diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index de49444..b76a68c 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -214,8 +214,6 @@ elif [[ $1 == "test" ]]; then
     sync_test "$2"
 elif [[ $1 == "validate" ]]; then
     validate "$2"
-elif [[ $1 == "versioncheck" ]]; then
-    python version_check.py
 elif [[ $1 == "docker" ]]; then
     sync_docker
 elif [[ $1 == "unstable" ]]; then
@@ -223,7 +221,7 @@ elif [[ $1 == "unstable" ]]; then
 elif [[ $1 == "es" ]]; then
     sync_latest_es
 else
-    echo "valid options are: blackhole | test | validate | versioncheck | docker | unstable | es"
+    echo "valid options are: blackhole | test | validate | docker | unstable | es"
 fi
 
 
diff --git a/version_check.py b/version_check.py
deleted file mode 100755
index 4bfeb3f..0000000
--- a/version_check.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,115 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
-""" check requirements.txt for outdated packages """
-
-import pathlib
-
-import requests
-
-
-class Requirements:
-    """handle requirements.txt"""
-
-    FILE_PATH = "tubearchivist/requirements.txt"
-    LOCK = "/tmp/tubearchivist-requirements.lock"
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.exists = self.checked_today()
-        self.all_requirements = False
-        self.all_updates = False
-
-    def checked_today(self):
-        """skip requirements check when lock file exists"""
-        exists = pathlib.Path(self.LOCK).exists()
-        return exists
-
-    def look_for_updates(self):
-        """look through requirements and check for updates"""
-        self.all_requirements = self.get_dependencies()
-        self.all_updates = self.check_packages()
-
-    def get_dependencies(self):
-        """read out requirements.txt"""
-
-        all_requirements = []
-        with open(self.FILE_PATH, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-            dependencies = f.readlines()
-
-        for dependency in dependencies:
-            package, version = dependency.split("==")
-            all_requirements.append((package, version.strip()))
-
-        all_requirements.sort(key=lambda x: x[0].lower())
-
-        return all_requirements
-
-    def check_packages(self):
-        """compare installed with remote version"""
-
-        total = len(self.all_requirements)
-        print(f"checking versions for {total} packages...")
-
-        all_updates = {}
-
-        for dependency in self.all_requirements:
-            package, version_installed = dependency
-            url = f"https://pypi.org/pypi/{package}/json"
-            response = requests.get(url).json()
-            version_remote = response["info"]["version"]
-            homepage = response["info"]["home_page"]
-            if version_remote != version_installed:
-                to_update = {
-                    package: {"from": version_installed, "to": version_remote}
-                }
-                all_updates.update(to_update)
-                message = (
-                    f"update {package} {version_installed}"
-                    + f"==> {version_remote}\n    {homepage}"
-                )
-                print(message)
-
-        if not all_updates:
-            print("no updates found")
-
-        # remember that
-        pathlib.Path(self.LOCK).touch()
-
-        return all_updates
-
-    def apply_updates(self):
-        """update requirements.txt file with new versions"""
-
-        to_write = []
-
-        for requirement in self.all_requirements:
-            package, old_version = requirement
-
-            if package in self.all_updates.keys():
-                package_version = self.all_updates[package]["to"]
-            else:
-                package_version = old_version
-
-            to_write.append(f"{package}=={package_version}\n")
-
-        with open(self.FILE_PATH, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-            f.writelines(to_write)
-
-        print("requirements.txt updates")
-
-
-def main():
-    """main to check for updates"""
-    handler = Requirements()
-    if handler.exists:
-        return
-
-    handler.look_for_updates()
-    if handler.all_updates:
-        input_response = input("\nupdate requirements.txt? [y/n] ")
-        if input_response == "y":
-            handler.apply_updates()
-        else:
-            print("skip update...")
-
-
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    main()