How to Run an AI Agent 24/7
TL;DR: To run an AI agent 24/7, it must live somewhere that's always on — a cloud platform or a VPS, not your laptop. Easiest: a hosted/cloud agent. Most control: self-host n8n on a VPS with a schedule.
Why your laptop won't cut it
Local agents stop when your computer sleeps. For always-on work (monitoring, scheduled reports, event triggers) you need a server or a managed cloud platform.
Two ways to go 24/7
- Managed cloud — the platform runs it for you, no servers. Easiest.
- Self-host on a VPS — run n8n or your own agent on a rented always-on server. Most control.
What it costs
A small VPS runs ~$5-12/month; managed platforms bundle hosting into the plan. Model/inference is usually the bigger cost for frequent runs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I run an AI agent 24/7?
Host it somewhere always on - a managed cloud platform or a VPS. Laptops sleep, so they cannot run agents around the clock.
What does it cost to run an AI agent 24/7?
A small VPS is ~$5-12/month; managed platforms include hosting. Model usage is often the larger ongoing cost for frequent runs.
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