill.
The killer differentiator is the skills marketplace: prebuilt OpenClaw workflow templates you can install in one click — email managers, social schedulers, code reviewers, financial dashboards. If you've built something useful, you can sell it there too (creators keep 80% revenue).
- Cheapest option by a huge margin ($3.99 vs $24+ elsewhere)
- Dedicated instances — not shared with other users
- Only provider with a skills marketplace
- All channels included (WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, SMS, voice)
- No hidden fees — you pay for API usage separately
- 1-click deploy in under 60 seconds
- Newer platform — smaller community than xCloud
- No phone support (email + docs only)
- Enterprise SSO not yet available
Pricing tiers: Starter at $3.99/mo. See the full pricing page for Pro and Team tiers.
2. MyClaw — $19–79/mo
MyClaw positions itself as the "professional" OpenClaw host with a polished dashboard and an established user base. It's one of the older players and has a decent library of prebuilt workflow templates (though not a full marketplace). At $19/mo entry, it's the second cheapest option — but still nearly 5x Agent37's starting price.
- Established platform with larger community
- Good documentation and tutorial library
- Team collaboration features at $39+ tier
- Webhook integrations well-documented
- 5x more expensive than Agent37 at entry level
- No skills marketplace
- Shared infrastructure on Starter plan
- Some channels gated behind higher tiers
3. xCloud — $24/mo
xCloud is probably the most recognized name in managed OpenClaw hosting. It launched early, built a large community, and has the most tutorials and third-party integrations documented. At $24/mo it's been the de facto choice for non-technical users — until Agent37 showed up at $3.99.
The main issue with xCloud is infrastructure: it runs on shared infrastructure, meaning your instance shares compute resources with other users. At $24/mo, you'd expect dedicated resources — but you don't get them. Burst performance can be inconsistent during peak hours.
- Largest community and ecosystem
- Extensive third-party integration docs
- Clean, familiar UI for long-time users
- Good uptime track record
- 6x more expensive than Agent37
- Shared infrastructure despite premium pricing
- No skills marketplace
- Channels gated behind plan tiers
- $288/yr vs $48/yr on Agent37
4. GetClaw — $29–129/mo
GetClaw targets mid-market teams and SMBs that need features individual users don't: SSO, audit logs, role-based access control, SLA guarantees. Its pricing reflects this — $29/mo entry with a $129/mo team tier that includes compliance-ready infrastructure.
If your company has a security audit, an IT team, or needs to demonstrate data residency controls, GetClaw has a legitimate use case. For everyone else, the $29 entry is already 7x Agent37's price, and you're mostly paying for features you don't need.
- Best enterprise compliance features in the market
- SSO (SAML/OIDC) on higher tiers
- Audit logs and role-based access
- SLA guarantee at Team tier
- Most expensive option at up to $129/mo
- No skills marketplace
- Overkill for individual users and small teams
- Complex pricing with many add-ons
5. RunMyClaw — $30/mo
RunMyClaw leads with security messaging: network-isolated instances, encrypted credential storage, SOC 2 compliance roadmap. It's a single-tier product at $30/mo flat — no upsells, no feature gating. For organizations where security is the primary concern (healthcare, finance, legal), this is a credible option.
The tradeoff is that its ecosystem is smaller and the developer experience is more utilitarian. The security features are real, but for most OpenClaw users, they're solving a problem that doesn't exist at their scale.
- Network-isolated instances (genuinely more secure)
- Encrypted credential storage at rest
- Simple flat pricing — no surprise tiers
- Good fit for regulated industries
- 7.5x more expensive than Agent37
- Smaller community and fewer integration docs
- No skills marketplace
- Features are overkill for most users
6. EasyClaw — $30–49/mo
EasyClaw built its brand around simplicity. "No configuration needed" and "1-click workflows" are its main selling points. The UX is genuinely clean — guided setup wizards, visual workflow builders, and a help center with step-by-step tutorials for common automations.
The problem: $30/mo for a shared hosting environment with a simplified UI is a hard sell. Agent37 also offers 1-click setup and a 60-second provisioning flow at $3.99 — and adds the skills marketplace on top. EasyClaw's UX advantage has narrowed significantly.
- Best onboarding experience — genuinely beginner-friendly
- Visual workflow builder
- Strong help documentation
- Guided setup for 20+ popular workflows
- 7.5x more expensive than Agent37
- Shared infrastructure
- No skills marketplace
- Limited advanced configuration options
Our Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?
Here's the honest summary after reviewing all six:
- For most people: Agent37. $3.99/mo, dedicated instances, skills marketplace, all channels included. There's no rational reason to pay 5–7x more for less.
- If you're on xCloud and it works: Calculate your migration cost vs $240/yr in savings. At some point the savings justify a 20-minute migration.
- If you need enterprise compliance (SSO, audit logs, SLA): GetClaw is the most mature option.
- If you're in a regulated industry and security posture matters: RunMyClaw is built for you.
- If you want to monetize your OpenClaw skills: Only Agent37 has a marketplace where you can sell workflows.
The full comparison table has more detailed feature breakdowns if you want to go deeper.
The Skills Marketplace Argument
This deserves its own callout. Agent37 is the only OpenClaw host with a skills marketplace — a library of prebuilt workflow templates you can install in one click. Email managers, social media schedulers, code review bots, financial dashboards, SEO optimizers. If someone has already built what you need, why build it from scratch?
More importantly: if you're a developer who has built useful OpenClaw workflows, you can sell them on the marketplace and earn 80% of each sale. No other host offers this. Browse the marketplace →
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on April 4, 2026?
Anthropic updated its subscription policy, cutting Claude API credit coverage for third-party tools. Many OpenClaw users who had been using subscription credits for free or subsidized API access now face direct usage costs. Managed hosting providers — where you bring your own API key — became significantly more attractive overnight.
What is the cheapest OpenClaw hosting alternative?
Agent37 at $3.99/mo. The next cheapest is MyClaw at $19/mo. At the high end, GetClaw reaches $129/mo. Agent37 is dedicated infrastructure, not shared — it's not cheaper because it cuts corners.
Is self-hosting OpenClaw actually free?
The software is free, but running a VPS to host it costs money (typically $5-20/mo on DigitalOcean or Hetzner) and requires DevOps knowledge: server setup, SSL, Docker, nginx config, uptime monitoring, backups. Most people find that managed hosting at $3.99/mo is the better deal once you factor in time.
Do I need my own Anthropic API key?
Yes — all managed hosting providers in this list require you to bring your own API key. This is actually a good thing: your costs are transparent, you own your data, and you're not subject to platform pricing changes.
What channels does Agent37 support?
WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, SMS, and voice — all included at every tier. Competitors typically gate some channels behind $49–$129/mo plans.
Can I switch providers later?
Yes. OpenClaw workflows are portable — your workflow files aren't locked into any hosting provider. Switching usually takes under an hour: export your workflows, set up the new host, import, update your webhooks.