# Free Tier Overview

> Resources, runtime limits, renewal mechanics, and how the Free Tier compares to paid plans.

Daki Hosting offers a permanently free tier for Discord bots and Node.js or Python applications hosted in Germany. This page explains how the Free Tier works and what separates it from paid plans.

## What you'll learn

- What resources a free server includes
- How the runtime counter works and how to extend it
- What happens when runtime runs out
- Key restrictions and limitations of the Free Tier
- How Free Tier compares to paid plans

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## Resources

Each Free Tier server includes:

| Resource | Limit |
| :--- | :--- |
| CPU | 50% (shared) |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Disk | 1,024 MB (1 GB) |
| Servers | 1 per account |
| Languages | Node.js and Python only |

All Free Tier servers are hosted in **Germany**.

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## How the Runtime System Works

Free Tier servers do not run indefinitely. They use a runtime counter that decreases over time and must be topped up by watching short ads in the Free Tier Dashboard.

- **Initial runtime:** Every new free server starts with **3 days** of runtime.
- **Maximum runtime:** You can accumulate up to **30 days** at any time.
- **Cost:** Completely free — no payment required, ever.

### Extending Runtime

Log in to [dash.daki.cc](https://dash.daki.cc) and use the renewal option on your server page.

| Action | Runtime gained |
| :--- | :--- |
| Watch 1 ad (~2 minutes) | +3 days |
| Maximum ads per day | 2 |
| Maximum per day | +6 days |
| Maximum total runtime | 30 days |

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## What Happens When Runtime Expires

| Stage | What happens |
| :--- | :--- |
| Runtime reaches 0 | Server **suspended** — goes offline, inaccessible |
| Grace period (0–2 days) | You can still renew by watching ads |
| After 2 days without renewal | Server **permanently deleted** — files cannot be recovered |

> **Warning:** Free Tier servers have no automatic backups. Once deleted, your data is gone permanently. Always store your code in an external location — for example, on GitHub.

### Renewal Reminders

Enable the **Server Renewal Reminder** in the **Credentials** tab of the Free Tier Dashboard ([dash.daki.cc/credentials](https://dash.daki.cc/credentials)). The Daki Discord bot will then DM you before your server is about to expire.

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## Free Tier Restrictions

- **One server per account.** You cannot run multiple servers simultaneously.
- **One account per person.** Creating multiple accounts is a Terms of Service violation and may result in suspension.
- **Node.js and Python only.** Java, Rust, C#, and other runtimes are not available.
- **Discord login only.** The Free Tier Dashboard uses Discord OAuth — no email/password sign-up.
- **No uptime SLA.** The 99.9% uptime guarantee applies to paid plans only.
- **No public ports.** Free Tier servers cannot receive inbound connections. Discord bots (which connect outbound) are not affected, but web servers and APIs will not be publicly reachable. See [Network & Allocations](https://daki.cc/wiki/guides/network-allocations).

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## Free Tier vs Paid Plans

| Feature | Free Tier | Paid Plans (Bronze–Gold) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Cost | Free | From €2/month |
| CPU | 50% shared | 100–300% dedicated (AMD Ryzen 9 9900X) |
| RAM | 512 MB | 2–6 GB DDR5 |
| Disk | 1 GB | 6–12 GB NVMe |
| Servers | 1 | 2–4 (via Splits) |
| Languages | Node.js, Python | All supported eggs |
| Uptime SLA | None | 99.9% |
| Public ports | No | Yes |
| Renewal | Watch ads | Credits or saved payment method |
| On expiry | Suspended → deleted (2-day grace) | Suspended → deleted (7-day grace) |

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## Next Steps

- [Create an Account](https://daki.cc/wiki/guides/account-create) — Sign up with Discord to get started.
- [Create Your First Server](https://daki.cc/wiki/guides/create-server) — Spin up your free server in minutes.
- [Renewing Your Free Server](https://daki.cc/wiki/guides/save-free-server-from-purge) — Learn how to keep your server active.
- [Paid Plans](https://daki.cc/wiki/guides/paid-plans) — See what you get when you upgrade.

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Source: https://daki.cc/wiki/guides/free-tier