Tutorials

Getting Started with Alpha Agent

A complete guide to deploying your personal AI assistant with Alpha Agent. From signup to first conversation in under 5 minutes.

Bradley Taylor ·
getting-started tutorial

What is Alpha Agent?

Alpha Agent is a managed service that deploys a personal AI assistant for you. Built on OpenClaw, it handles all the infrastructure — Docker containers, encryption, backups, and networking — so you can focus on using your AI, not managing it.

Step 1: Create your account

Head to app.alphaagent.app and sign up with your email or social login (Google, GitHub). Choose a workspace slug — this becomes your subdomain (e.g., yourname.alphaagent.app).

Step 2: Choose your plan

Alpha Agent offers four plans:

  • Desktop (Free) — Run locally on your Mac or PC, open-source (see Alpha Agent Desktop)
  • Individual ($19/mo) — Cloud-hosted with 24/7 uptime
  • Team ($50/user/mo) — Shared workspace for your team
  • Enterprise (Custom) — Dedicated infrastructure

For most people starting out, the Individual plan is the best choice.

Step 3: Configure your AI provider

Alpha Agent supports 15+ AI providers — see our comparing AI providers guide for a full breakdown. You’ll need an API key from at least one:

  • Anthropic Claude — Best for reasoning and coding
  • OpenAI GPT — Versatile general-purpose AI
  • Google Gemini — Strong multimodal capabilities
  • GitHub Copilot — Uses device-flow auth (no API key needed)

Enter your API key in the dashboard under Integrations > AI Providers.

Step 4: Connect your channels

Navigate to Integrations > Channels and connect the platforms you want:

Each channel has a setup guide in the dashboard. Most take under 2 minutes to configure.

Step 5: Start chatting

That’s it. Your AI assistant is live. Send a message on any connected channel and your assistant will respond with the full context of your workspace.

What can you do after setting up Alpha Agent?

  • Customize memory — Teach your assistant about your projects and preferences
  • Add skills — Install or build custom skills for your workflow
  • Set up cron jobs — Schedule recurring tasks and reminders
  • Explore integrations — Connect GitHub, Jira, Linear, and more

Frequently Asked Questions

Most users go from signup to their first AI conversation in under 5 minutes. Account creation, plan selection, and AI provider configuration each take about a minute.

Yes. Alpha Agent supports 15+ providers including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, and Google Gemini. You bring your own API key, which means you control costs and model selection.

Yes. You can upgrade from the free Desktop app to Individual or Team cloud plans at any time. Your workspace data, memories, and integrations carry over.