Hardware Requirements
Everything you need to run OpenClaw locally — from minimum specs to power-user setups.
Last updated: February 2026 • OpenClaw v2.x
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
Pick your tier — click to see full details below
Detailed Requirements
Minimum
Basic messaging and simple automation
✓ Capable
- ✓Telegram/WhatsApp messaging
- ✓Simple text commands
- ✓Basic API integrations
- ✓Scheduled messages
✗ Limitations
- ✗Browser automation
- ✗Local AI models
- ✗Multiple concurrent tasks
- ✗Image processing
Recommended
Most UsersFull browser automation and productivity features
✓ Capable
- ✓Full browser automation (Playwright)
- ✓Web scraping and research
- ✓Multiple messaging platforms
- ✓Image analysis (via API)
- ✓Complex workflows
- ✓Voice messages
✗ Limitations
- ✗Large local AI models
- ✗Real-time video processing
Power User
Most PowerfulLocal AI models and advanced edge computing
✓ Capable
- ✓Everything above, plus:
- ✓Run local LLMs (7B-13B models)
- ✓Local image generation
- ✓On-device speech recognition
- ✓Complete offline operation
- ✓Multiple browser instances
✗ Limitations
- ✗70B+ parameter models (need more VRAM)
Don't want to pick hardware and configure everything yourself?
ClawBox comes pre-configured with Recommended+ specs, dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.0 — ready in 5 minutes.
Skip the DIY — Get ClawBox →Setup Reality
DIY setup vs ClawBox — see the difference
🛠️ Manual DIY Setup
(plus days waiting for hardware delivery)
📦 ClawBox Setup
Everything pre-installed and optimized
Software Requirements
OS
Linux preferred
macOS & Windows also work
Node.js
Version 18+
20.x LTS recommended
Python
3.10+ (optional)
For AI/ML features
Chromium
For browser automation
Auto-installed by Playwright
Will My Hardware Run OpenClaw?
Click a question to see the answer
Works for basic messaging only. Browser automation will struggle. Upgrade to Pi 5 with 8GB for better experience. ⚠️ Partial support.
Probably fine if it has 4GB+ RAM and you can install Linux. Check if it can run Chrome/Chromium smoothly. ✅ Should work.
Technically possible with Docker, but not recommended. Most NAS devices have weak CPUs and limited RAM. Better to use a dedicated device. ⚠️ Not recommended.
Works for messaging and simple commands. Browser automation will fail. Upgrade to at least 2GB RAM for full features. ⚠️ Partial support.
Overkill but works great. Excellent performance, though you're paying for macOS you don't need. Consider ClawBox for dedicated use. ✅ Works perfectly.
No. OpenClaw requires a server/desktop environment. You interact with it via Telegram/WhatsApp, but it runs on separate hardware. ❌ Not supported.
You need a GPU with at least 8GB VRAM for 7B models. ClawBox (67 TOPS) handles up to 8B models. For 70B+, you need RTX 4090 or better.
Perfect for local LLMs! You can run 13B-34B models easily. Just keep in mind the power consumption if running 24/7. ✅ Excellent choice.
Cloud VPS vs Local Hardware
| Aspect | Cloud VPS | Local Hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $0 | $150-800 |
| Monthly Cost | $5-50 | $0 (+ electricity) |
| 4-Year Total | $240-2400 | $300-1000 |
| Data Privacy | Provider has access | Complete privacy |
| Setup Time | 30-60 minutes | 5 min - 4 hours |
| IP Reputation | Often blocked | Residential IP |
| Reliability | 99.9% uptime | Depends on power/internet |
| Portability | Access anywhere | Home network only* |
* Remote access possible with VPN/Tailscale
Choose Cloud When:
- • Just testing or getting started
- • You need 99.9% uptime guarantee
- • Home internet is unreliable
- • You don't want hardware maintenance
Choose Local When:
- • Privacy is a priority
- • You want to avoid recurring costs
- • You need residential IP (no blocking)
- • You want local AI models
Skip the Setup Entirely
Why spend hours researching hardware and configuring software when ClawBox comes ready in 5 minutes?
- ✓ OpenClaw pre-installed and configured
- ✓ 67 TOPS AI acceleration (NVIDIA)
- ✓ 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe storage
- ✓ 15W power consumption
- ✓ Carbon fiber enclosure
- ✓ 5-minute QR code setup
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