The 11 Best Discord Bots Today

Discord has become the communication platform of choice for gamers and communities looking to interact in real time. With over 150 million active monthly users, Discord offers customizable text and voice channels for free.

However, to take your Discord server to the next level requires special bots that can moderation content, make managing roles easier, provide server insights, and even add some fun! According to Discord Bot List, there are over 600,000 Discord bots in existence, so picking the right ones can be overwhelming.

That‘s why we‘ve compiled this definitive guide on the 11 best Discord bots you need based on categories like:

• Content moderation: Help manage channels, roles, messages etc.
• Fun: Engaging bots with games, memes and currency
• Customization: Personalize messages, assign roles and more

We‘ll cover what each bot does, their key features, pricing and more. Let‘s dive in!

Why You Need Discord Bots

Discord bots are third-party programs that run inside Discord servers. They listen to commands and automatically perform actions like assigning roles, posting messages, managing spam etc.

Here are some of the main benefits of Discord bots:

• Save time: Bots can handle repetitive admin tasks so you can focus on building community
• Engagement: Fun bots with games/polls keep members active and entertained
• Insights: Get data on members, messages, channel usage to improve server
• Moderation: Remove spammers, ban members that violate rules automatically
• Customization: Personalize welcome messages, self-assign roles via reactions etc.

Many bots offer premium subscriptions that unlock more advanced capabilities. While they require monthly fees, premium bots can level up your server significantly.

Now let‘s look at the best bots across different categories.

Best Discord Bots for Content Moderation

Managing a Discord server as it scales can become chaotic. Moderation bots help by automating common admin tasks so you can focus on higher priorities. Here are the top content moderation bots:

1. MEE6

MEE6 should be the first bot installed on any growing Discord server. It‘s packed with essential moderation features like:

• Custom commands: Create shortcuts to common responses
• Auto role assignment: Give roles based on messages, reactions etc.
• Moderation: Ban, softban or mute members violating rules
• Messages: Welcome new members, set goodbye messages and more
• Leveling: Reward members with XP and levels for activity

With a simple, intuitive dashboard you can manage most key functions without coding knowledge. For $5/month premium plan, you unlock advanced mod tools, more custom commands, auto video streaming and detailed analytics.

With over 21 million servers, MEE6 is the most popular mod bot for good reason.

Key Features: Role management, custom commands, moderation tools, leveling system

Pricing: Free and Premium ($5/month)

Link: MEE6

2. Dyno

Dyno is another hugely popular moderation bot on over 10 million Discord servers. The features include:

• Auto role assignment from custom criteria
• Server insights showing new/total members, chat data etc.
• Customizable welcome/leave messages for members
• Auto moderator removes spam, bans members by filter words
• Admin dashboard to monitor activity and customization in browser

For $10/month, Dyno premium offers advanced admin, logging, notifications and a global command feature. The premium trial lets you test features out before subscribing.

For a powerful free bot with premium upgrades, Dyno is a top choice.

Key Features: Auto roles, moderation, insights, welcome messages

Pricing: Free and Premium ($10/month)

Link: Dyno

3. Carl-Bot

Carl-Bot emphasizes moderation tools that help manage members and content:

• Auto assign roles via reactions, keywords or criteria
• Filter and delete messages based on patterns, spam detection
• Welcome messages and chat logs providing server insights
• Lockdown mode during raids to limit actions
• Mute or ban members who violate rules

For $5/month, Carl Premium offers extra anti-spam filters, global commands, color changing names and a bump feature promoting your server listing.

Carl focuses on robust tools to keep your community positive and manageable.

Key Features: Content moderation, auto roles, lockdown mode

Pricing: Free and Premium ($5/month)

Link: Carl-Bot

Best Discord Bots for Fun

While moderation is critical, fun bots are what make Discord enjoyable for members. They drive engagement through memes, currency, games, music and more. Here are the best fun bots:

4. Dank Memer

With over 6 million on over 500k servers, Dank Memer is undoubtedly one of the most popular Discord bots. What started out as a meme-posting bot has evolved into a versatile and amusing bot for any community.

Some primary features include:

• Memes: 100+ meme commands posting humor via reactions, images etc.
• Currency: Obtain coins through content, games and interactions then use them to unlock loot boxes with rare collectible items
• Games: Slot machine, blackjack, minesweeper and more server mini games
• Collectibles: Unique rare items like fidget spinners, pets and more tradable with others
• Fun effects: Tons of animated aesthetic effects, badges and customizations

Everything about Dank Memer aims to entertain making it easy to understand why it‘s many members‘ favorite Discord bot.

