Best Discord Moderation Bots 2026: Keep Your Server Safe

Your Discord server just hit 500 members. Congratulations! Now you’re dealing with spam bots, people posting sketchy links, someone spamming @everyone 47 times, and trolls testing how many slurs they can get away with before you wake up.

Welcome to the reality of running a Discord server without proper moderation.

Manual moderation doesn’t scale. You cannot be online 24/7. And even if you hire moderators, they can’t catch everything instantly. This is where Discord moderation bots become non-negotiable.

The right moderation bot works while you sleep, automatically filtering spam, blocking malicious links, preventing raids, and enforcing your rules consistently. The wrong bot—or no bot at all—means your community descends into chaos the moment you look away.

I’ve tested pretty much every moderation bot worth mentioning. Some are overhyped. Some are hidden gems. And a few have completely changed how they operate (looking at you, MEE6).

Here’s the no-BS breakdown of the best Discord moderation bots in 2026, what they actually do, and which one you should use.

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Why You Need a Moderation Bot (Even If Your Server Is Small)

“But my server only has 50 people. We don’t need moderation.”

Wrong.

Small servers need moderation too:

• Spam bots don’t care about server size—they target any server they can access
• One troll can ruin the vibe for 50 people faster than you can type “/kick”
• You’re not always online—even a 2-hour gap is enough for damage
• It sets expectations—auto-moderation shows you take rules seriously

Think of moderation bots as your 24/7 security system. You wouldn’t leave your house unlocked just because you live in a small town.

Plus, if you’re planning to grow your server (or monetize it with Discord Nitro giveaways or paid memberships), you need moderation infrastructure before you scale, not after chaos hits.

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What Makes a Good Moderation Bot in 2026?

Not all moderation bots are created equal. Here’s what actually matters:

Essential Features

• Auto-mod filters: Block profanity, slurs, spam, excessive mentions, and caps
• Link filtering: Stop malicious links and unauthorized Discord invites
• Raid protection: Detect and block coordinated spam attacks
• Logging: Track every kick, ban, warning, and deleted message
• Warning system: Escalate punishments (warn → mute → kick → ban)
• User history: See past violations when making moderation decisions

Nice-to-Have Features

• Custom commands: Automate repetitive moderation tasks
• Temporary punishments: Auto-unmute after X hours
• Verification systems: Require new members to verify before chatting
• Dashboard: Web interface for configuration (easier than Discord commands)
• Integration with Discord AutoMod: Works alongside Discord’s built-in tools

What Doesn’t Matter (But Gets Hyped)

• Music features in moderation bots (use a dedicated music bot)
• Leveling systems (not moderation—that’s engagement)
• Economy features (completely different purpose)

A good moderation bot does one thing exceptionally well: keeps your server safe. Everything else is feature bloat.

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Best Discord Moderation Bots: The Rankings

I’m ranking these based on:

• Moderation features (not fluff)
• Ease of setup (can beginners use it?)
• Free tier generosity (is it actually usable without paying?)
• Reliability (uptime and support)

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🥇 #1: Sapphire — The New King

Website: sapph.xyz
Servers: 1+ million
Price: 100% free

Sapphire is the bot I recommend to everyone starting in 2026. It wasn’t always this way—a few years ago, Sapphire was barely known. But they’ve absolutely nailed what server owners actually need.

Why Sapphire Wins

The dashboard is chef’s kiss. Compared to Dyno’s cluttered interface or MEE6’s premium-locked nightmare, Sapphire’s web dashboard is clean, intuitive, and actually enjoyable to use.

Everything you need is right there:

• Auto-moderation rules organized by category
• Visual toggle switches (no command syntax to memorize)
• Test your filters before enabling them server-wide
• Real-time logs showing what the bot is catching

Core Moderation Features

Auto-Mod Filters:

• Spam detection (messages sent too fast)
• Excessive mentions (@everyone abuse, mass pings)
• Too many attachments (image spam)
• Too many emojis (emoji spam)
• Too many message lines (wall of text spam)
• Too many capitalized letters (CAPS LOCK RAGE)
• Custom word filters (block specific phrases)
• External link blocking (with role/channel exceptions)
• Discord invite link blocking

Advanced Features:

• Channel locking for emergencies (instantly lock server during raids)
• Incorporates Discord’s native AutoMod (works alongside built-in protections)
• Escalating punishments (1st offense = warning, 2nd = mute, 3rd = kick)
• Role/channel exemptions (trusted members can bypass filters)
• Comprehensive logging (every action tracked with timestamps)

What I Actually Use Sapphire For

In my server, I have Sapphire blocking:

• External links except in the #self-promo channel
• Discord invites except from members with the “Partner” role
• Messages with more than 10 mentions
• Messages with more than 80% caps in a 15-character+ message
• A custom list of scam phrases (“free nitro generator,” “click here for robux,” etc.)

