Pick YAGPDB if you want deep automation for free. Its free plan includes 25 automod rules and a custom-command scripting engine, but the scripting takes time to learn. Pick Dyno if you want a dashboard you can set up quickly and you're fine with leveling being Premium and free servers getting only 3 reaction roles. If you also want free leveling, tickets and anti-raid in one dashboard, PeakBot is a third option, though it has no custom-command scripting.
Checked on each bot's own site or docs on 3 November 2026. We make PeakBot. Nobody paid to be in this post.
How we chose
We compared the two bots on the six things people ask about when choosing between them: automod, custom commands, role menus, logging, how easy the dashboard is, and what's behind a paywall. We added leveling because it's the most common reason people end up adding a second bot. Every number below comes from the bot's own site or Discord's own docs. Where we don't have a number for a bot, we link to its site instead of guessing.
First, check what Discord already does for free
Both bots now overlap with tools built into Discord, so it's worth knowing where those tools stop.
- AutoMod. Discord's AutoMod allows up to 6 keyword rules per server, plus one each of spam, preset-keyword, mention-spam and member-profile rules. Each keyword rule takes up to 1,000 keywords (60 characters or less each) and up to 10 regex patterns (developer docs). It can block a message (with an optional custom message of up to 150 characters), send an alert to a channel, or time the member out for up to 4 weeks. Timeouts only work on keyword and mention-spam rules. Older guides say there's a limit of 3 keyword rules; the current docs say 6. Where AutoMod sits in Server Settings has moved over time, so use Discord's AutoMod FAQ linked above for the current path.
- Mention spam. You can cap a message at up to 50 unique mentions, and there's a raid-protection toggle.
- Audit log. Discord keeps audit log entries for 45 days, not 90 as some older guides say. You need the View Audit Log permission to see them, and they don't show what a deleted message said.
- Role picking. Onboarding lets members pick channels and roles themselves. That covers a lot of what reaction-role menus used to do.
What's left for a bot: message-content logs that last longer than 45 days, filters beyond Discord's rule limits, custom commands, leveling, tickets and anti-raid tools. Discord's own moderation guide also recommends leaving judgment calls to humans and giving bots only the permissions they need. Both are good rules whichever bot you pick.
The picks
YAGPDB: best for custom automation
YAGPDB is built for people who want to shape how the bot behaves. The free plan includes 25 automod rules (150 on Premium), so you can go well past Discord's built-in limits without paying. The custom-command scripting engine is its biggest strength: you can build behaviour that no fixed module offers.
It also has role menus and logging, both set up from its control panel on yagpdb.xyz. The cost is time. In community threads, owners describe YAGPDB as having a steeper learning curve, and getting the most from custom commands means learning its scripting. For Premium pricing, see yagpdb.xyz.
Pick YAGPDB if: you or another mod enjoys tinkering, you want more than a handful of automod rules on a free plan, or you need a command that does something specific to your community.
Dyno: best for a quick, module-based setup
Dyno is organised into modules you switch on and configure from its web dashboard. Automod, logging, autoroles and custom commands are set up that way, and community opinion generally rates it easy to get running. Two recent changes matter:
- Tickets and transcripts became a free module on 29 May 2026.
- Levels launched on 11 December 2025 as a Premium feature. Older forum threads say "Dyno has no leveling". That's out of date, but you do have to pay for it.
Role menus are the tight spot: free servers get 3 reaction roles, and Premium raises the limit. Dyno doesn't list prices on a readable public page, so check dyno.gg/upgrade.
Pick Dyno if: you want moderation, logging and tickets running in one sitting, you don't need custom scripting, and 3 reaction roles (or Discord's Onboarding) covers your role picking. For Dyno against another common rival, see Dyno vs MEE6.
PeakBot: a third option if you'd otherwise add a leveling bot
We make PeakBot, so weigh this section with that in mind. It fits when the real question is "YAGPDB or Dyno, plus what for leveling".
- Automod: anti-spam, invite filter, link filter with an allow list, word filter and mention spam on the free plan. Each filter has its own action, threshold and time window, with exempt roles and channels. The caps filter needs a paid plan. AI moderation, which reads what a message means rather than matching a word list and also covers images, is on Pro.
- Logging: message edits and deletes, joins and leaves, and every manual mod action. You set it up on the Auto Moderation page. Voice activity logs need a paid plan.
- Roles: auto roles on join, self-assign and if/then rules, all on the Roles page.
