Build Your First OpenClaw Bot in 15 Minutes
No coding experience? No problem. This guide takes you from nothing to a working AI assistant on Telegram.
⚡ Prerequisites: A VPS with OpenClaw installed. Don't have one? Get hosting here — most providers have one-click OpenClaw setup.
Step 1: Get Your VPS Ready
If you used a one-click installer (Hostinger, DigitalOcean), OpenClaw is already installed. SSH into your server and run:
openclaw statusYou should see the OpenClaw version and status. If not installed yet, follow the official docs.
Step 2: Create a Telegram Bot
- Open Telegram and search for
@BotFather - Send
/newbotand follow the prompts - Choose a name and username for your bot
- Copy the API token BotFather gives you
Step 3: Get an AI API Key
Your bot needs a brain. The most popular options:
Anthropic (Claude) ⭐ Recommended
Best quality. ~$15-30/mo for moderate use.
OpenAI (GPT-4o)
Most popular. ~$10-20/mo.
OpenRouter
Access multiple models. Pay-as-you-go.
Groq (Llama)
Free tier available. Good for testing.
For a detailed cost breakdown, see our cost calculator.
Step 4: Configure OpenClaw
Run the setup wizard:
openclaw setupIt will ask for your Telegram bot token and AI API key. Paste them in and you're done.
Step 5: Start Chatting!
Start the gateway and message your bot on Telegram:
openclaw gateway startOpen Telegram, find your bot, and send "Hello!". Your AI agent should respond within seconds. 🎉