22 August 2026 · 8 min read

Nextcord Hosting — Deploy a nextcord Bot 24/7 in 2026

The best hosting options for nextcord Python bots in 2026. Covers nextcord vs discord.py, deployment setup, requirements.txt, token configuration, and always-on managed hosting from $4.99/mo.

nextcord is a Python Discord library forked from discord.py. It runs on any host that supports Python 3.10 or newer. This guide covers how to deploy a nextcord bot to a cloud host that keeps it online 24/7.

nextcord vs discord.py: quick comparison

Both libraries work on every host covered in this guide.

A minimal nextcord bot

# bot.py
import os
import nextcord
from nextcord.ext import commands

intents = nextcord.Intents.default()
intents.message_content = True

bot = commands.Bot(intents=intents)

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

@bot.command()
async def ping(ctx):
    """Check latency."""
    await ctx.send(f"Pong! {round(bot.latency * 1000)}ms")

@bot.slash_command(name="hello", description="Say hello", guild_ids=[])
async def hello(interaction: nextcord.Interaction):
    await interaction.response.send_message(
        f"Hello {interaction.user.mention}!", ephemeral=True
    )

bot.run(os.getenv("TOKEN"))

requirements.txt

nextcord>=2.6.0

For voice support:

nextcord[voice]>=2.6.0
PyNaCl>=1.5.0

Hosting options

getDiscordBot — $4.99/mo (recommended)

getDiscordBot is purpose-built for Python Discord bots including nextcord. No Git, no Docker, no Linux.

Deploy a nextcord bot in 5 steps:

1. Sign up free — 1-month trial, no card
2. Click New Bot
3. Paste your bot.py in the Code tab
4. In the Packages tab: nextcord>=2.6.0
5. In the Secrets tab, add TOKEN = your Discord bot token
6. Click Deploy

Live logs appear immediately. If the bot crashes, you get an email with the last 50 lines.

Python versions available: 3.10, 3.11, 3.12

Railway — ~$5–9/mo

Railway works well for nextcord bots if you use GitHub.

# requirements.txt
nextcord>=2.6.0

# Procfile
worker: python bot.py

Connect the repo to Railway, set TOKEN as an environment variable, deploy.

Render Background Worker — $7/mo

Create a Background Worker (not a Web Service). Set the start command to python bot.py. Add TOKEN in the environment variables panel.

VPS

Any Linux VPS that can run Python 3.10+ works. Install nextcord with pip, configure systemd for auto-restart.

pip install nextcord
python bot.py

Migrating from discord.py to nextcord

If you have an existing discord.py bot and want to switch to nextcord:

1. Update requirements.txt

# Before
discord.py>=2.3.0

# After
nextcord>=2.6.0

2. Update imports

# Before
import discord
from discord.ext import commands

# After
import nextcord
from nextcord.ext import commands

3. Update app command decorators

# discord.py style
@app_commands.command(name="hello")
async def hello(interaction: discord.Interaction):
    ...

# nextcord style
@bot.slash_command(name="hello")
async def hello(interaction: nextcord.Interaction):
    ...

4. Redeploy

On getDiscordBot, update the code in the editor and the packages tab, then click Deploy. No other changes needed.

hikari and lightbulb hosting

hikari is another Python Discord library that works on all the same hosts:

# requirements.txt for hikari with lightbulb
hikari>=2.0.0
hikari-lightbulb>=2.2.0

# bot.py for hikari
import os
import hikari
import lightbulb

bot = lightbulb.BotApp(token=os.getenv("TOKEN"))

@bot.listen(hikari.StartedEvent)
async def on_started(event):
    print(f"Online: {bot.get_me()}")

@bot.command
@lightbulb.command("ping", "Check the bot is alive")
@lightbulb.implements(lightbulb.PrefixCommand, lightbulb.SlashCommand)
async def ping(ctx: lightbulb.Context):
    await ctx.respond(f"Pong! {bot.heartbeat_latency * 1000:.0f}ms")

bot.run()

Deploy to getDiscordBot exactly as above — paste, set TOKEN, deploy.

Choosing the right library

All four work on getDiscordBot, Railway, Render, and any VPS.

Get started

Start a free 1-month trial →

No card required. nextcord bots deploy in minutes.

See also: discord.py hosting guide → · How to host a Discord bot 24/7 → · Cheapest hosting prices →

FAQ

Where can I host a nextcord bot?

nextcord bots can be hosted on getDiscordBot ($4.99/mo), Railway, Render, PebbleHost, or any VPS. getDiscordBot is purpose-built for Python Discord bots including nextcord — paste your bot.py, add nextcord to requirements.txt, and deploy.

Is nextcord compatible with the same hosts as discord.py?

Yes. nextcord is a fork of discord.py and runs the same way — it is a Python package installed via pip. Any host that runs Python 3.10+ supports nextcord. getDiscordBot supports nextcord, py-cord, hikari, and discord.py natively.

What is the difference between nextcord and discord.py?

nextcord is a fork of discord.py maintained independently. It has a slightly different API for application commands and decorators but is broadly compatible. Both support Python 3.10-3.12 and work on all the same hosting platforms.

Can I migrate from discord.py to nextcord without changing my host?

Yes. Change requirements.txt from discord.py to nextcord, update import statements from discord to nextcord, and redeploy. The host does not change.

Does hikari work on the same hosts as nextcord?

Yes. hikari is also a Python Discord library installed via pip. It runs on any host that supports Python 3.10+, including getDiscordBot.