OpenClaw Cloud vs Local Deployment

When you decide to use OpenClaw, you have two main options: run it locally on your machine, or use the hosted cloud version. Each has tradeoffs. Let's break it down.

Local Deployment

Pros

• Complete privacy: Everything stays on your machine
• No subscription cost: Just pay for Claude API usage
• Full control: Customize everything, no restrictions
• Offline capable: Works without internet (with limitations)
• Direct access: Can read/write files without intermediaries

Cons

• Setup complexity: Requires some technical knowledge
• Always-on requirement: Your machine needs to stay running
• Mobile access: Harder to access from other devices
• Maintenance: You're responsible for updates and debugging

Cloud Deployment

Pros

• Easy setup: Point and click, minimal configuration
• Always accessible: Works from any device, anywhere
• No hardware required: No need to keep a machine running
• Automatic updates: The service stays current
• Scaling: Handles traffic spikes automatically

Cons

• Subscription cost: Monthly fee on top of Claude API
• Less privacy: Your data is on someone else's servers
• Vendor lock-in: Dependent on the cloud service
• Rate limits: May have usage restrictions

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Local if:

• You're privacy-conscious
• You want full control and customization
• You're a developer or technical user
• You want to minimize costs

Choose Cloud if:

• You want to get started quickly
• You need access from multiple devices
• You prefer not to manage infrastructure
• You want reliability and uptime guarantees

A Hybrid Approach

Many users run OpenClaw locally during development and testing, then migrate critical workflows to the cloud for reliability. You can even run multiple instances — local for sensitive work, cloud for public integrations.

My Recommendation

Start with local to learn the system and understand what you need. Once you know your workflow, decide whether cloud makes sense for your use case. You're not locked in either way.