OpenClaw System Requirements and Prerequisites

Self-Hosted Requirements

Hardware

• CPU: Any modern processor (OpenClaw itself is lightweight)
• RAM: 512 MB minimum, 1 GB recommended
• Storage: 100 MB for OpenClaw + space for memory and logs
• Network: Stable internet connection for AI API calls and messaging

Software

• Node.js 20+ — Runtime environment
• npm or pnpm — Package manager
• Operating System:
  • macOS 12+ (Monterey or later)
  • Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian 11+
  • Windows 10+ via WSL2
  • Any Linux with Node.js support

Accounts

• AI Model API Key — At least one of:
  • OpenRouter (recommended — access to all models)
  • Anthropic (for Claude)
  • OpenAI (for GPT)
  • Google (for Gemini)
• Messaging Platform Account — At least one of:
  • Telegram (create a bot via BotFather)
  • WhatsApp (phone number required)
  • Discord (create a bot in Developer Portal)
  • Others as needed

Claw for All Requirements

With Claw for All, the requirements are minimal since we handle the infrastructure:

• A web browser — For the dashboard
• A messaging app — WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord
• A subscription — Claw for All plans start affordable

No Node.js, no terminal, no server management required.

Network Considerations

OpenClaw needs outbound internet access for:

• AI model API calls (varies by provider)
• Messaging platform connections (WhatsApp, Telegram APIs, etc.)
• Skill execution (web search, web fetch)

If you're behind a corporate firewall, ensure these endpoints are accessible.

Optional Dependencies

Some features require additional software:

• FFmpeg — For voice message processing
• Chromium — For browser automation skills
• BlueBubbles — For iMessage integration on macOS

Resource Usage

OpenClaw is designed to be lightweight:

• Idle: ~50 MB RAM, negligible CPU
• Active conversation: ~100-200 MB RAM, brief CPU spikes
• The AI model runs remotely — no GPU required locally