BotGhost
BotGhost
Carl-bot alternative

The Carl-bot alternative with reaction roles and no syntax to learn

Carl-bot is the reaction roles and tags bot, with one of the most generous free tiers on Discord. It is also a shared bot whose levels, sticky messages and custom avatar sit on a per-server Premium, and whose custom commands are a scripting language. BotGhost gives you reaction role panels, automod, logging and leveling free, a visual builder instead of TagScript, and a bot with your own name.

Create your bot freeSee reaction roles side by side

Free plan, no card required. Millions of bots built since 2018.

$0
Free plan, no expiry
Free
Levels and sticky messages
0
Lines of TagScript to learn
2018
Hosting bots since

Reaction roles: a command sequence, or a panel you fill in

The same colour-roles message, set up both ways. Carl-bot's docs teach the commands; BotGhost's module is a form.

On Carl-bot

Commands with message IDs

From the Carl-bot docs. Each pair is its own command, and every edit needs the message ID again.

  1. 1
    !rr make
    Starts the interactive setup and posts the message.
  2. 2
    !rr add 1284051927 🔴 @Red
    One command per emoji and role pair.
  3. 3
    !rr add 1284051927 🔵 @Blue
  4. 4
    !rr add 1284051927 🟢 @Green
  5. 5
    !rr unique 1284051927
    Limits members to one colour at a time.
  6. 6
    !rr wl 1284051927 @Verified
    Only verified members can pick.

Carl-bot also has a dashboard editor for reaction roles. The commands are what its documentation and most tutorials use.

On BotGhost

A panel in the dashboard

Pick the channel, add a row per role, choose the mode, post. Editing later is the same form.

Channel
#pick-your-colour
Mode
One role at a time
Roles
@RedRow 1
@BlueRow 2
@GreenRow 3
Preview in #pick-your-colour
Pick your colour
Press a button to get a colour role. Press again to remove it.
RedBlueGreen

Free on every bot. Restrict who can use the panel with the same role and channel settings every module has.

Carl-bot commands from docs.carl.gg, 10 September 2026. Message ID shortened for the example.

TagScript, or blocks

A tag that greets verified members and points everyone else to the verify channel, written the Carl-bot way and built the BotGhost way.

On Carl-bot

A tag in TagScript

!tag + hello {if({user(roles)}contains Verified):
  Welcome back, {user(nick)}! Grab a colour in {channel(pick-your-colour)}.
|
  {embed(title):Not verified yet}
  {embed(description):Head to {channel(verify)} first.}
}

Simplified for the example. Real tags nest further, and a missing brace or pipe fails silently until someone runs the tag.

On BotGhost

The same command as blocks

  1. Command
    /hello
    A slash command members can find in the command picker.
  2. Condition
    Member has the Verified role
    Role condition block.
  3. Action
    Reply: Welcome back, {user}! Grab a colour in #pick-your-colour.
    Runs when the condition passes.
  4. Action
    Reply with embed: Not verified yet
    Runs on the else branch. Description points to #verify.

Every block has a settings panel. Add a form, a button, a variable or an API request the same way.

TagScript is capable and many servers are happy with it. The comparison is about who on your staff team can read and change the command.

Free tier against free tier

Carl-bot's free tier is generous, and this scoreboard says so where it is true. The rows BotGhost wins are the ones Carl-bot sells on Premium.

Reaction roles per server
Carl-bot
250
BotGhost
Free
Same on both

Carl-bot lists 250 pairs free and 1000 on Premium. BotGhost panels are free with no pair cap listed.

YouTube upload alerts
Carl-bot
5
BotGhost
Premium
More on Carl-bot

YouTube notifications are a Premium module on BotGhost.

Twitch live alerts
Carl-bot
2
BotGhost
Premium
More on Carl-bot

Twitch notifications are a Premium module on BotGhost.

Levels and XP
Carl-bot
Premium
BotGhost
Free
More on BotGhost

XP, level-up messages, leaderboard and XP rate free. An ad-free leaderboard is Premium.

Sticky messages
Carl-bot
Premium
BotGhost
Free
More on BotGhost

A ready-made Sticky Messages module you import in one click.

Custom bot avatar
Carl-bot
Premium
BotGhost
Free
More on BotGhost

Carl-bot sells a custom avatar and banner on Premium. Every BotGhost bot has your avatar from the start.

Custom commands
Carl-bot
Tags
BotGhost
8
More on Carl-bot

Carl-bot tags are free with no count listed. BotGhost gives 8 free, unlimited on Premium, each a full flow rather than a script.

Auto purge
Carl-bot
Premium
BotGhost
Free
More on BotGhost

A timed event with a purge block, using one of the 3 free custom events.

