Discord has evolved from being a hub for gamers to a versatile platform supporting diverse communities. For tech startups and creators looking to foster exclusive interactions and monetize their expertise, creating a paid Discord community is an attractive option. This article delves into the ins and outs of launching a paid Discord server, exploring popular tools and subscription services while weighing their pros and cons.
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What is Discord?

Discord is a communication platform originally designed for gamers, featuring voice, video, and text capabilities. However, its flexibility and robust functionality have made it popular across various sectors. Discord servers act as virtual rooms where users can discuss topics, share content, and build networks.
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Why Create a Paid Community?

A paid Discord community offers several benefits for people looking for a side hustle, or more.

• Monetization: Generate revenue by charging for access to exclusive content or interactions.
• Engagement: Foster a dedicated community of users who are genuinely interested in the topic.
• Value Addition: Provide premium insights, tutorials, or networking opportunities that aren't available elsewhere.
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Popular Types of Paid Communities

In theory, you could create a paid community for about every topic, but below are a few areas where we commonly see paid communities on Discord center around:

• Investing and Trading: Communities providing market insights, stock analysis, and trading strategies.
• Sports Betting: Groups offering expert predictions, data analysis, and betting tips.
• Educational: Focused on specific industries like coding or artificial intelligence, these servers provide tutorials, courses, and expert advice.

Tools to Create a Paid Discord Community

Various tools and methods are available to set up a paid Discord server, each with its strengths and challenges:
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LaunchPass

LaunchPass offers an efficient way to monetize your Discord server. 

To set up a paid Discord community with LaunchPass, begin by visiting the LaunchPass website and creating an account. Once you're logged in, you'll link your Discord server to LaunchPass by granting the necessary permissions and adding the LaunchPass Bot. This connection allows LaunchPass to manage access based on payment.

Next, configure your subscription plans within LaunchPass. You'll set up pricing tiers, which can be done by integrating a payment processor like Stripe. This integration is critical as it manages the processing of member payments and subscriptions. After defining your tiers and pricing, you receive a custom invite link from LaunchPass, which you can share with potential members. This link directs users to a sign-up page where they choose a plan and make their payment, automatically granting them access to your Discord server. With these straightforward steps, you can efficiently launch a monetized Discord community using LaunchPass.

Pricing: $29/month + 3.5% transaction fee 

Pros:

• User-Friendly: Provides a straightforward setup process, ideal for non-technical users.
• Payment Integration: Seamless integration with platforms like Stripe for managing subscriptions.

Cons:

• Cost: A percentage-based fee per transaction can be expensive for large communities.
• Limited Customization: May not offer as much control over user management compared to other platforms.

Overall: Intermediate cost with an easy setup, ideal for those prioritizing convenience over deeply customizable options.

Learn more about LaunchPass setup
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Whop

Whop stands out for its flexibility and e-commerce focus. To set up a paid Discord community using Whop, start by creating an account on the Whop platform. After logging in, you will need to connect your Discord server to Whop, which involves authorizing the platform to manage member access based on their subscription status.

Once the connection is established, configure your membership plans by defining access tiers and pricing options. Whop offers robust customization features, allowing you to tailor the subscription experience according to your community's needs. You can then integrate a payment processor to handle transactions smoothly. After setting up your plans, generate a shareable invite link through Whop, which prospective members can use to sign up and select their desired subscription. By following these steps, you can effectively launch and manage a paid Discord server using Whop's suite of features.

Pricing: $3% transaction fee 

Pros:

• Robust Features: Offers advanced tracking, analytics, and customizable access tiers.
• E-commerce Integration: Tailored for startups with existing online shops or services.
• Discovery: Whop’s own website can help generate traffic to your server, as prospective members use it for discovery and Whop lists all servers and highlights popular servers.  
• Merchant of Record: Whop acts as the merchant of record, meaning you won’t have to deal with things like VAT

Cons:

• Complex Setup: May require some technical expertise to fully exploit its features.
• Higher Initial Learning Curve: Might be overwhelming for users completely new to tech setups.

