Your AI assistant needs to run 24/7. Here's exactly which VPS to pick, how much to pay, and how to set it up in 30 minutes.
Hosting guide 2026
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Running an AI agent on your laptop works for testing. But for a real 24/7 assistant, you need dedicated infrastructure.
Don't overpay. These are the minimums that work well.
Beyond hosting — here are tools that make running a self-hosted AI agent easier and more secure.
Store API keys, tokens, and credentials securely. Use the CLI to inject secrets into your agent config without hardcoding them.
Learn moreExpose your agent securely without opening ports. Free tier works great for personal setups.
Learn morePrivate mesh VPN to access your server from anywhere. Zero-config, and it works with most agent setups out of the box.
Learn moreWebsite security platform — malware scanning, firewall, and DDoS protection. Essential if your server is publicly accessible.
Get SucuriAll tested on real AI agent workloads.
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| Provider | RAM | Storage | Price | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DigitalOcean#1 Recommended | 1GB RAM, | 25GB SSD, | $6/mo | Best overall | Get DigitalOcean |
DigitalOceanAI Workloads | 2GB RAM, | 50GB SSD, | $12/mo | Best for AI workloads | Get DigitalOcean |
Vultr | 512MB RAM, | 10GB SSD, | $2.50/mo | Cheapest entry | Get Vultr |
ContaboMost RAM | 4GB RAM, | 50GB SSD, | ~$5.50/mo | Best value | Get Contabo |
OVHcloudEU Privacy | 2GB RAM, | 20GB SSD, | ~$3.80/mo | EU privacy | Get OVHcloud |
Best overall — easiest setup, best docs, 99.99% SLA
1GB RAM, 25GB SSD storage
Pros
Cons
Best for AI workloads — 2GB RAM, runs local models
2GB RAM, 50GB SSD storage
Pros
Cons
Cheapest entry — 32 global locations
512MB RAM, 10GB SSD storage
Pros
Cons
Best value — most RAM/storage for price
4GB RAM, 50GB SSD storage
Pros
Cons
EU privacy — GDPR compliant, French hosting
2GB RAM, 20GB SSD storage
Pros
Cons
The best combination of ease of use, documentation, global reach, and support for running AI agents 24/7.
ssh root@YOUR_IPDigitalOcean has a free migration tool — move your apps in minutes. Same workflow, better pricing, no surprise bills.
Migrate from HerokuOnce your server is ready, follow these steps:
Step 1
Pick provider, choose Ubuntu 22.04, note your IP address
Step 2
Connect: ssh root@YOUR_IP and update: apt update && apt upgrade -y
Step 3
Install Node.js, then npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code (or your runtime of choice)
Step 4
Add API keys, wire up your bot or cron jobs, and run it under systemd
Pick your VPS, follow the setup guide, and have your personal AI assistant running in under an hour.