Scheduled Cron Jobs on Render
Render offers a first-class Cron Job service: you give it a command and a cron schedule, and Render runs it in a fresh container at each interval. Schedules are in UTC.
Create the job
In the Render dashboard choose New > Cron Job, set the command (e.g. node cleanup.js) and the schedule 0 6 * * * for 6 AM UTC daily. You can also define it in render.yaml with type: cron and a schedule: field.
UTC timezone
Render cron schedules run in UTC. Convert your local time before entering the expression.
Cron job vs worker
A Cron Job spins up, runs once, and exits — you're billed per run. Use a background worker for always-on processing and a Cron Job for periodic tasks like backups or reports.
FAQ
How do I run a scheduled job on Render?
Create a Cron Job service: set the command and a cron schedule like 0 6 * * *, or define type: cron with a schedule field in render.yaml.
What timezone does Render cron use?
UTC. Convert your local time to UTC when writing the schedule expression.
What's the difference between a Render cron job and a worker?
A Cron Job runs once per schedule and exits (billed per run); a background worker runs continuously. Use cron for periodic tasks.