I’ve created a Telegram bot using Python. It’s pretty basic. It just grabs some info from a spreadsheet and makes charts. I’m the only one who uses it, and not that often.
The thing is, I need it to run all the time because of how it’s set up. But I don’t want to keep my computer on 24/7 for this.
I’ve been searching for free hosting that can handle a Python script running non-stop. The problem is, a lot of the places I’ve checked out don’t offer this for free anymore, or they want my credit card info.
Does anyone know of a good free option for hosting a small bot like this? It doesn’t need much, just the ability to run all the time without costing me anything or needing my card details.
Have you considered using Google Cloud Platform’s free tier? It offers a decent amount of resources that could work for your Telegram bot. You get a small VM instance that runs continuously, and they provide some free credits to start. The catch is you’ll need to set up a billing account, but you can set spending limits to avoid unexpected charges.
Another option worth looking into is Oracle Cloud’s Always Free tier. They provide two free VMs that run 24/7, which should be more than enough for your Python script. The setup process is a bit more involved, but it’s a solid choice if you’re comfortable with some basic server management.
Both options require some technical know-how, but they’re reliable and won’t cost you anything for your current needs.
have u tried pythonanywhere? i use it for my small projects. its free tier lets u run python scripts 24/7. no credit card needed. only downside is it can be slow sometimes but for a personal bot it shud be fine. worth checking out if uhavnt already
I’ve been in a similar situation with a personal bot, and I found Heroku to be a solid option. Their free tier allows for 550 dyno hours per month, which is enough to run a small app continuously. The catch is that your app goes to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity, but for a Telegram bot, this isn’t usually an issue as it ‘wakes up’ when pinged.
Another route I explored was using a Raspberry Pi. If you have one lying around or can get one cheap, it’s perfect for hosting small projects like this. It uses minimal power, can run 24/7, and gives you complete control. Plus, it’s a great learning experience if you’re into tinkering.
Just remember, free options often come with limitations. If your bot grows or needs more resources, you might need to consider paid options down the line.