ChatGPT, 
Claude, 
Gemini, 
Grok — all four for 
When setting up an AI app on your Self-Managed VPS or VDS, you'll generally run into two different paths: a one-click install, or a manual install over SSH. They lead to very different experiences, so it's worth understanding what each one actually involves before you choose.
What is a One-Click Install?
A one-click install is exactly what it sounds like: you pick an app from a list during setup, and Bluehost installs it on your server for you, fully configured and ready to use. There's no need to touch a command line or configure anything by hand.
This is the fastest and simplest way to get an AI app running, and it covers most of what customers actually want to do, whether that's Claude Code for coding help, OpenClaw or Nanoclaw for messaging automation, or Open WebUI for a private chat interface.
Important: A one-click install sets up exactly one app per server. It won't combine multiple apps together for you, even if two apps are meant to work as a pair.
What is a Manual SSH Install?
A manual install means connecting to your server yourself over SSH (a secure way to access a server's command line) and setting things up by typing commands directly, rather than clicking through a guided setup.
This gives you complete flexibility: you can install multiple apps together, connect one app to another, or set up something entirely custom that isn't offered as a one-click option at all. The tradeoff is that it requires real comfort with the command line, and you're responsible for getting the configuration right yourself, including making sure your server actually has enough RAM, CPU, and storage to run everything you're installing.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | One-Click Install | Manual SSH Install |
|---|---|---|
| How you set it up | Selected during purchase or from your VPS dashboard | Typed commands after connecting to your server via SSH |
| Technical skill needed | None | Comfort with the command line |
| Number of apps | One app per install | As many as your server's resources allow |
| Combining apps together | Not supported, unless already bundled as one option | Fully supported, but you configure the connections yourself |
| Setup time | Minutes | Varies, often much longer |
| Who it's best for | Most customers, especially first-time AI users | Customers with specific, more advanced setups in mind |
A Few One-Click Options Already Combine Apps
Before assuming you need a manual install, it's worth checking whether the combination you want already exists as a single one-click choice. For example, Hermes Agent + Open WebUI comes bundled together as one option, giving you an agent and a chat window in a single install. These bundled options are the exception rather than the rule, but they can save you from a manual install if the exact combination you're after already exists.
Which Should You Choose?
For most goals, a one-click install is the right call. It's faster, doesn't require any technical background, and covers the majority of what customers are trying to do with a single AI app.
A manual install makes sense once your goal genuinely can't be done with a single one-click app, for example, running a local AI model alongside a separate chat interface, or connecting an agent to a locally hosted model instead of a cloud AI provider.
Important: If you go this route, plan it from the start rather than trying to add pieces onto an existing one-click install afterward, and make sure your Self-Managed VPS or VDS plan has enough resources to handle everything you're combining.
Summary
A one-click install gives you exactly one AI app, fully set up in minutes, with no technical skill required, and it's the right choice for most customers. A manual install over SSH gives you the flexibility to combine multiple apps or build a custom setup, but it requires command-line comfort and careful planning around your server's resources. Check whether a bundled one-click option already covers what you need before assuming you have to go the manual route.