Voice-role links
Carl-bot
Premium
BotGhost
Free
More on BotGhost

A "joins a voice channel" event that adds a role, and a leave event that removes it.

Carl-bot limits from carl.gg/get-premium, 10 September 2026. BotGhost limits from the Premium comparison in the dashboard.

Every Carl-bot feature, and what replaces it

Carl-bot's feature list from its homepage, paired with the BotGhost module or builder that does the same job. Paid on both sides is marked as paid on both sides.

  • On Carl-bot
    Reaction rolesFree

    250 pairs per server free, 1000 on Premium. Unique, verify, binding and reversed modes.

    On BotGhost
    Reaction Roles moduleFree

    Panels with emoji and role rows, single or multiple choice, edited from a form.

  • On Carl-bot
    Tags and triggersFree

    Custom commands written in TagScript. Multiple command blocks per tag on Premium.

    On BotGhost
    Command builder8 free, unlimited Premium

    Slash commands built from blocks: options, conditions, embeds, buttons, forms, variables and API requests.

  • On Carl-bot
    AutomodFree

    Links, spam, mass mentions, attachment spam and slurs, with per-rule punishments.

    On BotGhost
    Automod moduleFree

    Bad words, links, mass caps, mass emoji, mass mentions and invites, with exempt roles and channels.

  • On Carl-bot
    LoggingFree

    Message, member and role logs, 100 weblog entries free.

    On BotGhost
    Moderation loggingFree

    Moderation logging free. Advanced logging of 42 event types is Premium.

  • On Carl-bot
    GreetingsFree

    Welcome embeds with variables and a DM. Separate farewell channel on Premium.

    On BotGhost
    Welcome messages and bannersFree

    Custom join, leave and ban messages with their own channels, plus welcome banner images.

  • On Carl-bot
    Levels and XPPremium

    Role rewards, level-up announcements and a leaderboard on Premium.

    On BotGhost
    Leveling moduleFree

    XP, level-up messages, leaderboard and XP rate free. Ad-free leaderboard is Premium.

  • On Carl-bot
    Sticky messagesPremium

    Pin a message to the bottom of a channel.

    On BotGhost
    Sticky Messages moduleFree

    Import the module and choose the channels.

  • On Carl-bot
    NotificationsFree with limits

    5 YouTube channels and 2 Twitch streams free; 20 and 5 on Premium.

    On BotGhost
    YouTube and Twitch notificationsPremium

    Custom alert messages with variables for the video or stream. Carl-bot is more generous here.

  • On Carl-bot
    Custom avatar and bannerPremium

    Make Carl-bot look like part of your server.

    On BotGhost
    Your own botFree

    Your name, avatar and status on a Discord application you own. Premium removes the "Made with BotGhost" status text.

Carl-bot tiers from carl.gg/get-premium, 10 September 2026. BotGhost tiers from the Premium comparison in the dashboard.

Why servers look for a Carl-bot alternative

None of this is about Carl-bot's quality. These are the points where a scripting language and a per-server slot stop fitting some communities.

TagScript is a language

Carl-bot's custom commands are tags written in TagScript: braces, pipes, conditionals and variables. It is capable, and many servers have a library of tags they are proud of. It is also something a new moderator has to learn before they can change a welcome message.

BotGhost:Commands are blocks in a visual builder. A condition is a block, a form is a block, a variable is a block. Anyone on the staff team can open a command and see what it does.

Levels and sticky messages are Premium

Carl-bot's premium page lists Levels and XP, sticky messages, auto purge, voice-role links and timed reaction roles as Premium features. For a server that wants reaction roles and a leaderboard, the second half is a subscription.

BotGhost:Leveling and sticky messages are free modules. Auto purge and voice-role links are short flows in the event builder, using the free custom events.

It looks like Carl-bot unless you pay

A custom avatar and banner for Carl-bot in your server is a Premium feature, and even then the bot is still Carl-bot under the hood, shared with the other 15 million servers it counts.

BotGhost:The bot is a Discord application you create, with your name and avatar on the free plan. You own it.

Premium is a slot per server

Carl-bot sells Premium through Patreon and Discord. A Discord subscription covers one server; higher Patreon tiers add server slots. The price is not printed on the premium page, and Patreon shows it in your local currency, so it takes a few clicks to know what a second server costs.

BotGhost:Two prices on one page. Free, or $10 a month for one bot in unlimited servers, or $20 a month for every bot you make.

Top 5 Carl-bot alternatives, ranked

Ranked on how much of Carl-bot each one replaces, whether it adds what Carl-bot charges for, and whether the bot ends up being yours.

