How to Run OpenClaw for Free with Kimi 2.5 (Full Setup)

Why It Matters

The tutorial offers a cost-effective blueprint for running a capable AI assistant privately without paying for commercial model access, lowering the barrier for businesses and developers to deploy conversational AI. It highlights operational and security steps needed to manage cloud-hosted AI, which is critical for controlling costs and data exposure.

Summary

A step-by-step guide shows how to run OpenClaw for free using the Kimmy 2.5 model by deploying the stack on a low-cost VPS (Hostinger) and connecting a free NVIDIA Moonshot API key. The presenter walks through creating the VPS, capturing the OpenClaw gateway token, adding the Moonshot API key to environment variables, and pasting a provided JSON configuration to bind Kimmy K2.5 as the model. The video stresses cost considerations—device and API usage—and demonstrates end-to-end testing of chat functionality once deployment and configuration are complete. Practical tips include selecting server location, billing cadence, and safeguarding API keys.

Original Description

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to run OpenClaw with Kimi 2.5 for free. You’ll deploy OpenClaw on a VPS, connect the free NVIDIA Moonshot API, and configure everything step by step.

✅ Hostinger VPS (Exclusive Discount): https://meticsmedia.com/hostinger-MHV

Want to run OpenClaw with Kimi-k2.5 for free?

In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to deploy OpenClaw on a VPS, connect it to NVIDIA’s free Moonshot API, and configure Kimi k2.5 as your main model. By the end, you’ll have a fully working AI assistant that you can access through a messaging app like Telegram.

We’ll walk through setting up your VPS, deploying OpenClaw inside Hostinger’s Docker Manager, generating your Kimi 2.5 API key, configuring the raw JSON inside OpenClaw, and testing the chat to make sure everything is connected properly.

This setup lets you run OpenClaw with Kimi 2.5 without paying for traditional API usage, making it one of the most affordable ways to experiment with a powerful AI workflow.

🔗 Links Mentioned in Video

Kimi-k2.5 (nvidia): https://build.nvidia.com/moonshotai/kimi-k2.5

Kimi Platform (Moonshot AI): https://platform.moonshot.ai/docs/guide/kimi-k2-5-quickstart

JSON Config File: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gC3h7joC9OfP6nJ37UbL4rbjKstpY9BMdG-35JIiHSU/edit?usp=sharing

Telegram download: https://telegram.org/apps

Telegram BotFather: https://t.me/BotFather

📍 Exclusive Deals & Discounts: https://meticsmedia.com/deals

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 Intro

0:50 Hostinger OpenClaw VPS Setup

4:43 Creating Kimi 2.5 API Key

6:47 Deploy OpenClaw

7:32 Configure OpenClaw for Kimi 2.5

10:14 Set Up Messenger App

📄 Disclosure

Some of the links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep our videos free for everyone.