Guides for Discord bot owners
Written by the developer who builds the bots. Code samples are run before they're published, and prices carry the date they were checked.
Cost, hiring and planning
What a bot costs, how to scope it and how to pick who builds it.
- How to hire a Discord bot developer without getting burnedHow to hire a Discord bot developer in 2026: where to look, what Fiverr and Upwork charge, a vetting checklist, red flags and realistic timelines, all sourced.Updated September 27, 2026. 13 min read.
- How to write a Discord bot spec (with a template)How to write a Discord bot spec a developer can quote from: the 12 sections to include, a copyable template and a filled-in example for a league check-in bot.Updated September 27, 2026. 13 min read.
- How much does a custom Discord bot cost in 2026?How much does a Discord bot cost in 2026? Real prices from 121 Fiverr orders, Upwork, studios and SaaS bots, plus monthly hosting and upkeep, all sourced.Updated September 27, 2026. 15 min read.
Building a bot
Tested code for discord.js and discord.py, from first command to ticket systems.
- How to make a custom ticket bot for Discord (discord.js v14)Build a custom Discord ticket bot with discord.js v14: a button panel, private ticket channels, a close button and text transcripts. Full code, tested in 2026.Updated September 27, 2026. 13 min read.
- Discord slash commands: how they work and how to add them to your botHow Discord slash commands work and how to add them to your bot, with tested discord.js v14 and discord.py code for options, autocomplete and deferReply.Updated September 27, 2026. 11 min read.
- discord.js vs discord.py: which should you use for a Discord bot?JavaScript or Python for a Discord bot? discord.js and discord.py compared in 2026: releases, maintenance, API coverage, typing, hosting, and one bot in both.Updated September 27, 2026. 12 min read.
- What is a Discord bot token? How to get, store and reset it safelyA Discord bot token is the password your bot logs in with. How to find and reset it, store it safely, read token errors and what to do after a leak.Updated September 27, 2026. 12 min read.
- How to make a Discord bot in Python with discord.py (slash commands)Build a Discord bot in Python with discord.py 2.7: slash commands with options and choices, cogs, buttons, one error handler and guild vs global sync.Updated September 27, 2026. 16 min read.
- How to create a custom Discord bot with discord.js (step by step)Create a custom Discord bot with discord.js step by step: Developer Portal setup, token, intents, slash commands with options, deferReply and error handling.Updated September 27, 2026. 15 min read.
Hosting and keeping it running
Where to host, what breaks and how to fix it.
- How to host a Discord bot 24/7 in 2026 (free and paid options)How to host a Discord bot 24/7 in 2026: free tiers and their catches, $1 to $7 bot hosts, PaaS and VPS prices, plus tested systemd, pm2 and Docker setups.Updated September 27, 2026. 18 min read.
- Discord bot not working? Common causes and how to fix themDiscord bot not working? Find the cause by symptom: offline, ignoring commands, missing slash commands, interaction failed or intent errors, with tested fixes.Updated September 27, 2026. 14 min read.
Choosing bots and builders
No-code builders, premium bots and when each is enough.
- How to add a bot to a Discord server (and fix missing permissions)How to add a bot to a Discord server on desktop, on mobile or from the Developer Portal, why you can't add bots, and how to fix missing permissions errors.Updated September 27, 2026. 10 min read.
- Discord bot makers compared: no-code, AI builders and code (2026)Which Discord bot maker to start with in 2026: web and phone builders, the two Steam apps, AI builders and code, with verified prices and a use-case guide.Updated September 27, 2026. 10 min read.
- BotGhost alternatives in 2026, and when to move to your own codeBotGhost alternatives compared in September 2026: Kite, inventor.bot, Bot Designer, VibeBot, SCNX, MEE6 and FromFlow, with prices, free limits and code export.Updated September 27, 2026. 13 min read.
Ideas and use cases
What communities, leagues and businesses actually use bots for.
- How to sell Discord roles with Stripe, and what each option costsHow to sell Discord roles with Stripe: LaunchPass, Whop, Discord's own subscriptions or your own bot, with real fees at 50 and 300 members and tested code.Updated September 27, 2026. 13 min read.
- How to host a tournament on Discord: bots, check-ins and map vetoesHow to host a tournament on Discord: server setup, team roles, check-in windows, match rooms, map vetoes, score reporting and which tournament bot to pick.Updated September 27, 2026. 13 min read.
- Discord bot ideas for communities, leagues and businesses27 Discord bot ideas for gaming servers, esports leagues, creators, SaaS teams and study groups, each with a bot that already does it and when custom pays off.Updated September 27, 2026. 10 min read.
AI agents on Discord
Connecting self-hosted AI agents to Discord, and fixing them when they go quiet.
- How to connect OpenClaw to Discord (and fix it when it goes quiet)Set up an OpenClaw Discord bot: token, intents, plugin, DM pairing and server allowlists, plus fixes for offline, not authorized and fetch failed errors.Updated September 27, 2026. 12 min read.
- How to connect Hermes Agent to Discord (setup and fixes)Connect Hermes Agent to Discord: bot token, intents, invite permissions, DISCORD_ALLOWED_USERS and hermes gateway, plus fixes for a silent or offline bot.Updated September 27, 2026. 10 min read.