HostDC

How to host a discord.py bot 24/7

To keep a discord.py bot online 24/7 you need a machine that never sleeps and a supervisor that restarts the process when it dies. HostDC is both, and the free plan does it with a 256 MB RAM pool, 0.5 CPU and 512 MB storage.

1. Prepare the project

Two files are the minimum:

requirements.txt
main.py

requirements.txt:

discord.py>=2.4

main.py:

import os
import discord
from discord.ext import commands

bot = commands.Bot(command_prefix="!", intents=discord.Intents.default())


@bot.event
async def on_ready():
    print(f"Logged in as {bot.user}")


bot.run(os.environ["DISCORD_TOKEN"])

Read the token from the environment instead of a literal in the file. We scrub a token that reaches your output, but you have to rotate one you commit to Git.

2. Upload it

Zip the folder and drop it on the dashboard, or deploy from GitHub if the project already lives there.

3. Add the token and press Deploy

Paste the token on the Secrets tab. Press Deploy, and the console shows the install, then the boot, then your Logged in as line. That line marks the bot healthy.

4. Keep it online

Auto-restart is on by default and backs off between attempts, giving up after 5 crashes in 10 minutes. On Free, reactivate your bots weekly. Paid plans (Mini, Lite, Pro and Max) never need reactivation. See the pricing page.

Last updated 2026-09-06

FAQ

My bot logs in and then goes offline after a while

Usually the gateway connection died and the library did not reconnect. Look for a heartbeat warning in the console. Upgrading discord.py fixes most of these.

`PrivilegedIntentsRequired` on start

Enable the intent in the Discord developer portal for your application, then restart the bot. The sandbox has nothing to do with it.

Can I run scheduled tasks?

Yes, discord.ext.tasks works normally. Platform-level schedules are a Lite and Pro feature. See cron jobs for Discord bots.