OpenClaw installation takes five minutes on most machines, but the path you pick decides how much maintenance you sign up for over the next year. There are four paths — curl script, Docker, Hostinger’s managed one-click, and from source — and they are not interchangeable. A solo developer on a laptop and an enterprise pinning a specific commit should not pick the same one. This article compares the four paths, gives a direct recommendation by user profile, and hands you off to the right step-by-step guide.
If you already know which method you want, jump to our OpenClaw installation guide for the full step-by-step reference across macOS, Linux, and Windows WSL2, or the how-to-install OpenClaw walkthrough for the fastest path to a running agent.
The Four Install Paths at a Glance
| Path | Time to first run | Skill required | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curl script | 2-5 min | Comfortable with a terminal | Laptops, local dev, fast experimentation |
| Docker | 5-10 min | Basic Docker familiarity | VPS, servers, production, teams |
| Hostinger one-click | ~5 min | None | Non-developers, always-on hosting |
| From source | 10-20 min | Node.js + git + build tools | Contributors, air-gapped, pinned commits |
Every path ends at the same place: a running OpenClaw agent ready for API keys and skills. The differences are upstream (prerequisites, environment) and downstream (updates, rollback, isolation).
Which Install Path Matches Your Profile?
This is the question every other installation article skips. Start here.
| Your situation | Pick this path |
|---|---|
| Solo developer, want to try OpenClaw on your laptop | Curl script |
| Running OpenClaw on a VPS or home server 24/7 | Docker |
| Non-technical user, want it working without a terminal | Hostinger one-click |
| Team with a DevOps practice, reproducible deploys | Docker |
| Enterprise pinning to a reviewed commit, air-gapped networks | From source |
| Contributor submitting PRs to OpenClaw | From source |
| Windows-only, no WSL2 allowed by IT | Hostinger one-click |
| Mac with Apple Silicon, want GPU/Metal access | Curl script (Docker on macOS loses GPU) |
If your situation matches more than one row, pick the higher-skill option only if you benefit from it. Defaulting to Docker on a laptop because “Docker is professional” adds friction you do not need.
Prerequisites at a Glance
All paths except Hostinger’s managed option share a short set of prerequisites:
- OS: macOS 12+, Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian 11+, or Windows 10/11 with WSL2
- Node.js 22 or higher (curl script and from-source paths)
- Git (Docker and from-source paths)
- Docker 24+ (Docker path only)
- 4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB recommended
- 10 GB free disk
For full hardware guidance — including GPU requirements for local model inference — see our OpenClaw hardware requirements guide. For a copy-paste preflight script that checks every prerequisite at once, the installation guide includes one.
Path 1: Curl Script
The curl script is the path the OpenClaw team optimizes for. One command, interactive onboarding, running agent in two to five minutes.
When it is the right choice
- You are installing on a personal laptop or dev workstation
- You want the fastest time to “is this useful?”
- You are comfortable with a terminal but do not need container isolation
- You run macOS or Linux natively
When it is the wrong choice
- You want the install sandboxed from your host system — use Docker
- You need reproducible installs across multiple machines — use Docker
- You are on Windows without WSL2 access — use Hostinger
- You need to pin to a specific commit for review or audit — use from source
Upgrade and rollback cost
Re-running the install script upgrades OpenClaw in place. Rollback means reinstalling an older version by tag, which works but is manual. If you value easy rollback, Docker is better.
The full command and platform-specific gotchas are in Method 1 of the installation guide.
Path 2: Docker
Docker gives you an isolated, reproducible OpenClaw deployment that is trivial to update and roll back. It is the default for production.
When it is the right choice
- You are running OpenClaw on a server, VPS, or always-on home box
- You want process isolation from the host OS
- You need resource limits (CPU, memory caps)
- Your team wants reproducible deploys and pinned image tags
- You plan to upgrade OpenClaw regularly and want one-command rollback
When it is the wrong choice
- You want GPU passthrough on macOS — Docker Desktop on macOS does not expose Metal to containers
- You are on a low-resource laptop and the Docker Desktop overhead matters
- You want the simplest possible setup — the curl script is simpler
Upgrade and rollback cost
docker compose pull && docker compose up -d upgrades. Pin a previous tag and restart to roll back. This is the lowest-friction update path of the four.
For production-grade Docker configuration — health checks, volumes, hardening — see our OpenClaw Docker deployment guide. For the quick-start commands, Method 3 of the installation guide has them.
Path 3: Hostinger One-Click
Hostinger’s VPS marketplace ships a pre-configured OpenClaw template. You pick a plan, click install, and an OpenClaw instance is running on their infrastructure a few minutes later. No terminal, no Node.js, no Docker knowledge required.
When it is the right choice
- You are not a developer and want OpenClaw running without learning sysadmin
- You want a 24/7 agent without keeping your laptop on
- Your company policy prohibits WSL2 or developer tooling on local machines
- Cost of ~$12/month is acceptable in exchange for zero maintenance
When it is the wrong choice
- You want full control of the host (log access, custom skills with system-level dependencies)
- You need to run OpenClaw on your own infrastructure for compliance reasons
- Monthly hosting cost is a dealbreaker
Upgrade and rollback cost
Hostinger handles updates on their cadence. You trade control for simplicity. Rollback is a support ticket, not a command.
