Option 1: your PC or a Raspberry Pi
Free (apart from electricity), with no limit other than your machine. But it must stay on and connected all the time: a power or internet outage, a system update, and the bot is offline until you start it again. Great for developing and testing.
Option 2: free tiers from bot hosts
Several hosts offer a free tier. They really exist, with trade-offs that vary from one service to another:
- reduced RAM and CPU, often shared;
- regular manual renewal, every few days with some hosts;
- sleeping or stopping when inactive;
- ads, credits to earn or waiting lists.
Read their terms before putting a bot your community depends on there: one forgotten renewal and the bot stops.
Option 3: cloud free tiers
Big cloud providers have limited free tiers or trial credits. They usually ask for a credit card, and you manage the server yourself: Linux, Node.js or Python, automatic restarts, updates and security.
What to check before choosing
- Does the bot stay online without you stepping in? Does it need renewing, and how often?
- How much real RAM? A small discord.js bot usually uses 60 to 150 MB.
- Are your files (SQLite, JSON) kept between restarts?
- Does the bot restart on its own when it crashes, and are you told?
- Where is your token stored, and who can read it?
And with Invokara?
No permanent free hosting: we would rather say it clearly. To try it out, the Discovery plan (when it is open) gives you a bot with 128 MB of RAM for 7 days, once per account, with no credit card: Discord account older than 30 days, limited spots, no web panel.
After that, the Starter plan costs 2 € per month with 256 MB of RAM and the HTTPS web panel, no commitment, or 20 € per year.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free 24/7 Discord bot hosting?
Yes, some hosts offer it, with limits depending on the service: reduced resources, regular renewals or sleeping. For a bot your server depends on, a small paid plan is often more peaceful.
Can I try Invokara for free?
Yes, with the Discovery plan when it is open: 7 days, 128 MB of RAM, once per account, no credit card.
Is hosting my bot on my PC risky?
Not for your token if it stays in a .env file you don't share. The real issue: the bot stops as soon as the PC turns off or loses its connection.
How much is the cheapest plan?
2 € per month (Starter, 256 MB RAM), or 20 € per year.
Sign in with Discord, then upload your project as is.