When someone violates a rule, Sapphire:

1. Deletes the message instantly
2. Sends a brief warning to the channel (“External links not allowed here”)
3. Logs it to my private mod-log channel with full context

The One Downside

Sapphire’s community is smaller than Dyno’s or Carl-bot’s, so you’ll find fewer third-party guides. But honestly? The built-in documentation is good enough, and the UI is so intuitive you barely need guides.

Verdict: Use Sapphire unless you have a very specific reason not to. It’s free, powerful, and the dashboard alone makes moderation 10x easier.

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🥈 #2: Dyno — The OG Moderation Beast

Website: dyno.gg
Servers: 4+ million
Price: Free tier (generous), Premium starts at $4.99/month

Dyno has been around forever, and there’s a reason it’s on 4 million servers: it’s comprehensive.

Where Dyno Excels

Mod Logs Are Unmatched

Dyno’s logging system tracks everything:

• Message edits and deletions (with before/after content)
• Member joins and leaves
• Role changes
• Channel updates
• Voice channel activity
• Every moderation action (who did it, when, why)

If you’re running a serious server—especially one with money involved or sensitive topics—you need this level of logging for accountability.

Auto-Mod with Teeth

Dyno’s auto-mod is strict. Like, really strict. If someone spam-pings 5 people, they’re auto-muted before they can send message #6.

You can configure:

• Anti-spam (duplicate messages, rapid-fire messages)
• Anti-mention spam
• Anti-link spam
• Banned words with regex support (advanced pattern matching)
• Auto-ban for certain violations (no second chances)

Custom Commands = Automation

Dyno’s custom command system lets you automate repetitive tasks. Example:

• !rules → Bot posts full rules embed
• !verify → Bot explains verification process
• !appeal → Bot provides ban appeal instructions

This saves your mod team hours of typing the same explanations.

Where Dyno Falls Short

The Dashboard Feels Like 2018

Dyno works great, but the interface is cluttered. Settings are buried in tabs within tabs. For experienced users, it’s fine. For beginners? It’s overwhelming.

Premium Locks Some Useful Stuff

The free tier is usable, but features like volume control for music (if you use Dyno’s music module) and additional custom commands require premium.

Honestly, though? For pure moderation, the free tier is enough.

Verdict: If you need detailed logging and don’t mind a clunky interface, Dyno is unbeatable. Perfect for larger servers or communities where you need audit trails.

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🥉 #3: Carl-bot — The Power User’s Choice

Website: carl.gg
Servers: 11+ million
Price: Free tier (extremely generous), Premium starts at $5/month

Carl-bot is the bot for people who want control. Like, absurd levels of control.

Why Carl-bot Is Different

Reaction Roles? Unmatched.

Carl-bot handles reaction roles better than any other bot. You can create:

• Up to 250 roles per message (insane)
• Drop-down select menus (cleaner than emoji spam)
• Button-based role selection (modern UI)
• “Unique” roles (pick only one from a group)
• “Required” roles (must have X role to claim Y role)

If your server uses reaction roles for access control, verification, or community features, Carl-bot is essential.

Logging That Rivals Dyno

Carl-bot’s logging is almost as good as Dyno’s, covering:

• Message logs
• Mod action logs
• Server event logs
• Voice channel logs

Moderation Features

• Auto-moderation: Spam, links, mentions, mass caps
• Custom commands: Extremely powerful with variables
• Mute role management: Carl-bot handles muted role permissions automatically
• Tempmutes/tempbans: Punishment expires after X time
• Warning system: Track and view user violation history

Where Carl-bot Gets Complicated

Steep Learning Curve

Carl-bot’s custom command builder uses variables, conditionals, and even basic scripting. It’s powerful, but beginners will get lost.

Example custom command:

{if:{args}=={upper:dank memer}}
Dank Memer is for #bot-spam only.
{else}
Unknown command. Try !help.
{endif}

That’s cool if you’re technical. Confusing if you just want basic moderation.

Dashboard Can Be Overwhelming

Like Dyno, Carl-bot’s dashboard has a lot going on. It’s organized, but there’s just so much.

Verdict: If you want advanced features (especially reaction roles) and don’t mind learning syntax, Carl-bot is phenomenal. For basic moderation? Sapphire is easier.

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#4: YAGPDB — For Developers and Power Users

Website: yagpdb.xyz
Servers: 2+ million
Price: 100% free

“Yet Another General Purpose Discord Bot.” The name undersells how powerful this bot is.

