How to Build a Discord AI Chatbot: Features, API Setup, and Best Tools

AI is everywhere. From automating customer support to generating content, it’s changing how we interact online. But what about communities? Managing an active Discord server — whether it’s for a hackathon, a club, or a developer community — can be overwhelming.

This is where an AI chatbot can make a real difference. It can handle repetitive tasks, answer common questions, and keep discussions on track. Instead of juggling everything manually, you can have a bot that works alongside you, ensuring your community runs smoothly.

What is a Discord chatbot?

Discord has been a pioneer in chatbot development, hosting a vast ecosystem of automated bots long before the rise of generative AI. With over 6.7 million active servers and countless bots in operation, the platform has built a strong foundation for chatbot integration.

Its JavaScript-powered framework, supported by libraries like discord.js, makes it easy for developers to build and deploy bots using over 200,000 npm packages for added functionality.

For years, Discord bots have relied on traditional chatbot systems like conversation design and intent recognition. These methods, while effective, often require predefined commands and structured flows, making interactions rigid and predictable.

However, with modern LLM-based chatbots, this is changing. Instead of relying solely on rule-based responses, modern bots can understand context, generate dynamic replies, and adapt to user behavior, creating a more natural and engaging experience.

How Discord’s API Works

The Discord API is what allows developers to create chatbots that can interact with servers, users, and messages. Unlike traditional apps that work through simple HTTP requests, the Discord API supports both RESTful API calls and WebSocket connections, giving bots real-time capabilities along with direct access to Discord’s services.

Let’s break down the two main ways bots communicate with Discord:

1. RESTful API Calls

The REST API (Representational State Transfer) is how bots send and receive data when they need to perform a specific action. Think of it as making a request to a server and getting a response back — like when you refresh a webpage or submit a form online.

Common REST API endpoints in Discord:

• GET /channels/{channel.id}/messages – Fetches messages from a specific channel.
• POST /channels/{channel.id}/messages – Sends a new message to a channel.
• PATCH /guilds/{guild.id} – Updates server settings.
• DELETE /messages/{message.id} – Removes a specific message.

Since REST calls require a request for each action, they are great for retrieving data or performing non-continuous actions like sending a message or updating a role. However, they aren’t the best for real-time interactions — this is where WebSockets come in.

2. WebSocket API

Unlike REST calls, which require a separate request for each action, WebSockets allow bots to maintain an open connection with Discord and receive updates instantly as events happen. This makes them perfect for real-time applications where the bot needs to react immediately.

Instead of constantly asking, “Did anything happen yet?” (as REST APIs would), WebSockets push updates to the bot the moment something changes.

How WebSockets work in Discord:

1. The bot opens a WebSocket connection to Discord.
2. Discord sends an "event" whenever something happens (e.g., a new message is posted, a user joins a voice channel).
3. The bot listens to these events and reacts accordingly.

This is how bots can instantly moderate chat messages, welcome new users, track reactions, or monitor voice channel activity without constantly making API requests.

What's the role of chatbots in Discord?

Discord chatbots are more than just tools — they’re a core part of the platform. Unlike other messaging apps where bots feel like external add-ons, Discord natively supports them, making automation and interaction seamless.

A major advantage of Discord bots is their deep integration. With built-in permission controls, webhooks, and API access, bots can automate tasks, interact with users, and connect with external applications in real time.

Here’s how chatbots fit naturally into Discord’s structure:

1. Bots can control every aspect of a server

A Discord chatbot can manage almost every aspect of a server. It can create and delete channels, assign roles, update permissions, and even restructure the server’s layout if needed.

For large communities, this level of automation is crucial. Instead of assigning roles manually, a bot can detect when a new member joins and automatically assign them roles based on predefined rules. 

This means that instead of micromanaging every little detail, community managers can focus on engagement and strategy, while the bot handles the repetitive tasks.

2. Webhook support for API calls

Webhooks let Discord bots receive real-time updates from external applications without repeatedly making API requests. This allows bots to react instantly to events and act as a bridge between Discord and other platforms.

This turns Discord into a real-time information hub, where updates from different platforms are delivered instantly, keeping teams in sync without needing to switch between apps.

3. Slash commands

Older bots required users to remember long, confusing text commands like !ban @user or !setrole. This wasn’t user-friendly, and one typo could break the whole command.

To solve this, Discord introduced slash commands (/), which provide an auto-suggest menu of available bot actions. These make bots much easier to use, even for non-technical users.

4. Rich media & embedded responses

Bots aren’t limited to plain text responses—they can format messages with structured embeds, making information more readable and engaging. Instead of dumping a wall of text, a bot can send a well-organized message that includes images, links, buttons, and formatted sections.

For instance, a leaderboard bot doesn’t just post raw numbers. It can show ranks, user avatars, and point breakdowns in a visually appealing format, or a customer support bot can display a troubleshooting guide step-by-step.

The advantage of rich embeds is that they enhance clarity while making bots feel more interactive and polished rather than robotic and rigid.

Top 5 Discord AI Chatbot Builders

Building a Discord chatbot doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. There are plenty of no-code and low-code platforms that let you create an AI-powered bot without writing a single line of code — or at least without getting lost in complex backend work.

