Deploy Your Own AI Telegram Assistant in Under 5 Minutes

Setting up your own AI assistant used to mean days of server configuration, Docker headaches, and SSH sessions. With YellowCrab, anyone can deploy a fully hosted OpenClaw AI assistant to Telegram in under 5 minutes — no coding required.

This guide walks you through every step: from creating your Telegram bot to your first conversation with your private AI.

What You Will Need

• A Telegram account (free)
• An OpenRouter account (free — you pay only for what you use)
• A Google account for sign-in
• About 5 minutes

Step 1: Create Your Telegram Bot

Your AI assistant lives as a Telegram bot that you own and control. Here is how to get a bot token:

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Send the command /newbot
3. Choose a display name (e.g. "My AI Assistant")
4. Choose a username ending in bot (e.g. myai_bot)
5. BotFather will send you a bot token — copy it

Security tip: Treat your bot token like a password. YellowCrab encrypts it in the database and never exposes it after deployment.

Step 2: Connect Your OpenRouter Account

YellowCrab uses OpenRouter to give your assistant access to 200+ AI models — GPT-5, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, Llama, and more. You pay OpenRouter directly for usage at wholesale rates.

1. On the YellowCrab homepage, paste your bot token and click Validate
2. Click Connect OpenRouter — a secure OAuth window opens
3. Log in to OpenRouter and approve access
4. You are returned to YellowCrab automatically with your key stored securely

YellowCrab uses PKCE OAuth — your API key is fetched directly into your browser and never logged on our servers.

Step 3: Pick Your AI Model

You can change models any time from the dashboard. Here are popular starting picks:

• Minimax M2.5 — Fast and cheap. Best for everyday Q&A. Great default choice.
• Claude Sonnet 4.6 — Excellent writing, nuanced analysis, long documents.
• GPT-4o — Strong all-rounder with great reasoning and multimodal support.
• Gemini Flash Lite 2.5 — Ultra-fast, ideal for high-volume or group-chat scenarios.

Step 4: Select a Plan and Deploy

1. Sign in with Google (takes 5 seconds)
2. Choose your plan and complete payment via Stripe
3. Click Deploy

YellowCrab provisions a dedicated server, installs your OpenClaw instance, and configures everything automatically. Deployment progress is shown in real time and typically completes in under 90 seconds.

Step 5: Start Chatting

Once deployment is complete, open your Telegram bot and send any message. Your AI assistant is live. Try these to get started:

• "Summarize this article for me: [paste URL]"
• "Draft a follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in a week"
• "What are the pros and cons of switching from AWS to GCP?"
• "Translate this paragraph to Spanish"

Managing Your Assistant

The YellowCrab dashboard gives you full control:

• Switch AI models without redeploying — changes apply in seconds
• View instance status (running, paused, error) at a glance
• Pause billing when you don't need the assistant temporarily

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my whole team use the bot?

Yes — add the bot to a Telegram group. By default, only you have DM access (via allowlist). Group access can be opened in BotFather settings.

What happens if I run out of OpenRouter credits?

The assistant stops responding until you top up your OpenRouter balance. Your YellowCrab subscription stays active — only the AI API credits affect responses.

Can I change models later?

Yes, from the dashboard at any time. No redeployment required.

Is my data private?

Your conversations happen between Telegram and your private OpenClaw instance. YellowCrab does not log or read your conversations. Your OpenRouter key and bot token are encrypted in the database.