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7 Best Free Discord Moderation Bots to Keep Your Server Organized

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Free Discord moderation bots automate spam filtering, rule enforcement, and member management so server owners can keep their communities organized without constant manual oversight. For server moderators and administrators on a budget, these free Discord moderation bots provide essential tools like auto-punishments, welcome messages, and role assignment at no cost.

What does a free Discord moderation bot do?

A free Discord moderation bot handles the repetitive tasks of keeping a server safe and organized. It automatically filters spam and explicit content, enforces server rules through strike systems or timed punishments, welcomes new members with custom messages, and assigns roles based on reactions or activity. These bots work 24/7, which is critical for large or public servers where manual moderation becomes impractical. Free options matter because many server owners run communities without revenue, and premium subscriptions can quickly become a barrier to adequate moderation.

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Photo by Alexander Shatov from Unsplash

Free Discord moderation bots with real free-tier features

The following bots were verified to offer genuine moderation capabilities on their free plans. Many bots advertise free features but gate essential moderation tools behind paywalls; these selections provide real utility without requiring a subscription. Each entry notes documented free-tier limits so you know exactly what you get before configuring.

Dyno: best for customizable autopunishments

Dyno's web dashboard gives you full control over moderation commands and role configuration. You can set up triggers and their corresponding sanctions, warn, mute, ban, or kick, and the bot enforces them automatically. A documented free-tier limit applies: non-premium servers can have a max of 3 autopunishments, so plan your automation accordingly. Dyno also offers a deafen command to mute members in voice channels, plus advanced ban options including ban match (bans users matching specific text), soft ban (bans and immediately unbans to delete all user messages), and adjustable ban or mute durations. Dyno saves messages from banned users.

Arcane Bot: best for engagement-driven moderation

Arcane Bot combines moderation with an XP system that rewards participation. Members earn XP by being active, which unlocks server roles and features you control. The reaction roles feature allows users to self-assign roles by reacting to a message, with a documented free-tier limit of 50 reaction roles per server. Auto-moderation automatically warns, mutes, bans, or kicks members who send spam or blacklisted words. The purge command deletes hundreds of messages in one go, with parameters for quantity, sender, and content filters. Arcane also tracks a user's moderation history, showing total warnings, bans, mutes, and kicks.

Tatsu: best for community building with moderation built in

Tatsu pairs moderation tools with its unique Tatsugotchi gaming features to boost participation. It supports welcome and goodbye messages, auto-ban and auto-kick enforcement, and a prune command that mass deletes up to 100 messages while automatically skipping pinned content. Moderation logs via the notify command track join/leave activity, kicks, bans, and nickname changes. Tatsu also lets you disable specific commands in chosen channels or servers, and its XP and reward system gives admins full control over engagement incentives.

YAGPDB: best for advanced auto-mod with custom feeds

YAGPDB (Yet Another General Purpose Discord Bot) implements a strike system that escalates punishments for repeat offenders. Combined with a mod log, you can track each user's warning, mute, ban, and kick history. Advanced cleaning parameters let you precisely target messages for deletion, and self-assignable roles let members choose their own permissions. Unique integrations include fast feeds for YouTube and Reddit, plus over 250 cat facts accessible through the catfact command.

ProBot: best for raid protection and intuitive dashboards

ProBot's intuitive dashboard centralizes auto-moderation controls, welcome message design, automatic responses, and server statistics. It detects raid behavior and automatically kicks raiders from your server. The lock command bars users from sending messages in toxic channels, while the temp command creates a temporary channel. XP and role automation happens directly through the dashboard, and all sanction commands, warn, mute, ban, kick, are customizable there.

Carl Bot: best for advanced users who want full control

Carl Bot offers deep customization for power users who are comfortable with extensive configuration. It supports 250 reaction roles per server, a starboard channel that surfaces highly-starred messages, and suggestion voting with anonymous options. Carl Bot sends welcome, farewell, and ban messages both on the server and through direct messages, and highlights the names of newly joined users. Media-only channels automatically delete any message without links or attachments. The mod log tracks every sanction along with which moderator issued it, preventing abuse of power. Whitelist capabilities allow you to permit specific content types in designated channels while blocking them elsewhere.

Bots to approach with caution on free plans

MEE6's official plan comparison page documents that moderation features are not available on the free tier. While MEE6 offers welcome messages, reaction roles, and a dashboard on its free plan, core moderation tools like the strike system and automated punishments require a premium subscription. Server owners seeking free Discord user and server management should look elsewhere for automated enforcement.

How to add a Discord bot to your server

  1. Check whether you have the required permission. The documented requirement is the Manage Server permission; Administrator permission may also work, though this varies by server setup. Open the Discord app, select the server, open the menu, go to Settings, then User Management > Members to see your roles, and check Roles to confirm permissions.
  2. Click the button to be redirected to Discord's authorization page. Review the permissions the bot requests, then select Authorize.
  3. Choose the target server from the dropdown menu, then click Continue.
  4. Review the permissions again on the confirmation page and click Authorize. The bot will appear in the online members list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiple moderation bots on one server?

Yes, you can run multiple bots simultaneously, but they may conflict if given overlapping permissions. For example, two bots with autopunishment triggers could double-sanction the same user. Test configurations in a private channel before deploying widely.

Do free moderation bots store my server data?

Most bots log moderation actions and user data to function. Review each bot's privacy policy, open-source bots like Dyno and YAGPDB let you inspect their code, while proprietary bots like ProBot handle data according to their terms. None of the bots listed share data beyond what's required to operate.

What happens when a free bot reaches its usage limit?

Each bot handles limits differently. Dyno's documented limit of 3 autopunishments means you cannot add a fourth until you remove one. Other bots may disable the feature entirely or prompt an upgrade. Always check the bot's free-tier documentation before relying on a specific feature.

Can I remove a bot after adding it?

Yes, server members with Manage Server permission can kick or ban the bot from the server settings. This removes its access immediately, including any stored data or automated functions. You can reinvite the same bot later without losing its configuration if it stores settings on its own servers.

About the author

Diane is a tech writer for Cellular News. She likes listening to true crime podcasts and watching rom-coms she can't relate to.

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