- Leveling: message XP with a cooldown, level roles and level-up messages are free. Voice XP, multipliers, decay and leaderboard import and export need a paid plan (Starter is $5.75/month per server).
- Extras: free tickets with transcripts, Security (anti-nuke and anti-raid), and one daily backup on the free plan.
What it doesn't do: it has no custom-command scripting engine like YAGPDB's, no music and no economy. If custom commands are why you're looking at YAGPDB, PeakBot doesn't replace that. The free plan has no time limit. Getting started shows the setup, and PeakBot vs Dyno goes into more detail.
Pick PeakBot if: you want automod, logging, roles, free message leveling and tickets from one dashboard, and you don't need scripted commands.
Discord's built-in tools: enough for small servers
Pick no bot (yet) if: your server is small, 6 keyword rules cover your filtering, Onboarding handles role picking, and 45 days of audit log is enough history.
Comparison table
| YAGPDB | Dyno | PeakBot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automod | 25 rules free, 150 on Premium | Automod module (details) | Spam, invite, link, word, mention filters free; caps filter paid; AI moderation on Pro |
| Custom commands | Scripting engine, free | Custom commands (details) | No custom-command scripting |
| Role menus | Role menus (details) | 3 reaction roles free, more on Premium | Auto, self-assign and if/then roles |
| Logging | Logging (details) | Logging module (details) | Edits, deletes, joins, leaves, mod actions; voice logs paid |
| Leveling | See yagpdb.xyz | Premium (since 11 Dec 2025) | Message XP free; voice XP paid |
| Tickets | See yagpdb.xyz | Free with transcripts (since 29 May 2026) | Free with transcripts; auto-close paid |
| Dashboard ease | Steeper learning curve (community view) | Module toggles, easy to start (community view) | Web dashboard; most setup happens there, not by command |
| Paid plan | See yagpdb.xyz | See dyno.gg/upgrade | Starter $5.75/mo, Pro $8.25/mo per server |
For other bot matchups, see Compare Discord bots.
Running YAGPDB and Dyno together
Plenty of servers run both, for example Dyno for moderation and YAGPDB for custom commands. It works if each bot has its own jobs:
- One automod. If both filter the same words, one message can get two warnings or two timeouts. Turn the filter off in one bot.
- One logger. Two log channels with the same events just doubles the noise.
- One bot gives each role. If both bots auto-assign or remove the same role, they'll undo each other. Give each role to one bot only.
- Check role order. A bot can only manage roles below its own highest role. In Server Settings > Roles, drag each bot's role above the roles it hands out, and keep it below your admin roles.
- Trim permissions. Give each bot only the permissions it needs, as Discord's guide recommends.
- Try rules privately. Turn new rules on in a hidden channel before you turn them on for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is YAGPDB better than Dyno for moderation?
For rule depth, yes. YAGPDB's free plan has 25 automod rules, and its scripting lets you build custom responses. Dyno is generally seen as quicker to get running and covers common spam and filtering needs. If your mods aren't technical, Dyno's simpler setup may protect the server better in practice, because the rules actually get configured.
Is YAGPDB completely free, and what does Dyno Premium unlock?
YAGPDB's core features, including the scripting engine and 25 automod rules, are free. Premium raises the automod limit to 150 rules; see yagpdb.xyz for pricing. Dyno Premium unlocks Levels and raises the free limit of 3 reaction roles. See dyno.gg/upgrade for the full list and current prices.
Which one is easier to set up for a beginner?
Dyno, by most community accounts. Its module dashboard is simpler to start with. YAGPDB rewards the time you put in, but custom commands mean learning its scripting. If you're also weighing MEE6, our MEE6 vs YAGPDB post covers the same trade-off.
Can I run Dyno and YAGPDB in the same server?
Yes. Split the jobs so only one bot runs automod, only one logs, and only one hands out each role. Put each bot's role above the roles it manages in Server Settings > Roles. The checklist above covers the rest.
Does Dyno have leveling, or do I need another bot?
Dyno added Levels on 11 December 2025, but only on Premium. If you want free leveling, add a dedicated leveling bot or use a bot like PeakBot, where message XP and level roles are on the free plan.
Do I even need a bot, or is Discord's AutoMod enough?
For a small server, AutoMod plus Onboarding may be enough: 6 keyword rules of up to 1,000 keywords each, spam and mention-spam rules, and timeouts of up to 4 weeks. You'll want a bot when you need logs of deleted message content, history beyond the audit log's 45 days, custom commands, leveling or tickets.
