Where to start
Experimenting on a small budget
- Compare Oracle and Google Cloud free-tier allowances.
- Check capacity, region restrictions, and costs outside the free allowance.
Comfortable managing a server
- Compare small virtual servers from Hetzner, Vultr, and DigitalOcean.
- Budget for backups and bandwidth as well as CPU and memory.
Prefer managed deployments
- Compare Fly.io, Koyeb, Render, and Railway for deployment and logging tools.
- Choose a service that keeps your bot running between requests.
- control panelSpecialized bot hostsPlans sized for botsCheck runtime support and resource limits.
- managed deploysManaged platformsCheck the cost of continuous operationThe platform handles the underlying server.
- maximum controlVPS providersChoose your own server sizeYou handle updates, backups, and process management.
Free-tier cloud VMs also need server administration. Check their capacity limits, usage allowances, and expiry dates.
Free tiers and trials
Oracle Cloud Always Free
Oracle offers eligible virtual machines within its Always Free allowance. A VM can run a bot with a persistent connection to Discord.
Useful for: Learning to run a bot on a cloud server.
- Free capacity can be limited, and idle instances may be reclaimed.
- You manage SSH access, firewall rules, and operating-system updates.
Google Cloud Free Tier (e2-micro)
Google Cloud includes an e2-micro VM allowance in eligible US regions, subject to monthly usage limits.
Useful for: Testing a lightweight bot and learning Compute Engine.
- Check compute, disk, networking, and IP-address charges separately.
- CPU and memory are limited; measure your bot's usage before relying on this tier.
AWS Free Tier
For accounts created on or after July 15, 2025, the free plan uses credits and lasts up to six months, or until the credits run out.
Useful for: Trying EC2 before choosing a paid setup.
- The older 12-month EC2 offer applies to accounts created before July 15, 2025.
- Check your account's plan and credit expiry before depending on it for hosting.
Managed hosting platforms
A platform as a service (PaaS) handles much of the server maintenance and gives you tools to deploy, configure, and monitor your code. For a Gateway bot, check that the service supports a continuously running process and will not stop when web traffic is idle.
Fly.io
Pros
- Choice of deployment region
- Runs container images
- Machine sizing options
Cons
- Compute, storage, and networking affect cost
- Requires learning Fly's configuration and tools
Check machine start and stop settings so the bot stays connected between events.
Koyeb
Pros
- Deploy from a repository or container image
- Managed service configuration
Cons
- Free instances scale to zero when idle
- Available regions depend on instance type
For a bot with a persistent connection, choose an instance that can stay running and disable scale-to-zero.
Render
Pros
- Repository-based deployments
- Background worker services
- Built-in logs
Cons
- Free web services sleep when idle
- Background workers require a paid instance
A background worker is the relevant service type for a bot that keeps a Discord Gateway connection open.
Railway
Pros
- Repository-based deployments
- Logs and resource metrics
- Usage-based billing
Cons
- Resource use determines the bill
- Free allowances may not cover continuous operation
Estimate the cost of running all month and check any sleep settings before deploying.
Virtual private servers
A virtual private server (VPS) gives you control over the operating system, runtime, and storage. You also take responsibility for updates, access security, backups, and restarting the bot after failures.
Hetzner Cloud
Pros
- Shared and dedicated CPU options
- Hourly billing with monthly caps
Cons
- Availability varies by location
- You maintain the operating system
Vultr
Pros
- Choice of regions and instance sizes
- Hourly billing
Cons
- Check bandwidth allowances for your plan
- Shared CPU performance can vary
DigitalOcean
Pros
- Droplets in several sizes
- Documentation and setup tutorials
- Optional managed databases
Cons
- Droplets are a paid service
- Backups and other add-ons can increase the bill
Akamai/Linode
Pros
- Shared and dedicated CPU plans
- Published transfer allowances
Cons
- Check regional pricing and transfer limits
- You handle server maintenance
Specialized bot hosts
Specialist hosts let you upload and manage a bot through a control panel. They can simplify setup, but check the supported language versions, package installation options, memory limits, and data export tools before committing.
Keeping your bot running
Essentials
- Use a supported Node.js or Python release that works with your bot's library.
- Keep tokens in environment variables or a secret manager, and out of your repository.
- Configure automatic restarts with a process manager or your hosting platform.
- Use your Discord library's reconnect handling and respect rate limits.
- Log errors and monitor the bot's connection to Discord, not just whether its process is running.
- Track memory and event volume as your bot joins more servers; plan sharding around Discord's requirements.
- Measure the CPU and bandwidth used by voice or media features before choosing a plan.
choosing a host
Match the setup to your needs
- Learning: Use a free tier or a small paid instance, with a clear understanding of its limits.
- A bot people rely on: Choose continuous hosting with enough memory, automatic restarts, and useful logs.
- A growing bot: Measure resource use before upgrading. Separate demanding jobs and add shards when your workload or Discord requires them.
Help people find your bot
Once your bot is running reliably, add it to Rank.top. You can also read how voting and revenue sharing work.
Pricing and free-tier details change frequently. Always confirm on the official pricing pages linked above before choosing a provider.