Cloud-based AI assistants like ChatGPT are convenient, but they come with significant trade-offs: your conversations are processed by third parties, and you're locked into a single provider's ecosystem.
Self-hosted AI assistants give you the best of both worlds: powerful AI capabilities combined with full privacy and control. In this guide, we'll show you how to set up your own.
Why Self-Hosted AI?
- Privacy: Your conversations stay on your server
- Control: Choose your AI model, configure as needed
- Cost: Pay only for API tokens you use
- Customization: Extend with custom skills and integrations
What You Need
- A computer or server (can be a Raspberry Pi)
- Node.js 22+
- An API key from your preferred AI provider
Getting Started
With OpenClaw, you can be up and running in under 5 minutes:
npm install -g openclaw
openclaw onboardThat's it! Your AI assistant is ready to connect to your favorite messaging platforms.
Supported Platforms
OpenClaw supports 15+ messaging platforms:
- Telegram
- Discord
- Slack
- Signal
- iMessage
- Microsoft Teams
- And more...
Choosing an AI Model
OpenClaw supports multiple AI providers:
- Anthropic Claude: Excellent reasoning, good for complex tasks
- OpenAI GPT: Strong general-purpose capabilities
- Google Gemini: Great for multimodal tasks
- Meta Llama: For self-hosted, offline use
Cost Breakdown
One of the biggest advantages of self-hosting is cost control. Here's an estimate:
- 50 messages/day: ~$2-5/month
- 100 messages/day: ~$5-10/month
- 500 messages/day: ~$25-50/month
Compare this to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) - you get more control and privacy for roughly the same cost.
Security Best Practices
- Use API keys securely - never commit them to git
- Restrict who can message your AI
- Enable encryption where available
- Keep your server updated
Conclusion
Self-hosted AI assistants represent the future of personal AI. They offer privacy, control, and flexibility that cloud-based alternatives simply can't match.
With OpenClaw, getting started is easy. Install it today and take control of your AI experience.