Pick the right VPS for your agent stack. This guide covers the fastest OpenClaw setup, the best Docker VPS for Hermes, and the lightest path for PicoClaw so you can deploy with confidence.
These are the most direct ways to get each agent online without extra research.
The fastest path for users who want OpenClaw running with minimal setup. This is the cleanest starting point if you are new to agent hosting.
Why it works
A dedicated Docker VPS path for Hermes agents that need email, web search, browser automation, GitHub automation, and persistent memory.
Why it works
A lightweight deployment path for PicoClaw, built for server monitoring, backups, uptime checks, and small-footprint automation.
Why it works
Bluehost's VPS templates get you online quickly with a clean Docker path for each agent. Use the OpenClaw 1-click flow, the Hermes Docker VPS template, or the lightweight PicoClaw template depending on what you are deploying.
A simple comparison for users who want to choose a provider before picking an agent template.
| Provider | Best for | Agent fit | Price | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RecommendedBluehost | All three agents | 1-click OpenClaw plus Docker templates for Hermes and PicoClaw | From $2.09/mo | Beginner-friendly |
Vultr | Custom Docker setups | Manual installs for OpenClaw, Hermes, and PicoClaw | From $2.50/mo | Intermediate |
DigitalOcean | Simple dashboards | Works well if you want a clean UI and manual Docker setup | From $4/mo | Intermediate |
AWS Lightsail | AWS-centric teams | Best if your agent stack already lives in AWS | From $3.50/mo | Advanced |
From $2.09/mo
Best for: All three agents
Agent fit: 1-click OpenClaw plus Docker templates for Hermes and PicoClaw
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
Key features
From $2.50/mo
Best for: Custom Docker setups
Agent fit: Manual installs for OpenClaw, Hermes, and PicoClaw
Difficulty: Intermediate
Key features
From $4/mo
Best for: Simple dashboards
Agent fit: Works well if you want a clean UI and manual Docker setup
Difficulty: Intermediate
Key features
From $3.50/mo
Best for: AWS-centric teams
Agent fit: Best if your agent stack already lives in AWS
Difficulty: Advanced
Key features
Use these rules of thumb if you want a quick answer.
Choose the 1-click Bluehost route if you want the fastest production-ready setup with the least manual work.
Use the Docker VPS template if your workflow depends on email, browser automation, GitHub, or persistent memory.
Pick the low-resource Docker VPS if you want a lightweight host for monitoring, backups, uptime checks, and server automation.
Bluehost is the easiest recommendation if you want the fastest path from installation to a live deployment. OpenClaw has a 1-click path, while Hermes and PicoClaw both have Docker-based VPS templates that keep the setup process simple.
Hermes usually runs well with 2GB to 4GB of RAM for most workflows. If you are running browser automation, email, and multiple tools at once, 4GB gives you more headroom.
PicoClaw is designed for lightweight VPS usage and can run well on 1GB to 2GB for monitoring, backups, uptime checks, and smaller automation tasks.
Yes, but only if you size the server correctly. For one small agent, 1GB to 2GB may be enough. For multiple agents on the same host, 4GB or more is the safer starting point.
Docker gives you a repeatable install process, cleaner dependency management, and a faster path to production. That matters a lot when you want an agent to stay online without constant manual intervention.
Start with OpenClaw, Hermes, or PicoClaw and pick the VPS path that matches your workload and hosting budget.