Overall: Intermediate pricing with a more complex, yet powerful setup process ideal for tech-savvy users.

Explore Whop's capabilities here
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No-Code Tools

For those looking for a no-fuss approach, tools like Zapier allow you to create paid subscriptions without diving deep into code.

To set up a paid Discord community using Zapier, you'll begin by creating accounts with both Zapier and the payment processor of your choice, such as PayPal or Stripe. In Zapier, you'll set up a "Zap" that triggers when a user completes a purchase through your payment platform. This Zap will automatically invite new subscribers to your Discord server, streamlining the process of granting access once payment is confirmed.

The setup involves configuring the specific steps in the Zap: start with the "Trigger," which detects when a new purchase occurs, and follow with an "Action" that uses Discord's API to send an invite link to the customer's email or Discord account. This no-code approach is ideal for those who prefer a lightweight, simple process without delving into complex integrations. By employing Zapier, you can efficiently manage a paid Discord community through automated workflows that link payment confirmations directly to server access.

Pros:

• Flexible: Connects with popular apps and payment processors and enables you to customize set up according to your needs
• Low Cost: No separate transaction fees charged by the no-code tool, meaning lower costs in the long term

Cons:

• Functionality: May lack advanced features such as analytics features offered by dedicated Discord monetization platforms.
• Initial Set Up: More work to set up initially, as the set up will be more custom compared to the off-the-shelve solutions offered by other providers

Pricing & Difficulty: Generally lower cost with easy setup — best for small to medium-sized communities looking for simplicity.

Check out this no-code guide from Zapier
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Discord's Native Subscriptions Feature

Leveraging Discord's own subscription service provides a direct route to monetization. To set up a paid Discord community using Discord's native subscription feature, you need to ensure your server is eligible for monetization, which typically involves meeting specific criteria set by Discord, such as being in a supported region and adhering to community guidelines.

Once eligibility is confirmed, navigate to your server settings and locate the "Monetization" or "Server Subscriptions" section. Here, you can create subscription tiers, deciding on the benefits provided at each level, such as exclusive channels or roles. Define your pricing for each tier, then launch the subscription service. Discord handles the payment processing internally, providing you with a seamless, integrated experience.

After setting up, promote your subscription offering to your community. Members can subscribe directly within Discord, making it a straightforward experience both for you as a creator and for users looking to join your exclusive community. This native integration minimizes the need for third-party tools and keeps the user experience consistent within the Discord platform.

Pricing: 10% transaction fee

Pros:

• Integrated Experience: Directly within Discord, ensuring a seamless user experience and potentially higher conversion rates
• Easy to set up: Being Discord’s native feature, it is very easy to get started and set up your paid server.

Cons:

• Feature Limitations: Less customizable in terms of payment tiers and subscriber management.
• Restricted Access: Only available in certain regions and servers need to meet specific criteria.

Pricing & Difficulty: Higher cost cost, but generally easy to use for small communities.

Learn more about Discord's native subscriptions

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Supporting your Community

To sustain a thriving Discord community, particularly one with paying members, delivering an exceptional user experience is important. Key to this experience is offering fast and high-quality customer support, which is where Mava can be a game-changer. Mava's customer support platform provides a scalable solution, allowing you to efficiently manage a high volume of inquiries not just on Discord, but across multiple channels like Telegram, email, and web chat. By integrating Mava, you can ensure your community receives the responsive support they expect, fostering member satisfaction and loyalty.

Conclusion

Creating a successful paid Discord community can be an excellent strategy for tech professionals seeking to engage with a dedicated audience while generating revenue. By understanding the tools available—like LaunchPass, Whop, no-code integrations, and Discord's own services—you can tailor your approach to fit your community's needs and your technical capabilities. Whether you prioritize complex features or ease of use, there's a solution that perfectly matches your aspirations for community building and monetization.

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