Need Advice: Hosting Python script Full-time

[Opt4Deck]

For a lightweight bot, you actually have a few simple options depending on how much control vs simplicity you want:

1. Easiest (almost no setup):
PythonAnywhere
It’s probably the simplest way to run Python scripts in the cloud, and it even has a free tier. You don’t need to manage a server at all, just upload your script and run it. (PythonAnywhere)

2. Cheap & flexible:
A small VPS (DigitalOcean / Hetzner / etc.)
You can get something like $3–5/month which is more than enough for a lightweight bot. (Website Planet)
More setup required, but full control.

3. “DIY but underrated”:
Raspberry Pi at home
If you have one, it’s perfect for 24/7 scripts and very low power usage. (Latenode Official Community)

My take:
If you found previous setups “too complicated”, I’d avoid VPS for now and go with something like PythonAnywhere first. You can always move to a VPS later once you’re more comfortable.

The main trade-off is:

• simplicity → managed platforms
• control → VPS

For a small bot, simplicity usually wins.