Build your own AI WhatsApp assistant for ~5/month
A personal AI agent that lives in the cloud, runs 24/7, and is accessible via WhatsApp.
The concept
Most people think running a powerful AI assistant requires expensive subscriptions or complex infrastructure. I've been running mine for weeks, and it costs roughly 5 euros per month.
The goal: an AI that lives in the cloud (not just your laptop), runs 24/7, has access to your data, and is accessible via WhatsApp. Cheap, fast, and customizable.
The stack
Compute: Hetzner Cloud Server (~5/month). This is where the agent lives. Always on.
Brain: Google Gemini Flash (free tier via API). Fast, smart enough for most tasks.
Interface: WhatsApp. Chat with it like you would a colleague.
Memory: GitHub. Connect repositories for full project context.
Communication: Gmail integration for reading and drafting emails.
Prerequisites
- 1.A Hetzner Cloud account (or any VPS provider). A CX22 server (~5/month) is enough.
- 2.A Google AI Studio API key for Gemini (free tier works).
- 3.A phone with WhatsApp (you'll link it to the agent).
- 4.Basic comfort with a terminal. You don't need to be a developer.
Setup
I used an AI coding agent (Claude Code) to handle the actual server setup. You can use any AI tool that can run terminal commands. The process:
Step 1: Spin up a server
Create a standard Linux server (Ubuntu) on Hetzner Cloud. SSH in to verify it works.
Step 2: Clone the setup repo
git clone https://github.com/buildingopen/openclaw-setup
cd openclaw-setup
Step 3: Let the AI agent do the rest
Open the folder with Claude Code (or your preferred AI coding tool) and say: "Set this up." It reads the config, installs Docker, builds the container, and gets everything running.
Step 4: Link WhatsApp
The setup generates a QR code. Scan it with WhatsApp to link your account. Done.
What you get
- •Email triage: Reads incoming emails and drafts replies.
- •Code context: Reads your repos and suggests changes with full project context.
- •Task management: Tracks your to-dos and projects.
- •Always on: Responds instantly via WhatsApp, even when your laptop is closed.
What's next
This is a starting point. From here you can extend it with:
- •Voice: Integrate ElevenLabs for voice conversations via WhatsApp calls.
- •Browser automation: Give it a browser window with logged-in sessions.
- •Social integrations: Connect Instagram or other platforms for monitoring and posting.
Resources
Related tutorials