Installation

Host your Discord bot for free on FPS.ms with Python or Node.js. Upload your code, set up dependencies, and your bot runs 24/7. This guide walks you through the full setup for both languages.

Prerequisites#

Before you start, make sure you have:

1. An FPS.ms account — create your first server then open the Containers tab on the Deploy page and choose Python or NodeJS
2. A Discord bot token — follow our getting your bot token guide if you don't have one yet
3. Your bot code ready to upload

Python setup#

FPS.ms runs your Python bot by executing app.py as the entry point by default. Follow these steps to get your bot online.

1. Create your main file#

Create a file named app.py — this is the file FPS.ms runs when your server starts. You can change the entry point filename in the Startup tab if needed.

Here is an example Discord.py bot:

import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import discord
load_dotenv()

class MyClient(discord.Client):
    async def on_ready(self):
        print(f'Logged on as {self.user}!')

    async def on_message(self, message):
        if message.author == self.user:
            return
        print(f'Message from {message.author}: {message.content}')

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

client = MyClient(intents=intents)
client.run(os.environ['BOT_TOKEN'])

2. Add your dependencies#

Create a requirements.txt file listing the Python packages your bot needs. FPS.ms installs these automatically when your server starts.

discord.py
python-dotenv

You can also install additional packages via the Startup tab under Additional Python packages without editing requirements.txt.

3. Upload and start#

1. Upload app.py and requirements.txt to your server via the Files tab in the panel or through SFTP
2. Create a .env file with your bot token — see the environment variables guide
3. Click Start on the Console tab

Your bot should come online within a few seconds. You will see Logged on as YourBot#1234! in the console when it connects successfully.

Node.js setup#

FPS.ms runs your Node.js bot by executing the start script defined in package.json. You have three ways to get your code onto the server.

Upload methods#

Using a GitHub repository#

To deploy from GitHub:

1. Go to the Startup tab on the panel
2. Enter your Git Repo Address (e.g., https://github.com/yourname/your-bot)
3. Optionally set the Branch, Git Username, and Git Access Token (required for private repos)
4. If you have existing files on the server, select all files and delete them first
5. Click Reinstall Server to pull the code from GitHub
6. Your repo will be pulled fresh on reinstall, and updated automatically on every restart if Auto Update is enabled

1. Create your project files#

You need at minimum three files. Here is a working example based on the official Discord.js guide:

{
    "name": "my-discord-bot",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "description": "My Discord bot hosted on FPS.ms",
    "main": "index.js",
    "scripts": {
        "start": "node ."
    },
    "dependencies": {
        "discord.js": "latest",
        "dotenv": "latest"
    }
}

require('dotenv').config();
const { Client, Events, GatewayIntentBits } = require('discord.js');

const client = new Client({ intents: [GatewayIntentBits.Guilds] });

client.once(Events.ClientReady, readyClient => {
    console.log(`Ready! Logged in as ${readyClient.user.tag}`);
});

client.login(process.env.BOT_TOKEN);

2. Upload and start#

1. Upload your project files using one of the methods above
2. Create a .env file with your bot token
3. Click Start on the Console tab

FPS.ms automatically runs npm install to install your dependencies, then starts your bot. You should see Ready! Logged in as YourBot#1234 in the console.

Python vs Node.js comparison#

Next steps#

Your bot is now running 24/7 on FPS.ms. Here is what to do next:

• Edit your bot code — update files via the panel, SFTP, or VS Code live sync
• Set up environment variables — securely manage your bot token and config
• Add slash commands — make your bot interactive with modern Discord commands
• Create a schedule — set up automatic restarts or timed tasks
• Upload files via SFTP — transfer files securely to your server

Troubleshooting#

Having issues? Check these common problems:

For more help, see our full troubleshooting guide or join the FPS.ms Discord server.