> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wiki.daki.cc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 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

***

## 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**.

***

## How the Runtime System Works

Free Tier servers do not run indefinitely. They use a <Tooltip tip="The time budget a Free Tier server runs for — top it up to 30 days by watching short ads.">runtime counter</Tooltip> that decreases over time and must be topped up by watching short ads in the <Tooltip tip="The free-hosting site (dash.daki.cc) where you manage your free server.">Free Tier Dashboard</Tooltip>.

* **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        |

***

## 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.
</Warning>

### 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.

***

## 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 <Tooltip tip="The server is offline but its files are preserved, pending renewal.">suspension</Tooltip>.
* **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](./network-allocations).

***

## 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)      |

***

## Next Steps

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