Run Claude Code 24/7 on a $2.25/month server

#ai #devtools #linux #productivity

When Claude Code runs on your laptop, a long task stops when the lid closes. On a small always-on server it keeps working, and you can check in from any device over SSH. A cheap NAT VPS is enough, because the agent only makes outbound connections.

I use natbox.io's Box Plus plan ($2.25/month: 2 GB RAM, 2 shared cores, 20 GB SSD). Disclosure: I run natbox. Claude Code uses your own Claude account, so you need an account that includes it. The manual steps work on any Debian or Ubuntu server.

1. Get a server

Order Box Plus (or bigger) with Debian or Ubuntu. Box Plus is the smallest natbox plan that supports the AI agent apps.

2a. The quick way: one-click Claude Code

Pick the Claude Code app in the client area. It installs Claude Code on your server, and you sign in with your Claude account on first run. The same plan also offers one-click Codex CLI, OpenClaw and Hermes Agent if you want to compare agents.

2b. The manual way

ssh root@natbox.io -p <your-first-port>
apt update && apt install -y git tmux curl
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

(Check Anthropic's Claude Code docs for the current install command; it occasionally changes.)

3. Keep sessions alive with tmux

tmux new -s claude
cd ~/your-project
claude

The first run prints a sign-in link. Open it on any device, approve, and you're in. Detach with Ctrl-b d. Later, reconnect over SSH and run tmux attach -t claude to pick up where the agent left off.

4. Optional: an editor in the browser

Add the one-click code-server app (VS Code in the browser, password protected) to review the agent's changes from a tablet or a borrowed computer.

Good to know

Every server gets a routed /80 of IPv6 that isn't filtered, so set up a firewall (ufw default deny incoming, then allow your SSH port).
No Docker or nested containers (servers are LXC), so projects that need Docker for tests won't run here.
Use is for personal projects under natbox's Acceptable Use Policy.
If traffic goes over the monthly allowance, it's slowed to 10 Mbit/s rather than cut off.

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