Managed OpenClaw FAQ: 20 Questions Answered
Get answers to the most common questions about managed OpenClaw, Clawctl, and hosted AI agent deployment.
General Questions
1. What is managed OpenClaw?
Managed OpenClaw is a hosted deployment of the OpenClaw AI agent platform where infrastructure, security, and maintenance are handled by a provider. You get production-ready AI agents without managing servers yourself. Clawctl is the leading managed OpenClaw provider.
2. What is Clawctl?
Clawctl is a managed hosting platform for OpenClaw. It provides secure, isolated deployments with built-in authentication, sandboxing, audit logging, and enterprise features. Deploy OpenClaw in 60 seconds instead of hours.
3. How is managed OpenClaw different from self-hosted?
Self-hosted means you run OpenClaw on your own servers—you handle setup, security, and maintenance. Managed OpenClaw handles all of that for you. You get the same OpenClaw capabilities plus enterprise security features, with zero infrastructure work.
4. Who should use managed OpenClaw?
Managed OpenClaw is ideal for:
- Teams without dedicated DevOps
- Developers who want to ship, not manage servers
- Companies with compliance requirements
- Anyone deploying AI agents in production
5. Can I still use all OpenClaw features?
Yes. Managed OpenClaw provides full OpenClaw capabilities—all channels (Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp), all skills, all LLM integrations. You also get additional features like human-in-the-loop and kill switch that don't exist in self-hosted.
Setup & Deployment
6. How fast can I deploy managed OpenClaw?
Under 60 seconds. Sign up at clawctl.com/checkout, pick a plan, and your agent is provisioned automatically. Configure your LLM key in the dashboard setup wizard. No server setup, no configuration files, no waiting.
7. What do I need to get started?
Just an email address and payment method. Clawctl handles everything else—infrastructure, security, SSL, and deployment.
8. Can I migrate from self-hosted to managed OpenClaw?
Yes. Sign up for Clawctl, then enter your existing LLM API keys in the dashboard setup wizard. Your configuration is applied automatically. See the full migration guide.
9. What channels does managed OpenClaw support?
All channels OpenClaw supports:
- Slack
- Telegram
- Discord
- Web interface
- CLI
Channel setup works the same as self-hosted.
10. Can I use my own LLM API keys?
Yes. You provide your own Anthropic, OpenAI, or other LLM API keys. Clawctl stores them encrypted and injects them at runtime—they never touch disk in plaintext.
Security
11. Is managed OpenClaw secure?
Yes. Managed OpenClaw includes security that most self-hosted deployments lack:
- Gateway authentication — 256-bit token auth on all connections
- Sandboxed execution — Isolated from host systems
- Egress controls — Allowlist which domains your agent can reach
- Audit logging — Every action recorded
- Kill switch — Stop agents instantly
12. Where is my data stored?
Your data is stored in your isolated tenant on Clawctl's infrastructure. Each tenant is separated at the infrastructure level. Data is encrypted at rest (AES-256-GCM).
13. Can Clawctl see my conversations?
Your data is yours. Clawctl staff do not access customer data except when required for support (with your permission) or legal compliance. See our privacy policy for details.
14. What is human-in-the-loop?
Human-in-the-loop (HITL) requires human approval before your agent executes sensitive actions. Configure which actions need approval—file deletions, API calls, emails, etc. The agent pauses and waits for your approval.
Available on Team plan and above.
15. What happens if my agent goes rogue?
Use the kill switch. Click the Pause button in the dashboard. Your agent halts immediately. Resume when ready with the Resume button.
Pricing & Billing
16. How much does managed OpenClaw cost?
Clawctl pricing:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49/month | Individual developers |
| Team | $299/month | Teams with approval workflows |
| Business | $999/month | Enterprise compliance |
See the full pricing guide.
17. Is there a free trial?
No free trial, but we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee. If managed OpenClaw doesn't work for you, we refund completely.
18. Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?
Yes. Upgrade instantly through the dashboard. Downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle. Prorated credits apply to upgrades.
19. What payment methods are accepted?
All major credit cards via Stripe. Business plan customers can arrange invoicing for annual commitments.
20. What happens if I exceed my usage limits?
You'll receive notifications at 80% and 100% usage. Exceeding limits doesn't break your agent—we'll reach out to discuss upgrading. No surprise bills.
Support & Resources
Where can I get help?
- Documentation: clawctl.com/docs
- Email support: support@mg.clawctl.com
- Priority support: Team and Business plans
- Dedicated support: Business plan
Is there an API?
Yes. Business plan includes full API access for programmatic management of your agents, policies, and configurations.
Can I get a custom plan?
Yes. Enterprise customers with specific requirements can contact us for custom pricing, features, and SLAs.
Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Hosted OpenClaw with managed security |
| How fast to deploy? | 60 seconds |
| Starting price? | $49/month |
| Security included? | Yes (gateway, sandbox, audit, egress) |
| Can I migrate? | Yes, one command |
| Free trial? | No, but 7-day money-back guarantee |
| All OpenClaw features? | Yes, plus enterprise extras |