What Makes YAGPDB Unique

You Can Do Anything

YAGPDB’s custom command system is basically a programming language. You can:

• Build complex auto-responses
• Create moderation workflows
• Integrate with external APIs
• Build mini-games inside Discord

If you know what you’re doing, YAGPDB can replace 3-4 other bots.

Moderation Features

• Advanced auto-mod with regex and rate limiting
• Spam detection with customizable thresholds
• Warning/mute/kick/ban system
• Logging for all moderation actions
• Reddit/YouTube feeds (notification system)

The Catch

Not Beginner-Friendly At All

YAGPDB assumes you understand:

• Regex (regular expressions)
• Conditional logic
• Template syntax
• Rate limiting concepts

The documentation is thorough but technical. If you’ve never coded, you’ll struggle.

Verdict: For power users and developers, YAGPDB is unmatched. For everyone else, stick with Sapphire or Dyno.

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#5: Discord’s Native AutoMod — The Foundation

Website: Built into Discord (Server Settings → Safety Setup → AutoMod)
Price: Free

Before you add any bot, configure Discord’s built-in AutoMod.

What Discord AutoMod Does

• Block commonly flagged words: Profanity, slurs, sexual content
• Block custom keywords: Add your own banned words/phrases (up to 3 filters, 1,000 keywords each)
• Block mention spam: Prevent @everyone abuse (up to 50 mentions)
• Block spam content: Filter repetitive messages

Why Use Native AutoMod?

1. No bot required — works even if your bots go offline
2. Instant setup — takes 5 minutes
3. Layered protection — works alongside bots for double coverage

Limitations

• No custom punishments (only deletes messages)
• No logging (you won’t see what was blocked)
• No advanced features (no link filtering, no raid protection)

Verdict: Use Discord AutoMod as your baseline protection, then add Sapphire/Dyno/Carl-bot for everything else.

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#6: MEE6 — The Fallen Giant

Website: mee6.xyz
Servers: 19+ million
Price: Free tier (very limited), Premium €89 (~$100) lifetime or €11.95/month

MEE6 used to be the #1 recommendation. Not anymore.

What Happened to MEE6?

MEE6 locked everything behind premium:

• Custom commands? Premium.
• Reaction roles? Premium.
• Advanced auto-mod? Premium.
• Even the good welcome messages? Premium.

The free tier is so limited that you’re better off using Sapphire, which offers more features for $0.

When MEE6 Still Makes Sense

If you’re willing to pay €89 for lifetime access, MEE6 is an all-in-one solution:

• Leveling system (with custom rank cards)
• Moderation
• Welcome messages
• Reaction roles
• Stream alerts
• Economy features

But honestly? You can get all of that for free by combining:

• Sapphire (moderation)
• Arcane (leveling)
• Carl-bot (reaction roles)

Verdict: MEE6 is fine if you’re already paying. Otherwise, skip it.

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How to Set Up Discord Moderation (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Start with Discord AutoMod

1. Go to Server Settings → Safety Setup → AutoMod
2. Click Edit on the default rules
3. Enable Commonly Flagged Words → Select all categories
4. Enable Mention Spam → Set to 5-10 mentions
5. Create a Custom Keyword Filter → Add scam phrases like “free nitro,” “click here for robux”
6. Set action to Block message and Send alert to moderators

Step 2: Add Sapphire (or Your Chosen Bot)

1. Visit sapph.xyz
2. Click Add to Server
3. Select your server, authorize permissions
4. Go to the dashboard: sapph.xyz/dashboard
5. Navigate to Auto Moderation → Advanced Auto Moderation

Step 3: Configure Auto-Mod Rules

For Sapphire, I recommend these starting rules:

Block External Links:

• Add condition: External links
• Add action: Delete message
• Add action: Send message → Create template: “External links not allowed in this channel.”
• Add exemptions: Trusted roles (like “Verified” or “Level 10”)
• Add exemptions: Specific channels (like #self-promo)

Block Discord Invites:

• Add condition: Discord invites
• Add action: Delete message
• Add action: Send message → “Discord invites are not allowed.”

Block Spam:

• Add condition: Spam → Set to 5 messages in 5 seconds
• Add action: Delete all messages
• Add action: Mute user → 10 minutes

Block Mention Spam:

• Add condition: Too many mentions → Set to 5 mentions
• Add action: Delete message
• Add action: Warn user

Step 4: Set Up Logging

Create a private channel: #mod-logs

In Sapphire dashboard:

• Go to Logging → Advanced Logging
• Enable Message Logs → Select #mod-logs
• Enable Moderation Logs → Select #mod-logs
• Enable Member Logs → Select #mod-logs

Step 5: Test Everything

Create a private test channel:

• Try posting banned words
• Try posting Discord invites
• Try spamming messages
• Check if logs appear in #mod-logs

Fix any issues before enabling server-wide.

