What it costs
How to pay for Telegram bot hosting: card, instant transfer or crypto
In short
You can pay for Telegram bot hosting with a Russian card, via an instant bank transfer (SBP) or with cryptocurrency — no foreign card required. Prices are shown in dollars ($1.49 a week, $4.99 a month, $47.99 a year), but a card is charged the ruble amount at the current rate. The money lands on your balance, and the plan and slots are paid from it, so you always see how far the remainder goes.
Half of the questions about bot hosting are not technical at all — they are about paying. Foreign platforms want a card from a foreign bank, some local ones only invoice companies, and “I want to pay a couple of dollars for a bot without opening an account abroad” turns out to be surprisingly hard.
Here is how paying works on Netrun: what you can pay with, why prices are in dollars, and what happens when the balance runs out.
Choose how to pay#
The balance can be topped up three ways: a Russian card, an instant bank transfer (SBP), or cryptocurrency. No foreign bank card, no overseas account, no exchange office. You pick the method at the moment of payment and can switch it any time — none of them is tied to your account.
Do not let the dollars put you off#
Prices are shown in dollars: $1.49 a week, $4.99 a month, $47.99 a year, $3.99 for an extra slot. That is the unit of account, not a demand to pay in foreign currency. Paying by card or instant transfer charges you the ruble amount at the rate on the day — nothing for you to convert.
Top up a balance rather than “buy a subscription”#
Payment works like an account balance, not a stored card: you put money in, and the plan and slots are paid out of it. The platform holds neither your card number nor the right to charge it whenever it likes — the payment happens on the payment provider side. Put in exactly as much as you intend to spend.
See how far the balance goes#
Your account shows not just the current balance but how far it stretches: when the plan renews next, when the slots do, and the day the money runs out. It is an estimate at current prices, but it answers the only question that matters — top up now or later.
Decide whether you want auto-renewal#
The plan and each slot renew by themselves while there is money on the balance. If the bot is needed permanently that is convenient: nothing switches off mid-week. If the bot is temporary, auto-renewal can be turned off in your account, and nothing is charged once the paid period ends. For short jobs the weekly price of $1.49 fits well.
Know what happens at zero#
Nothing happens silently. You get an email before the charge, and if the money was not there the project stops — but the code, data and settings stay in place, and topping up restores everything. You have two days for that, and we write about those too. The first 3 days of a bot are free, so you can see all of this before paying anything.
Paying should not be a quest of its own: a local card, an instant transfer or crypto, a balance and a clear remainder. Upload your bot to Netrun — the first 3 days are free, and there is nothing to top up before that.
Common questions
Can I pay for bot hosting with a Russian card?
Yes. You can top up your balance with a Russian card or via an instant bank transfer, even though prices are shown in dollars. The card is charged the ruble amount at the rate on the day, and no foreign card is needed.
Why are prices in dollars if I can pay in rubles?
The dollar is the unit of account, so the price is the same for everyone and does not drift with the exchange rate. It does not affect how you pay: card, instant transfer and cryptocurrency all work, and the local amount is calculated at the moment of payment.
Do you accept cryptocurrency?
Yes, cryptocurrency tops up the balance just like a card or an instant transfer. The money lands on the same account, which pays for the plan and slots.
Will anything be charged to my card automatically?
No. The platform does not store your card and cannot charge it. Auto-renewal works from your balance: while there is money on it the plan and slots renew, and when it runs out you get an email.
What if the balance does not cover a renewal?
The project stops, but nothing is deleted: code, data and settings stay in place, and topping up restores everything. We warn you by email in advance, at the moment the project stops, and once more before any data is removed.
Can I pay only for the weeks I need?
Yes. Besides monthly and yearly there is weekly billing at $1.49. Combined with auto-renewal switched off, that gives a simple pattern: pay for a week, let the bot run, then decide.
Can I pay with a Russian card or via SBP?
Yes. You can add funds with a Russian card or via SBP, even though prices are shown in dollars. Your card is charged the ruble amount at the current rate — no foreign card and no currency exchange on your side. Besides card and SBP we also accept cryptocurrency.
What currency are prices and payments in?
Prices and your balance are shown in US dollars. You can still pay however is convenient: by a Russian card or via SBP — your card is charged the ruble amount at the current rate, with nothing to convert yourself. We also accept cryptocurrency. Current prices are shown on the plans page in your account.
How do I add funds to my balance?
You can add funds with a Russian card, via SBP or with cryptocurrency. Prices are shown in dollars, but your card is charged the ruble amount at the current rate — no need to exchange currency yourself. The money lands on your balance, which pays for the plan and slots.
Can I cancel auto-renewal?
Yes. Auto-renewal of the plan and of each slot can be turned off in your account — once the paid period ends, it simply will not renew.