Why Run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi Instead of a Mac Mini
Why Run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi Instead of a Mac Mini
When you decide to run OpenClaw as your personal AI agent, the first question is: where does it run? Let's compare the options.
The Case for Dedicated Hardware
OpenClaw is an always-on AI agent. It needs to be running 24/7 to respond to your messages on Telegram or the web UI. Running it on your daily driver laptop means it stops working when you close the lid.
Raspberry Pi vs. Mac Mini
| Feature | Raspberry Pi 5 | Mac Mini M2 | |---------|----------------|-------------| | Price | ~$80 | $599+ | | Power draw | 5-12W | 10-40W | | Size | Credit card sized | Small desktop | | Purpose-built | Yes (dedicated) | Overkill for this | | Annual power cost | ~$10 | ~$35 |
Raspberry Pi vs. Cloud Server
A $5/month VPS costs $60/year. A Raspberry Pi 5 costs $80 one-time and runs on ~$10/year of electricity. After 18 months, the Pi has paid for itself.
Plus, your data stays on your hardware. No cloud provider can access your conversations, API keys, or agent behavior.
Why Not an Old Laptop?
Old laptops work, but they're:
- Noisy (fan always running)
- Power-hungry compared to a Pi
- Bulky
- Not designed for headless 24/7 operation
The Sweet Spot
The Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM is perfectly specced for OpenClaw. The actual AI processing happens on Anthropic's servers via the API — the Pi just needs to run the agent software, manage connections, and relay messages. It doesn't need a powerful CPU or GPU.
Conclusion
For a dedicated, always-on AI agent, the Raspberry Pi 5 hits the perfect balance of cost, power efficiency, size, and capability. It's exactly what OpenClaw needs — nothing more, nothing less.
Want the easiest setup experience? Get LobsterKit — a pre-configured Pi 5 with OpenClaw ready to go in 60 seconds.