  1. BotGhost

    Full replacement, your own bot

    Reaction role panels, automod, moderation, logging and welcome messages as free modules, leveling and sticky messages free where Carl-bot charges, and a visual builder in place of TagScript. All of it on a bot with your name and avatar from the first minute.

    • Reaction role panels with emoji and role rows, free
    • Automod, moderation commands, logging and welcome messages free
    • Leveling and sticky messages free (Premium on Carl-bot)
    • Custom commands built from blocks: conditions, forms, variables, API requests
    • One Premium price ($10/mo) covers a bot in unlimited servers
    Pricing
    Free forever. Premium $10/mo for one bot ($5/mo billed yearly) or $20/mo for unlimited bots.
    Best for
    Servers that want Carl-bot's depth without the command syntax, or want leveling and their own bot without a Premium slot.
    Create your bot free

  2. YAGPDB

    Free and open source

    Yet Another General Purpose Discord Bot: the closest thing to Carl-bot in spirit. Deep custom commands with a template language, strong automod and logging, role menus and feeds, and it is open source. If you liked TagScript, you will feel at home; if you did not, you will not.

    • Custom commands with a powerful template language
    • Automod, logging, role menus, reminders and feeds
    • Open source; you can even self-host it
    Pricing
    Free, with an optional Premium per server.
    Best for
    Power users who want a scripting language and are happy to read documentation.
    Visit YAGPDB

  3. Dyno

    Moderation first

    Overlaps with Carl-bot on automod, moderation, logging and autoroles, and is easier to configure from its dashboard. Reaction roles are more limited on the free tier and levels are a paid tier.

    • Strong automod and moderation logging
    • Simple dashboard configuration
    • Levels only on the paid Standard tier
    Pricing
    Free, with Premium per server.
    Best for
    Servers that used Carl-bot mainly for moderation and never touched tags.
    Visit Dyno

  4. MEE6

    Engagement first

    Where Carl-bot leads with reaction roles and tags, MEE6 leads with leveling and social alerts, with reaction roles and moderation alongside. A shared bot with Premium per server, like Carl-bot.

    • Leveling, welcome messages and social alerts
    • Reaction roles and moderation
    • Premium per server; custom identity is an add-on
    Pricing
    Free tier with Premium per server.
    Best for
    Servers that want leveling front and centre and simple reaction roles.
    Visit MEE6

  5. ProBot

    All-in-one

    Reaction roles, moderation, leveling with rank cards, welcome images and an economy in one shared bot, all configured from a dashboard. Broad rather than deep, and no scripting.

    • Reaction roles, moderation, leveling and welcome images
    • Dashboard configuration, no scripting
    • Shared bot identity
    Pricing
    Free, with Premium per server.
    Best for
    Servers that want one bot for everything and never needed custom logic.
    Visit ProBot

YAGPDB, Dyno, MEE6 and ProBot change their plans from time to time, so their pricing is described in general terms. Check each site for current figures.

Feature by feature

BotGhost against Carl-bot and the bots people usually consider next.

Feature
BotGhostYour own bot
Carl-botShared bot
YAGPDBOpen source
DynoShared bot
MEE6Shared bot
Free plan
Reaction roles free250 pairs3 menus
Custom command logicVisual blocksTagScriptTemplatesResponsesResponses
Automod and logging free
Levels freePremiumStandard tier
Sticky messages freePremium
YouTube and Twitch alerts freePremium5 and 2Premium tierPremium
Your own bot name and avatarAvatar on PremiumCustom tierAdd-on
Premium is billedPer bot, unlimited serversPer server slotPer serverPer serverPer server
Premium from$10/mo, or $5/mo yearlySee PatreonSee site$5.99/mo per serverSee site

Carl-bot column from carl.gg/get-premium, 10 September 2026. BotGhost prices are the web prices shown on the upgrade page.

How to switch from Carl-bot to BotGhost

Run both bots side by side, post the new panels first, and remove Carl-bot when nothing depends on it.

  1. Create your bot and invite it next to Carl-bot

    Sign in with Discord, create an application with your name and avatar, paste the token into BotGhost and invite the bot. Keep Carl-bot in the server while you move things over.

  2. Post new reaction role panels

    Import the Reaction Roles module, recreate each Carl-bot message as a panel (emoji, role, single or multiple choice) and post it. Members re-pick their roles from the new panel; existing roles are untouched.

  3. Copy automod, logging and greetings

    Switch on the same automod filters, set the moderation log channel and exempt roles, and recreate your welcome and leave messages with the same variables.

  4. Rebuild tags as commands, then remove Carl-bot

    Recreate your most-used tags as slash commands in the builder; simple ones take a minute, complex ones become condition and variable blocks. Once the new bot has run for a few days, kick Carl-bot. Its infraction history stays in its dashboard, so export what you need first.