The real question isn’t just “which tool can make a bot?” but “which tool helps me get the most out of an AI chatbot?” You don’t just want a bot that sits in your server and responds to commands — you want something that actually adds value, automates work, and keeps your community active.

Here are some of the best AI chatbot builders that go beyond basic automation and actually help you get more from Discord.

1. Botpress

Botpress is a developer-centric chatbot platform designed for building AI-powered conversational agents. Unlike simple automation bots, Botpress is focused on NLU, making it ideal for interactive AI assistants that require real conversational depth.

Key Features

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) – Supports intent detection, entity recognition, and contextual conversations.
• Cross-Platform AI Chatbots – Deploys bots on Teams, Slack, and custom web applications.
• Custom Model Integrations – Uses in-context agentic workflows to generate dynamic responses.

Pricing

• Pay-as-You-Go Plan – Free to start, usage-based pricing as you scale.
• Plus Plan – $79/month, includes additional AI-driven features.
• Team Plan – $446/month, built for larger teams with higher usage limits.

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2. Mee6

MEE6 is a widely used Discord bot with over 20 million servers utilizing its automated moderation, engagement tools, and AI-powered content filtering. It is particularly useful for community management and streamlining user interactions.

Key Features

• AI-Powered Moderation – Detects and filters toxic messages beyond simple keyword-based moderation, reducing false positives.
• Automated Role Management – Assigns roles based on activity levels, engagement, or custom triggers.
• Leveling and Rewards System – Encourages user participation through activity tracking and reward mechanisms.
• Content Automation – Integrates with YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter to automate content posting and notifications.

Pricing

• Free Plan – Basic moderation and engagement features.
• Premium Plan ($11.95/month) – Unlocks AI-powered moderation, custom bot commands, and advanced automation.

3. Zapier

Zapier is an AI workflow automation tool that connects Discord to 5,000+ applications, enabling seamless integration with CRMs, analytics, and AI models. It allows developers to automate tasks, trigger events, and enhance chatbot functionality without backend coding.

Key Features

• Automated Data Workflows – Syncs Discord messages with Notion, Google Sheets, and databases for structured logging.
• Multi-App Integration – Links Discord bots with platforms like GitHub, Slack, and customer support systems.
• Event-Based Triggers – Automates ticketing, notifications, and workflow escalations.

Pricing

• Free Plan – Limited automation workflows.
• Starter Plan ($19.99/month) – Includes multi-step workflows and API integrations.
• Professional Plan ($49/month) – Adds AI-based processing, conditional logic, and automation scaling.

4. Make

Make is a low-code automation platform built for complex, AI-driven workflows. Unlike linear automation tools, it offers branching logic, parallel processing, and real-time API execution, making it ideal for dynamic Discord bots.

Key Features

• Parallel Processing – Run multiple workflows simultaneously for faster execution.
• Advanced Data Transformation – Process and filter API responses before sending to Discord.

Pricing

• Free Plan – Basic automation with limited runs.
• Core Plan ($9/month) – Advanced workflow customization.
• Pro Plan ($16/month) – Supports parallel processing and real-time API execution.

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5. n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that gives developers full control over AI chatbot interactions through self-hosted or cloud-based deployment. Unlike proprietary automation tools, n8n allows users to build custom AI-driven workflows without API limitations or vendor lock-in.

Key Features

• Custom API Integrations – Supports REST and WebSocket connections for real-time automation.
• AI Model Deployment – Integrates OpenAI, Hugging Face, and self-trained NLP models.

Pricing

• Free Plan – Self-hosted with unlimited workflows.
• Cloud Plan ($20/month) – Managed hosting with enhanced execution capacity.
• Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing) – Provides advanced security, scaling, and priority support.

Deploy an AI Chatbot in 10 Minutes

Botpress enables AI-driven chatbots to automate and streamline workflows in Discord servers. With autonomous nodes, AI transitions, and webhooks, you can deploy a chatbot that adapts to conversations and provides instant responses.

Integrate with Notion, GitHub, Zapier, and external APIs to automate workflows, manage community interactions, and deliver real-time updates — all from within Discord.

Get started today — it’s free.

FAQs

1. Do I need to know how to code to create an AI chatbot for Discord?

No, you do not need to know how to code to create an AI chatbot for Discord. Platforms like Botpress allow you to build bots with visual workflows and natural language capabilities without writing any code, although coding knowledge can offer greater customization.

2. Are there templates available for Discord chatbots?

Yes, there are templates available for Discord chatbots, including common use cases like moderation, welcome messages, ticketing, and role assignment. 

3. Can I train the bot on my own server’s conversation history?

Yes, you can train the bot on your own server’s conversation history if the platform supports importing chat logs. However, you must comply with Discord’s privacy policies and ensure users’ consent where applicable.

4. What are the performance limitations for bots in large Discord servers?

The main performance limitations for bots in large Discord servers are related to Discord’s API rate limits (e.g. message sends, reactions, role updates) and response latency under high load. Well-built bots manage queues and use caching strategies to stay responsive.

5. Can a single bot be deployed across multiple servers with different configurations?

Yes, a single bot can be deployed across multiple Discord servers with different configurations. Most bot frameworks support per-server settings, allowing you to customize behavior and permissions for each server.