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Moderation Bot Comparison Table

Feature	Sapphire	Dyno	Carl-bot	YAGPDB	Discord AutoMod
Free tier	100% free	Generous	Generous	100% free	Free
Ease of use	Very easy	Medium	Hard	Very hard	Very easy
Auto-mod	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	✅ Basic
Link filtering	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Invite blocking	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Raid protection	✅	✅	✅	✅	⚠️ Limited
Logging	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Good	❌
Warning system	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Reaction roles	❌	❌	✅ Best	⚠️ Complex	❌
Custom commands	⚠️ Basic	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	✅ Best	❌
Dashboard	✅ Clean	⚠️ Cluttered	⚠️ Complex	⚠️ Technical	✅ Simple
Best for	Beginners	Logging	Power users	Devs	Everyone

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Common Moderation Bot Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Using Too Many Bots

Problem: Adding 5 moderation bots “just in case.”

Reality: Bots conflict. Commands overlap. Performance suffers.

Fix: Pick ONE primary moderation bot (Sapphire or Dyno). Use Carl-bot only if you need reaction roles. Use YAGPDB only if you’re technical.

Mistake #2: Not Testing Before Enabling

Problem: Turning on auto-mod rules without testing.

Reality: You accidentally ban your admin team or block legitimate links.

Fix: Always test in a private channel first.

Mistake #3: Over-Filtering

Problem: Blocking every word that could maybe be offensive.

Reality: Normal conversations get blocked. Members get frustrated and leave.

Fix: Start with Discord AutoMod’s “Commonly Flagged Words.” Only add custom filters when you see actual problems.

Mistake #4: No Role Exemptions

Problem: Auto-mod blocks trusted members and staff.

Reality: Your mods can’t share links even when they need to.

Fix: Create a “Trusted” or “Verified” role. Exempt it from link/invite filters.

Mistake #5: Forgetting Logging

Problem: Moderation actions happen but you have no record.

Reality: When disputes arise, you can’t prove what happened.

Fix: Set up a private #mod-logs channel. Enable all logging.

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Do You Really Need a Paid Moderation Bot?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Sapphire, Dyno (free tier), and Carl-bot (free tier) handle 99% of moderation needs without costing a cent.

When Premium Actually Makes Sense

Large servers (10,000+ members): Premium bots get priority processing during raids.

Multiple servers: Managing 5+ servers? MEE6 premium or Dyno premium lets you configure once and apply everywhere.

Advanced integrations: Need Twitch alerts, YouTube notifications, or custom API calls? Premium unlocks these.

Support priority: Premium users get faster help when things break.

For most people? Free tier is enough.

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Moderation + Monetization: Protecting Your Paid Community

If you’re running a paid Discord server or membership community, moderation is critical.

Paying members expect:

• Zero spam
• No scams
• Fast mod response
• Professional environment

A single troll can drive away dozens of paying members. Auto-moderation protects your revenue.

Recommended setup for paid servers:

1. High verification level (Server Settings → Moderation → Verification Level → High)
2. Discord AutoMod with all filters enabled
3. Sapphire for link/invite/spam blocking with role exemptions
4. Manual verification for new members (require them to click a button or type a command before accessing paid channels)
5. Private mod team channel for quick response coordination

This layered approach stops 99% of issues before they reach your paying members.

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Which Bot Should You Actually Use?

If you’re just starting: Sapphire

Clean UI. 100% free. Does everything you need. No-brainer.

If you need detailed logs: Dyno

Audit trails for every action. Essential for serious communities.

If you’re technical: Carl-bot or YAGPDB

Advanced customization for power users.

If you have multiple servers: Dyno or MEE6 Premium

Manage everything from one place.

For everyone: Discord AutoMod

Enable this regardless of which bot you choose. Free baseline protection.

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Final Thoughts

Discord moderation bots are no longer optional. If your server is public, you will get spam. You will get trolls. And without auto-moderation, you will spend hours cleaning up messes instead of building your community.

The good news? The best moderation tools are free, easy to set up, and work 24/7.

Start with Discord’s AutoMod. Add Sapphire for comprehensive protection. Configure it properly. Test everything. Then get back to what actually matters: building a community people want to be part of.

And if you’re serious about growing your Discord server, check out these guides:

• Best Discord bots every server needs in 2026 — All categories covered
• How to grow your Discord server in 2025 — Growth strategies
• Best Discord servers to join in 2026 — Inspiration from top servers
• Stay safe on Discord: Avoid scams — Protect yourself and your members

Your community deserves to be safe. These bots make it possible.

Now go set them up. Your future self (and your members) will thank you.