How to run a Python script every day for free in 2026

You wrote a cool Python script that scrapes a website, sends a Telegram message, or cleans up a database. Now, how do you run it every day automatically without leaving your laptop open 24/7?

Method 1: Windows Task Scheduler / Mac Cron (Local)

The oldest trick in the book. You can configure your OS to run a Python script on a schedule.

• The Catch: Your computer must be powered on and connected to the internet at the scheduled time. If the laptop is asleep in your backpack, the script won't run.

Method 2: Free VPS Tiers (Oracle, Google Cloud)

You can sign up for a free Linux VM on Oracle Cloud or GCP, SSH into it, upload your script, and use the Linux crontab.

• The Catch: It requires Linux sysadmin knowledge. You have to manage SSH keys, Python environments, handle logging, and worry about the cloud provider randomly reclaiming your "free" instance.

Method 3: The Modern Serverless Approach (Recommended)

Instead of managing servers, you can use a serverless execution platform like LiteLambda. Here is how it works:

1. Create a free account on LiteLambda.
2. Paste your Python code directly into the browser editor.
3. Type in the pip packages you need (e.g., requests, beautifulsoup4).
4. Set a schedule like 0 9 * * * (every day at 9 AM).

That's it. The platform provisions an isolated Docker container, installs your dependencies, runs the code, captures the output logs, and emails you if it fails. It is by far the most robust way to automate Python scripts in 2026.