Tags and infraction history do not move between bots. Roles members already hold are unaffected by the switch; only the way they pick new ones changes.

Start the switch

BotGhost vs Carl-bot, in detail

A longer look for anyone weighing the two. Every Carl-bot figure comes from Carl-bot's own premium page and docs; everything about BotGhost can be checked on the free plan without a card.

Pricing: a Patreon slot versus one price

Carl-bot's premium page, read on 10 September 2026, does not print a price. Premium is bought through Patreon, where higher tiers come with more server slots, or through Discord, where one subscription covers one server. Third-party write-ups quote a range of monthly figures, so the only reliable number is the one on Carl-bot's Patreon page in your own currency.

BotGhost publishes two prices. The free plan has no expiry and needs no card. Premium is $10 a month, or $60 a year, for one bot in unlimited servers, or $20 a month for every bot on your account. Both carry a 7-day money-back guarantee.

In fairness, Carl-bot's free tier is one of the most generous on Discord. Two hundred and fifty reaction roles, five YouTube and two Twitch alerts, and unlimited tags cost nothing, and BotGhost charges for social alerts. If reaction roles and stream alerts are all you need, Carl-bot free is hard to argue with.

Reaction roles: the headline feature, two ways

Carl-bot's reaction roles are the reason many servers installed it, and the feature is deep: unique, verify, binding and reversed modes, whitelists and blacklists per message, self-destructing messages. The setup its docs teach runs through commands with message IDs, and although there is a dashboard editor, most tutorials and most muscle memory use the commands.

BotGhost's Reaction Roles module is a panel editor. You pick a channel, write the title and description, add rows of emoji and role, choose single or multiple choice, and post it. Changing a role later is a field, not a command. It covers what most servers use reaction roles for; if you rely on Carl-bot's rarer modes, check the module before you switch.

Custom commands: TagScript versus blocks

Tags are Carl-bot's second signature. TagScript lets a tag branch on arguments, read member roles, pick random lines and build embeds, and the community has shared thousands of them. The cost is that it is a language, with its own syntax to learn and debug in a chat box.

On BotGhost the same logic is blocks in a visual builder: a slash command with typed options, if/else conditions on roles, channels and variables, replies and embeds, buttons, select menus and forms, variables stored per user or per server, and an API Request block for anything external. The point is not that blocks can do more than TagScript; for most tags they do the same thing, and every member of the staff team can read them.

  • Typed slash command options instead of parsed arguments
  • If/else conditions on roles, permissions, channels and variable comparisons
  • Buttons, select menus and forms as blocks
  • Variables per user, per server or global
  • Marketplace commands you can import in one click

What each side charges for

Carl-bot's Premium is mostly limits and extras: more reaction roles, more alerts, more weblog entries, plus Levels and XP, sticky messages, auto purge, voice-role links, timed reaction roles, a separate farewell channel, Drama Watcher, temporary channels and a custom avatar and banner. Automod, moderation and logging stay free, which is to Carl-bot's credit.

BotGhost's Premium is limits and a few modules: unlimited commands, events, autoresponders and timed messages, unlimited servers per bot, YouTube, Twitch and Reddit notifications, giveaways, advanced logging, statistics channels and branding removal. Leveling, sticky messages, auto purge (a timed event with a purge block) and voice-role links (a voice join event with a role block) are free.

When Carl-bot is the better fit

If you enjoy TagScript, need free YouTube and Twitch alerts, want the rarer reaction role modes, or run a single server that is already set up and humming, Carl-bot is a fine place to stay. Its free tier is genuinely generous and its moderation tooling is mature.

If you want leveling and sticky messages without a subscription, want the bot to carry your community's name, want staff to edit commands without learning a language, or run several servers, BotGhost is the better fit.

Carl-bot Alternative FAQ

See what you would be switching to

The modules and builders this page keeps mentioning.

Reaction Roles moduleSelf-assign role panels with emoji and role rows, free.Learn moreSticky Messages moduleKeep a message at the bottom of a channel, free.Learn moreCommand BuilderSlash commands built from blocks: conditions, buttons, forms and variables.Learn moreAutomod moduleBad words, links, caps, mass mentions and invites, with logging.Learn moreDyno AlternativeThe same comparison against the moderation-first shared bot.Read the comparisonMEE6 AlternativeThe same comparison against the engagement-first shared bot.Read the comparison
Ghost

Reaction roles, automod and levels on a bot that is yours

Panels instead of message IDs, blocks instead of TagScript, and your name on the bot. Free, hosted, no card.

Create your bot free