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# Host a Pycord bot

Pycord runs on HostDC on Python 3.12 and 3.13, online 24/7, on a free plan with a 256 MB RAM pool, 0.5 CPU and 512 MB storage. It installs and starts exactly like discord.py, because it is the same runtime and the same package manager.

## Three steps

**1. Bring your project.** Two files are enough:

```
requirements.txt
main.py
```

```python
import os
import discord

bot = discord.Bot()


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


@bot.slash_command(description="Check the bot is alive")
async def ping(ctx):
    await ctx.respond("pong")


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

Pin `py-cord` in your `requirements.txt`. Installing it and `discord.py` into one project breaks the `discord` import.

**2. Add your token** on the Secrets tab. We store it AES-256-GCM encrypted and inject it as `DISCORD_TOKEN`.

**3. Press Deploy.** We install your requirements and run `python main.py`, with the console streaming live.

## Limits you should know

The free plan gives a 256 MB RAM pool, 0.5 CPU and 512 MB storage, and needs reactivating weekly. Mini, Lite, Pro and Max are the paid plans: Lite is $1.69 a month and Pro is $2.49 a month. The [pricing page](/pricing) lists what each one changes. A bot can't play audio itself: use a Lavalink client with the Lavalink server Pro and Max host for you, one Lite can add, or one you run elsewhere on Free and Mini.

## Related

- [Host a Python bot](/host/python)
- [Host a discord.py bot](/host/discord-py)
- [Environment variables and tokens](/guides/environment-variables-and-tokens)

## FAQ

### Can I run Pycord and discord.py in the same project?
No. Both provide the `discord` package, so whichever installs last wins and imports break in confusing ways.

### Do slash commands need anything special?
No. Register them from your code as usual. Outbound requests to Discord are allowed from the sandbox.

### Which Python version should I pick?
3.13 unless a dependency of yours is not ready for it. Set `requires-python` in `pyproject.toml` to `<3.13` and redeploy to stay on 3.12.