Key Features: Memes, currency, loot boxes, games, collectibles

Pricing: Free

Link: Dank Memer

5. PollMaster

Polls and voting drive conversation. PollMaster makes gathering opinions and decisions easy directly within Discord. Features include:

• Text & emoji voting options
• Set custom poll durations
• Require roles/permissions to vote
• View poll insights like votes, demographics
• Schedule recurring polls
• Anonymous voting capability

For organizers and event planners, PollMaster gives you critical feedback fast from your members. It‘s one of the most requested bots to liven up servers.

Key Features: Polling, emoji voting, analytics

Pricing: Free

Link: PollMaster

6. Rythm

Over 325 million monthly users can‘t be wrong. Rythm is hands down the most popular Discord music bot. Rythm can:

• Play songs/playlists from YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitch etc.
• Queue up songs and accept requests from members
• Sync playback across voice channels server wide
• Let members control playback and playlists
• Skip, shuffle, loop with easy text commands
• Display now-playing statuses with album art

A music bot like Rythm can take your Discord server to the next level. For $5/month Patreon subscribers get unlimited lag-free music and priority support.

Key Features: Play music from all major platforms, synchronized playback, playlists & queues

Pricing: Free and Supporter ($3-$5/month)

Link: Rythm

Best Discord Bots for Customization

Half the fun of Discord comes from personalizing your community. Customization bots allow you to modify your server‘s aesthetic, welcome new members uniquely, and make roles more interactive.

7. Tatsumaki

Tatsumaki lets you set up endlessly customizable welcome messages so new members feel at home. You can:

• Use fields, user data, images, animated emojis and more
• Create self-assignable roles members can add themselves via reactions
• Set up level ranks, leaderboards and profiles to engage members
• Schedule announcements and events visible through bot homepage
• Automate chat cleanup and spam detection

Tatsumaki‘s customization tools foster community and ownership for your members.

Key Features: Welcome messages, reaction roles, ranks, events

Pricing: Free

Link: Tatsumaki

8. UnbelievaBoat

UnbelievaBoat specializes in leveling, economy and entertainment systems. You can use it to:

• Display cool profiles with cash, bank data, and global/server ranks
• Distribute virtual currency via chatting, invites, roles and more
• Set item shop channels to redeem currency for roles and perks
• Create loot boxes and item giveaways using currency system
• Slot machines, coin flips and games to earn money

If you want to gamify earning rewards and renown through engaging activities, UnbelievaBoat delivers.

Key Features: Profiles, leaderboards, virtual economy

Pricing: Free

Link: UnbelievaBoat

9. Octave

Octave turns your server into a music playground. You can build playlists, react for songs, and liven up voice channels effortlessly.

Key capabilities include:

• Queue up songs and playlists from YouTube
• Unlimited playlists and high quality audio
• Real-time lyrics of playing tracks
• Playlist management commands
• Fair queue system playing user requests

For the seamless Slack-like music experience many want, Octave hits the right notes.

Key Features: YouTube integration, lyrics, playlists, requests

Pricing: Free

Link: Octave

Comparing the Top Discord Bots

Bot Permissions: What Can They Manage?

For bots to work correctly, they need access and permissions to channels they operate in. Under Server Settings > Roles, create a Bot role then enable permissions:

• Read Message History: View past messages for moderation
• Manage Messages: Delete messages, reactions etc.
• Ban Members: Ban violating members
• Manage Nicknames: Change/reset member names
• Manage Roles: Add/remove roles from members
• Move Members: Move between voice channels

Grant additional text/voice channel access depending on bot functionality. For mods, give them role to add bots easily.

Add & Manage Bots via Top.gg

The easiest way to find and install Discord bots is through Top.gg – the main bot discovery directory.

To add a bot:

1. Browse bots on Top.gg by category or search
2. Click preferred bot and "Add to Server" button
3. Select server to install bot to from popup
4. Authorize requested permissions

Bot will join created role with allocated permissions. You can then message bot directly with commands like !help to get started.

Many bot dashboards integrate with Top.gg allowing you to manage permissions, statuses and settings in one place. It‘s the best bot interface.

Wrapping Up the Best Discord Bots

Discord bots can massively enhance server management, engagement and customization. By automating moderation, providing insights and making unique integrations possible, they‘re invaluable to any growing community.

We recommend all servers install a core utility bot like MEE6, then supplement with fun bots driving participation through games and polls. For established communities seeking customization, explore special-purpose bots that open up new possibilities.

There are bots fulfilling every possible niche – from music to mod mail, leveling to loot boxes. Browse Top.gg to discover new favorites tailored to your community.

The key is integrating 2-3 quality bots with purpose instead of a hodge-podge creating complexity. Monitor usage and feedback to prune and add bots fitting evolving needs over time.

If managed properly, Discord bots will keep your members happily engaged and give admins superpowers to build something incredible. Power up your server today!