netcup is a German hosting provider with affordable VPS plans. You can install OpenClaw on a netcup server yourself. fluado takes a different approach - we provision a dedicated European VPS with OpenClaw pre-installed and configured. Both are German companies with data centers in Germany. The difference is what you manage yourself.
TL;DR: fluado gives you a ready-to-use OpenClaw setup with TLS included - no server administration required. netcup gives you raw infrastructure at a lower price, but you handle everything yourself. For a few euros more, fluado saves you hours every month.
What is fluado?
fluado, the European OpenClaw hosting provider, offers managed OpenClaw hosting. We provision a dedicated VPS in Germany, install OpenClaw, configure mTLS and TLS, and keep it running. SSH and root access included.
Pricing: €9/month. Cancel anytime.
What is netcup?
netcup is a German hosting provider offering VPS and root servers. Their plans start from ~€3/month for specs suitable for OpenClaw. netcup provides the infrastructure - you install and manage everything yourself. Data centers in Nuremberg, Vienna, and Amsterdam.
Pricing: VPS from ~€3/month with sufficient resources for OpenClaw. Minute-based billing, no minimum contract.
Comparison
| Feature | fluado | netcup (self-hosted) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | €9 | From ~€3-6 |
| OpenClaw pre-installed | Yes | No (manual install) |
| Setup time | Under 1 minute | 30 min - 2 hours |
| TLS / SSL | Included and managed | You configure |
| mTLS gateway | Included | You configure |
| SSH / root access | Yes | Yes |
| Server location | Germany | Nuremberg, Vienna, Amsterdam |
| Billing | Monthly, cancel anytime | Per minute (no minimum) |
Key differences
Managed vs unmanaged
The fundamental difference. netcup gives you a virtual machine - you install the OS, install OpenClaw, configure TLS, set up mTLS, and handle ongoing maintenance. fluado does all of that for you. The price difference is the cost of managed infrastructure.
Both are German
Both companies are headquartered in Germany with German data centers. From a GDPR and data sovereignty perspective, both are strong choices at the infrastructure level. fluado manages the software layer on top.
Who should choose what?
Choose fluado if:
- You want OpenClaw running without manual server setup
- You don't want to configure TLS yourself
- Your time is worth more than a few euros per month
- You want a turnkey OpenClaw deployment
Choose netcup if:
- You're comfortable with Linux server administration
- You want the lowest possible infrastructure cost
- You need servers in Vienna or Amsterdam
- You prefer minute-based billing for short-term usage
Frequently asked questions
Is the price difference worth it?
If you value your time, yes. Setting up OpenClaw, configuring TLS, managing updates, and troubleshooting issues takes hours upfront and ongoing effort. fluado handles all of that for a few euros more per month than a netcup VPS.
Can I migrate from netcup to fluado?
Yes. OpenClaw is open source and your configuration is portable. If you're running OpenClaw on netcup and want to stop managing the server, you can move to fluado without losing your setup.
What does fluado include that netcup doesn't?
OpenClaw pre-installed and configured, managed TLS certificates, and setup in under a minute. With netcup, you get raw infrastructure and configure everything yourself.
Managed OpenClaw, made in Germany. Get fluado - €9/month, cancel anytime.