🔒 Own Your AISelf-Hosted AI Assistant
Self-Hosted AI Assistant
Your hardware. Your data. Your rules.
Stop renting AI from Big Tech. Get a 24/7 AI assistant running on your own Mac, Linux box, or Raspberry Pi — with full access to your email, calendar, smart home, and files. Private. Customizable. Always on.
Open source. Expert setup. Works on Mac, Linux, Pi, or VPS.
Why Self-Host Your AI?
Cloud AI services are convenient. But here's what you give up.
🔒
Complete Privacy
Your data stays yours
- ✓Credentials stored in your OS keychain, never transmitted
- ✓No third-party middleman between you and your AI
- ✓Open source — verify exactly what's running
- ✓Works fully offline with local models (optional)
💰
No Subscriptions
Pay for API usage, not platform fees
- ✓No $20-50/month platform subscriptions
- ✓Use your own API keys (Claude, GPT, local models)
- ✓Typical cost: $15-50/month based on actual usage
- ✓Or $0/month with fully local models
⚙️
Full Control
Customize everything
- ✓Modify personality, voice, and behavior
- ✓Add custom skills and automations
- ✓Connect to any API or service
- ✓No arbitrary feature restrictions
🏃
Always Running
24/7 without your attention
- ✓Runs as a background service on your machine
- ✓Does work while you sleep (if you want)
- ✓Proactive monitoring and notifications
- ✓No browser tab needed
Self-Hosted vs. Cloud AI Services
Side-by-side comparison — no hype, just facts.
🏠 Self-Hosted
☁️ Cloud
Privacy
Data stays on your machine
Data passes through their servers
Cost structure
Pay per API call (or $0 with local)
$20-50+/month subscription
Customization
Unlimited — full source access
Limited to their UI options
Integrations
Anything you can code or connect
Only what they support
Uptime
You control it
Dependent on their service
Data retention
Your choice
Their policy
Model choice
Any model (Claude, GPT, local)
Usually locked to one
Where Can You Run It?
OpenClaw runs anywhere Node.js runs. Pick what fits your setup.
🍎
Mac Desktop
Runs quietly in the background on any Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon).
Requirements: macOS 12+, 8GB RAM, always-on or scheduled wake
Ideal for: Personal use, home office, privacy-focused users
🐧
Linux Server
Deploy on Ubuntu, Debian, or any Linux distro. Perfect for home labs.
Requirements: Ubuntu 20.04+, 2GB RAM minimum, SSH access
Ideal for: Home servers, VPS, always-on reliability
🍓
Raspberry Pi
Runs on Pi 4 or newer. Low power, always on, tiny footprint.
Requirements: Raspberry Pi 4+ (4GB+ RAM), Raspberry Pi OS
Ideal for: Low-power 24/7 operation, home automation hub
🐳
Docker Container
Containerized deployment for easy management and portability.
Requirements: Docker or Podman, any Linux or Mac host
Ideal for: Existing container infrastructure, easy updates
Real Integrations, Not Just Chat
A self-hosted AI that actually connects to your stuff.
Communication
- •Email (Gmail, Outlook, IMAP)
- •Calendar (Google, Outlook, CalDAV)
- •Telegram, Discord, Signal, WhatsApp
- •Slack integration
Productivity
- •File system access (read, write, organize)
- •Web browsing and research
- •Note-taking (Notion, Obsidian)
- •Task management
Smart Home
- •HomeAssistant
- •Apple HomeKit (via bridges)
- •Smart plugs and switches
- •Cameras and sensors
Development
- •GitHub/GitLab operations
- •SSH/terminal commands
- •Database queries
- •API calls
Self-Hosted Setup Packages
Live screen-share session. I install and configure, you learn how it works.
Self-Host Basic
$14960 min session
Get your AI running on your own hardware.
- ✓OpenClaw installed on your Mac or Linux
- ✓AI model connected (Claude or GPT)
- ✓One messaging channel setup
- ✓Email OR calendar integration
- ✓Service auto-start on boot
- ✓Written documentation for your setup
Most Popular
Self-Host Pro
$24990 min session
Full self-hosted AI assistant with multiple integrations.
- ✓Everything in Basic
- ✓Email AND calendar integration
- ✓Smart home connection
- ✓Web research capability
- ✓Memory system configured
- ✓Custom skills setup
- ✓Backup/recovery procedures
- ✓1 week follow-up support
Self-Host Enterprise
$4492+ hours session
Multi-machine, multi-user, or complex deployments.
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Multi-machine setup (serve from server, use anywhere)
- ✓Multiple user accounts
- ✓Advanced security hardening
- ✓Custom integration development
- ✓Monitoring and alerting
- ✓2 weeks follow-up support
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardware do I need to self-host?+
Any modern Mac (M1 or Intel) or Linux machine with at least 2GB RAM. For local AI models (no API costs), you'll want more power — see our Local LLM Setup page. A Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB+ RAM also works great for lightweight setups.
Is this actually private, or does data still go to the cloud?+
It depends on your model choice. If you use Claude or GPT via API, your prompts go to their servers (standard for any AI). But your credentials (email tokens, calendar access, smart home keys) stay local — we never see them. For true privacy, we can set up fully local models that never phone home.
What's the difference between self-hosted and cloud AI services?+
Cloud services (ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro) are chat windows in a browser. Self-hosted means the AI runs on YOUR hardware, has access to YOUR integrations, and works 24/7 even when you're not looking. It's the difference between a consultant and an employee.
Can I run this on a VPS instead of my own hardware?+
Absolutely. A $5-10/month VPS (DigitalOcean, Linode, Hetzner) works great. You still control the machine, the data stays on your VPS, and it's always online. We'll help you set it up during the session.
What if my machine is off or asleep?+
If the machine is off, the AI is off — that's the tradeoff of self-hosting. Most people either (1) use a dedicated always-on device like a Raspberry Pi, (2) configure their Mac to never sleep, or (3) use a VPS that's always online.
Is OpenClaw open source? Can I inspect the code?+
Yes, fully open source on GitHub. You can read every line, modify anything, and contribute improvements. The setup service saves you the 40-80 hours of figuring it out yourself — but you're never locked in.
What about updates and maintenance?+
OpenClaw updates via npm (one command). We'll show you how to update during the session and include update instructions in your documentation. Major updates are announced in Discord and on GitHub.
Can I migrate from one machine to another later?+
Yes. Your configuration is a few files that can be copied to any machine. Memory and history can be backed up and restored. We'll cover backup procedures during Pro and Enterprise setups.
Own Your AI. Own Your Data.
Stop renting from Big Tech. Get a self-hosted AI assistant that works for you, on your terms.
Book Your Setup Session →60-120 minutes. Open source. Works on Mac, Linux, Pi, or VPS.