Create a Hetzner Account
Step-by-step guide to signing up for Hetzner Cloud and generating an API token for RunClaw.
RunClaw deploys AI agents to your own Hetzner Cloud server. You keep full ownership of the hardware, the data, and the API token. This guide walks you through every step.
Already have a Hetzner account? Skip to Generate an API token.
What is Hetzner?
Hetzner Cloud is a European cloud hosting provider known for affordable, high-performance servers. They offer virtual private servers (VPS) starting at around $4.50/month — significantly cheaper than AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for equivalent specs. All Hetzner servers run in German or Finnish data centers with strong EU privacy protections.
RunClaw creates servers in your Hetzner account, so you pay Hetzner directly and keep full control.
Step 1: Create a Hetzner Cloud account
Go to Hetzner Cloud
Open hetzner.cloud in your browser.
Using our referral link gives you €20 in free credits — enough to run a small server for several months.
Fill in the registration form
Enter your email address and choose a password. Hetzner will send you a verification email. Check your inbox (and spam folder) and click the link to verify.
Complete identity verification
After verifying your email, Hetzner requires identity verification before you can create servers. This is a standard security measure — all cloud providers do this.
You'll be asked for:
- Your name and address
- A valid payment method — credit card, debit card, or PayPal
Common issues with verification:
- Prepaid cards may be rejected. Use a regular credit or debit card if possible.
- PayPal works well as an alternative if your card is declined.
- Verification can take up to 24 hours in rare cases (usually it's instant). If you're stuck, check your email for messages from Hetzner asking for additional information.
- If you get an error saying "account verification pending," wait a few minutes and try again. Hetzner's fraud detection occasionally flags new accounts for manual review.
Once verified, you'll land on the Hetzner Cloud Console — a web dashboard where you manage your servers.
Step 2: Create a project
Hetzner organizes servers into projects. You need at least one project before you can create servers.
Open Cloud Console
Go to console.hetzner.cloud. You'll see a default project called "My First Project", or a prompt to create one.
Create or select a project
Either use the default project or click + New Project and give it a name like "AI Agents" or "RunClaw". Projects are just organizational folders — the name doesn't affect anything.
Step 3: Generate an API token
This is the key step. RunClaw needs an API token to create and manage servers in your Hetzner account. The token acts like a password that grants access to your project's resources.
Open your project
Click on your project name in the Cloud Console to open it.
Go to Security > API Tokens
In the left sidebar, click Security. Then click the API Tokens tab at the top of the page.
Generate a new token
Click the Generate API Token button. You'll see a form with two fields:
- Description: Enter something like
RunClawso you remember what this token is for - Permissions: Select Read & Write (RunClaw needs write access to create servers)
Click Generate API Token.
Copy the token immediately
A dialog will appear showing your API token — a long string of random characters.
Copy it right now. Click the copy icon or select the entire token and copy it.
Hetzner only shows this token once. After you close this dialog, you cannot see it again. If you lose it, you'll need to generate a new one.
Where to keep it safe:
- Paste it into RunClaw right away (it will be encrypted in your browser)
- Or save it temporarily in a password manager, secure note, or text file
Your token stays in your browser
When you paste your Hetzner API token into RunClaw, it is encrypted with AES-256-GCM and stored only in your browser's local storage. It is never sent to RunClaw's servers.
All Hetzner API calls — creating servers, resizing, snapshots, deletion — happen directly from your browser to Hetzner's API. RunClaw's server only stores metadata like DNS records and connection status.
Want proof? Open your browser's DevTools (F12), go to the Network tab, and watch what happens when you create a server. You'll see API calls going directly to api.hetzner.cloud — not through RunClaw.
Quick reference
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Sign up | hetzner.cloud |
| Cloud Console | console.hetzner.cloud |
| Payment methods | Credit card, debit card, or PayPal |
| Free credits | €20 with referral link |
| Token permissions | Must be Read & Write |
| Server pricing | Starts at ~$4.50/month (CX22) |
Next: Deploy Your First Agent