Launch guidePlugins and integrations
How to launch a Discord bot
Discord bots grow server by server, and Discord adds checkpoints as you grow. Verification (including identity checks through Stripe) is required to scale past 100 servers, and privileged intents like message content need an application once your app reaches 10,000 users. Plan for both before your launch gets you there.
Updated · platform facts checked against the official docs linked below
At a glance
Where people find Discord bots
- Discord App Directory: Discord's own directory inside the app.
- Bot list sites: Community-run bot lists where server admins search by category.
- Servers in your niche: A bot for game communities spreads through game servers.
- Reddit and Discord admin communities: Server admins swap bot recommendations.
Assets to prepare
| Asset | Spec or guidance |
|---|---|
| Invite link | Requests only the permissions the bot needs. |
| Commands list | Slash commands with descriptions users see in Discord. |
| Support server | Where admins get help and updates. |
| Privacy policy and terms | Needed for verification and the directory. |
| Intent justification | A specific use case for each privileged intent, plus data storage and retention details.[2] |
Store and listing rules
What the platform itself says, with a link to the page we checked.
- Verification is required for an app to scale past 100 servers; the team owner verifies identity through Stripe.[1]
- Once your app reaches 10,000 unique users across its servers, you must apply for privileged intents, with specific use cases and data-handling details; you have 90 days after notification.[2]
- Apps with privileged intent access reapply annually.[2]
A 4-week launch timeline
Week 1 · four weeks out
- Switch to slash commands and cut permissions to the minimum.
- Decide whether you truly need message content.
- Set up the support server.
Week 2 · three weeks out
- Write privacy policy and terms.
- Test in five friendly servers.
- Start verification before you approach 100 servers.
Week 3 · two weeks out
- List on bot sites and prepare the App Directory listing.
- Write command docs.
- Prepare posts for admin communities.
Week 4 · launch week
- Fix issues from test servers.
- Plan how you'll handle rate limits at scale.
- Prepare an announcement for your support server.
Launch-day checklist
- Share the invite link in niche servers where self-promotion is allowed.
- Post in admin communities with a short clip of the bot working.
- Watch errors and rate limits.
- Add the bot's site to LaunchRanked.
After launch: SEO steps
Launch boards reset; search pages don't. These steps keep people finding you after launch week.
- Build a website with a page per command and use case.
- Target "Discord bot for {task}" searches.
- Keep a public changelog.
Common mistakes
- Requesting Administrator permission by default.
- Hitting 100 servers before starting verification.
- Building on message content without a justification that will pass review.
Templates for this launch
- Changelog entryA changelog entry template grouped by Added, Changed, Fixed and Removed, written for users rather than commit logs, with a filled example.
- Directory listing descriptionWrite directory and launch-site listings once: a 60-character tagline, a 160-character short description and a long version, with a filled example.
- Reddit launch postA Reddit launch post template written as a story, not an ad, plus a checklist for subreddit self-promotion rules so your post isn't removed.
FAQ
When does a Discord bot need verification?
Discord requires verification for apps to scale past 100 servers. The team owner verifies identity through Stripe.
When do I need to apply for privileged intents?
Discord now uses a 10,000-user threshold across all servers your app is in. After that you apply with specific use cases, and you have 90 days from notification.
Where do people find Discord bots?
Discord's App Directory, community-run bot lists, admin communities and the servers already using a bot.
Does a Discord bot need a website?
It helps: verification and directories ask for privacy and terms pages, and a site can rank for bot searches.
Sources
- Discord Developers: How do I get my app verified?
- Discord docs: Getting started with privileged intent review
Checked . Platforms change their rules; open the source before you rely on a number.
Related launch guides
- How to launch a Slack appSlack app launch guide: Marketplace requirements, 1600×1000 screenshots, privacy and support pages, security rules, and how teams discover Slack apps.
- How to launch a browser gameLaunch a browser game: itch.io upload limits, CrazyGames' basic-then-full launch, Poki's developer program, playtesting and game pages that rank.
- How to launch an open-source projectLaunch an open-source project: README and repo setup, GitHub topics and social preview, Show HN rules, awesome lists, and docs that rank on Google.
- How to launch a WordPress pluginWordPress plugin launch guide: review within 14 business days, readme.txt fields, banner and icon sizes, the no-trialware rule, and SEO.