Better Discord is a popular application that adds extra features to your Discord server. It is used by many Discord users, but is it even allowed? I go over that and much more down below.

Is BetterDiscord Allowed?

BetterDiscord is not allowed on Discord as it violates the Discord Terms of Service. Discord has specifically stated that BetterDiscord is not an allowed use of its services and may result in a suspension or a ban.

BetterDiscord is an add-on that helps you alter your Discord client’s appearance. This helps you install themes and other features to enhance your Discord experience. 

By allowing users to edit the application’s CSS, BetterDiscord gives users complete control over the appearance of their Discord client.

With all the customization options that BetterDiscord provides, it has become increasingly popular on the platform and many Discord users like to use it.

However, although BetterDiscord has become very popular, it violates the Discord Terms of Service. The Discord Terms of Service state that users may not:

“…copy, modify, create derivative works based upon, distribute, sell, lease, or sublicense any of [Discord’s] software or services.”

Discord Terms of Service

So even though you may know people who are using it, this does not mean they are using it legally. Now let’s talk about what can happen if you use BetterDiscord.

Can You Get Banned If You Use BetterDiscord?

Although uncommon, Discord can technically ban users for using BetterDiscord. Because BetterDiscord violates Discord’s Terms of Service, only use BetterDiscord if you are comfortable with the risk of having your Discord account suspended or banned.

BetterDiscord does violate Discord terms of service by altering the client.

When asked on Twitter whether Discord would ban users for using BetterDiscord, the Discord team responded with the following:

Using any modifications of our client (like BetterDiscord) is subject to administrative action from our team.

Discord Terms of Service

All the add-ons and modifications from the official Discord website are safe to use, but anything outside of this could get you in trouble with Discord.

While BetterDiscord is an amazing extension that many people use, it could technically result in your account being banned. Users should use it at their own risk.

Why Is BetterDiscord Not Allowed?

Using BetterDiscord to alter your client breaks Discord’s Terms of Service. Discord’s Terms of Service specifically prohibit users from using Discord software as part of any derivative work. As a derivative work, BetterDiscord violates the Discord Terms of Service.

Since Discord owns all the software it creates, it can dictate how its software is used, and how it may not be used.

Similar to how film studios own the rights to the movies they produce, Discord’s software is the intellectual property of the Discord Inc company.

Like film studios, Discord prohibits people from using their intellectual property in ways that are not beneficial to the company.

It’s a major bummer, especially because some of these add-ons and modifications really do help enhance Discord, but Discord has the right to safeguard their intellectual property.

Modifying the Discord application or using it to create another application is a disallowed use of Discord’s intellectual property, and therefore not allowed.

Now if you are not concerned, and decide you want to use the add-on anyways, here is what you should be aware of regarding the safety of BetterDiscord.

Is BetterDiscord Safe?

BetterDiscord is safe for you to use. However, you will want to be cautious if you choose to install third-party themes, which could contain viruses. To prevent this, you should only download themes from BetterDiscord’s official server.

It is also safe if you want to make your very own themes using BetterDiscord, but it is advised that you don’t use any other sources to get your themes as they may not be safe.

BetterDiscord is very easy to use and millions of people have been using BetterDiscord to chat for free and have not faced any problems.

The BetterDiscord code is open-source and is usually verified by BetterDiscord contributors which only adds to its safety.

You should still be on the lookout for unofficial, third-party add-ons because these are not verified and can harm your Discord account and your PC.

As always, make sure to research anything before you download it and make sure that it is safe for you to use.

And like I mentioned earlier, if you are a lone Discord user with a small server, it will be difficult for Discord to find you and punish you. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen, It just means that it is unlikely to happen.

Now although BetterDiscord is the most common option for Discord add-ons, it is not the only one. There are alternatives and you can check them out below.

Are There BetterDiscord Alternatives?

The best BetterDiscord alternatives are BeautifulDiscord and Powercord; however, like BetterDiscord, these add-ons are also against Discord’s TOS and so using them could possibly get your account suspended or banned.

But if you are willing to take the risk, both of these alternatives offer amazing themes and will allow you to create and use more plugins.

However, although these add-ons seem pretty cool, I always like to err on the side of caution. To me it is not worth losing my server, and even worse my entire Discord account, for some cool add-ons.

If you are trying to grow your presence on Discord I don’t think it is worth the risk. And also, people should be there for you and your community, not for your cool add-ons. Just my thought.

If you are looking for ways to improve your Discord experience, then check out Discord Nitro here. Although you will have to pay, at least you know that you are not putting your account at risk.

If you have any questions or just want to hang, feel free to stop by my Discord server here. We like to talk about streaming and gaming on my Discord server.

Final Thoughts

Initially, many users began using BetterDiscord because it offered features not available in the official Discord application.

Recently, however, Discord has implemented many of the features previously found only in BetterDiscord.

Users should be aware of the risks of BetterDiscord, since using the application is a violation of the Discord Terms of Service.