Discord isn't just for gamers anymore—it's a powerhouse for online community building. But to unlock its full potential, you need to dig deeper than default settings. From onboarding tools to server monetization, these 11 underrated Discord features will help you create a stronger, more engaged community. Whether you're managing a fan base, business network, or creator hub, this guide from 3minread.com will help you transform your server into a thriving digital space.

Unlocking the Power of Community Servers

Turning on Community Server mode gives you access to tools that professionalize your server.

Switching to a Community Server is the gateway to Discord's most powerful features. By simply toggling a setting in your Server Settings panel, you enable tools that help with moderation, organization, and discovery. It’s more than just a name change—it’s a full-featured upgrade for community managers.

Once enabled, Community Server mode allows you to apply for Discord’s Server Discovery, making your server visible to the public. This means people looking for a space like yours can find it more easily. You’ll also gain enhanced moderation options that track user behavior, helping you keep the environment safe and welcoming. Custom onboarding flows, announcement channels, and content filters also become available, creating a solid foundation for growth and structure.

Streamline Member Experience with Onboarding Tools

Onboarding lets new members personalize their experience and understand your server rules.

First impressions matter, especially in digital communities. Discord’s onboarding features allow server owners to shape the way new users enter and explore the space. From choosing default channels to custom question prompts, onboarding is your opportunity to highlight what matters most.

When someone joins your Community Server, you can walk them through a guided introduction with recommended channels, resource links, and welcome messages. This prevents overwhelm, especially on servers with many channels. You can also prompt new members with questions to assign them roles and channels based on their interests. To top it off, enable server rules screening to ensure everyone acknowledges the community guidelines before participating.

Build Smarter with Server Templates

Server templates let you jumpstart your server design using proven setups.

Creating a new server from scratch can be daunting, especially if you're unsure which channels or categories to include. That’s where Server Templates come in. Found in your server settings, templates are pre-built structures for your server that you can apply and modify.

While many templates online cater to gaming communities, you can easily adapt them to suit a brand, business, or fandom group. Apply a template to instantly populate your server with channels like #introductions, #general-chat, or #support. This saves you time and gives your server a professional structure right out of the gate. Once applied, you can rename, reorder, or delete channels as needed to better align with your community's goals.

Turn Passion into Profit with Server Monetization

Monetization features let you earn from your content, community, and server features.

If you’re managing a thriving server, why not turn it into a revenue stream? Discord's built-in monetization tools allow you to offer exclusive perks through Server Subscriptions or one-time digital product sales via Server Shops. It’s a game changer for creators, educators, or business owners with premium content to share.

Subscriptions let you lock specific channels behind paywalls, offer members-only emojis, and build a tiered membership system. Server Shops, meanwhile, allow users to buy roles, downloads, or perks à la carte. Getting started is straightforward: enable monetization in your Community Server settings and connect your payment processor. Just make sure you meet Discord’s eligibility criteria. This is a huge leap toward making your Discord server not only engaging but financially sustainable.

Supercharge Automation with Bots and Zapier

Bots can automate repetitive tasks and connect Discord with your favorite business tools.

Bots are more than just fun gimmicks—they’re essential tools for scaling and managing your Discord server. From moderation to welcome messages, bots can automate many of the tasks that otherwise eat up your time. Discord’s App Directory makes it easy to find verified bots that suit your needs.

Want even more customization? Use Zapier to connect Discord to services like Google Sheets, YouTube, Notion, or even RSS feeds. For example, you can automatically post new blog articles in a channel or assign roles when users complete a survey. Zapier allows for powerful workflows that reduce your manual workload while making the server feel interactive and timely. Whether it’s a birthday bot or a customer service integration, the right automation can make your community feel alive 24/7.