Our Hostinger setup walkthrough covers every click.
Path 4: From Source
Installing from the GitHub repository is the path most installation articles pretend does not exist. It should not be your default, but it is the correct choice for a real subset of users.
When it is the right choice
- You are contributing code to OpenClaw and need a dev build
- Your enterprise security policy requires pinning to a specific reviewed commit
- You run in air-gapped environments where you build from vendored source
- You want to modify OpenClaw itself, not only use its plugin system
When it is the wrong choice
- You want to try OpenClaw for the first time — use the curl script
- You will not be modifying or reviewing the code — the script does the same thing faster
- You do not have Node.js and build tools already set up
Upgrade and rollback cost
git pull && npm install && npm run build upgrades. Rollback is git checkout <tag>. High control, high responsibility — you own dependency resolution and build failures.
From-source steps live in the project’s GitHub README rather than in our install guides, because it is a contributor path rather than a user path.
Total Install Cost: Beyond the First Five Minutes
Install time is a small fraction of what each path costs over a year. Think about these factors before picking:
| Path | Upgrade effort | Rollback effort | Isolation | Maintenance surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curl script | Low (re-run) | Medium (manual reinstall) | None | Host OS, Node.js, PATH |
| Docker | Lowest (one command) | Lowest (retag + restart) | Full | Docker daemon, compose file, volumes |
| Hostinger | None (managed) | Support ticket | Full (separate VPS) | Vendor-managed |
| From source | Medium (pull + build) | Low (git checkout) | None | Host OS, build chain, deps |
The pattern: if you do not want to think about OpenClaw after you install it, pick Hostinger. If you want to think about it the smallest amount while keeping control, pick Docker. If you want raw speed and are on a laptop, pick the curl script. If you are going to modify it, install from source.
What Installing OpenClaw Does Not Do
Every install path ends at the same place — a running binary with an empty workspace. None of the paths configure:
- API keys for your model provider (you set these during onboarding or in
.env) - Memory and persistence (defaults are ephemeral on some paths)
- Skills (OpenClaw’s extension system — none are installed by default)
- Telegram, Discord, or other channel integrations
- Model provider selection (OpenAI, Anthropic, local Ollama, etc.)
Once OpenClaw is installed, head to the OpenClaw setup guide for the post-install configuration — workspace setup, model selection, memory, and channel integrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to install OpenClaw?
For developers, the curl script is the fastest and easiest: one command, two to five minutes, no containers to configure. For non-developers, Hostinger’s one-click install is easier because it removes the terminal entirely.
Do I need Docker to run OpenClaw?
No. Docker is one of four install paths, not a requirement. It is the right choice for servers and teams, but overkill for a laptop.
Can I install OpenClaw on Windows?
Yes, but not natively. You need WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux), then follow the curl-script or Docker path inside WSL. If WSL2 is not available to you, use Hostinger’s managed option instead.
Does OpenClaw need a GPU?
No. OpenClaw itself runs on CPU. A GPU only matters if you plan to run a local model (via Ollama or similar) on the same machine. If you use OpenAI or Anthropic APIs, CPU is enough.
How long does OpenClaw take to install?
Two to five minutes for the curl script, five to ten minutes for Docker, about five minutes for Hostinger’s one-click, and ten to twenty minutes for a from-source build on a fresh machine.
Can I switch install paths later?
Yes, and people often do. A common progression: curl script on a laptop to try OpenClaw, then Docker on a VPS once it becomes part of daily work. Your workspace and skills are portable between installs.
Is OpenClaw hard to install?
No — the curl script and Hostinger one-click work for most people on the first try. Installation failures are almost always prerequisite issues (Node.js version, missing build tools, WSL2 not enabled) rather than OpenClaw itself. The installation guide’s pre-flight checklist catches these before you run the installer.
Next Steps
Pick the path that matches your situation, then go deep in the right guide:
- Want the full step-by-step reference? OpenClaw installation guide — covers macOS, Linux, and Windows WSL2 with a pre-flight checklist and troubleshooting.
- Want the fastest path to a running agent? How to install OpenClaw — the task-oriented walkthrough.
- Already installed? OpenClaw setup guide — workspace, models, memory, and channel integrations.
- Curious what OpenClaw is before installing? OpenClaw AI agent framework — the framework overview.
Key Takeaways
- There are four OpenClaw install paths: curl script, Docker, Hostinger one-click, and from source. They are not interchangeable.
- Pick by user profile, not by “which is the most professional.” The curl script on a laptop is the right answer for most first-time users.
- Docker wins for servers and teams because upgrades and rollbacks are trivial.
- Hostinger wins for non-developers and anyone who wants OpenClaw running 24/7 without maintenance.
- From source wins for contributors and enterprises with commit-pinning requirements.
- Install time is minutes; maintenance cost is a year. Weigh both.
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