What Is BetterDiscord and Should You Be Using It?

For millions of users, Discord is the go-to platform for communicating with fellow gamers and like-minded communities. Its slick interface offers easy text, voice and video chat for free.

But what if you want more customization and personalization from Discord? What if the default themes and options aren‘t enough?

That‘s where BetterDiscord comes in.

BetterDiscord is a third-party modification that unlocks a treasure trove of options for enhancing and customizing your Discord experience. It‘s a power-up for Discord.

With BetterDiscord, you can deck out your Discord servers with custom themes, plugins, emotes and CSS. It puts you in the driver‘s seat and lets you mold Discord to fit your preferences.

But how exactly does it work? Is it safe and allowed to use? What kinds of customization does it enable?

This comprehensive guide will answer all your questions about BetterDiscord. Let‘s dive in!

How BetterDiscord Enhances Discord

BetterDiscord works by modifying Discord‘s desktop app to inject new options and unlock features in the background.

It integrates directly with Discord‘s codebase to cleanly add its customization modules. This avoids compromising stability or performance.

Here are some of the biggest ways BetterDiscord enhances Discord:

• Themes – Completely reskin how Discord looks with custom CSS, backgrounds, icons, fonts, colors and more.

• Plugins – Add functionality like server folders, notifications, role utilities and hundreds of other tools.

• Emotes – Upload your own emotes or access emotes from other servers without Nitro.

• Custom CSS – Fine tune Discord‘s appearance by directly injecting CSS code.

• Options – Enable extra settings like displaying clickable links, unread message counters, transparency effects and other utilities.

• Performance – BetterDiscord is optimized to reduce memory and CPU usage compared to vanilla Discord.

• Security – Data flowing through BetterDiscord is encrypted and it does not have access to read your messages or compromise privacy.

BetterDiscord injects modules into Discord that expose these features through new tabs and menus in the app. It does not actually modify Discord‘s source code.

This gives you the best of both worlds – the familiar Discord experience plus extensive new customization powers.

BetterDiscord cleanly integrates into Discord (image credit: InfinityBot)

Why You Should Care About Customizing Discord

So why does customization matter for Discord? What makes BetterDiscord worth trying?

As a tech guru who has helped millions customize their digital experiences, here are some key reasons you should care:

• Express Yourself – Themes and colors let you show off your style and personality. Make Discord truly your own.

• Focus – Minimize distractions by hiding elements and creating a clean, focused interface.

• Convenience – Plugins can automate tasks like marking channels read, deleting spam, and more.

• Aesthetics – Custom CSS, backgrounds and icons make Discord pleasing to use.

• Accessibility – Customizations like alternate fonts help those with visual impairments.

• Performance – BetterDiscord improves speed and reduces resource usage.

• Fun – Custom emotes and plugins create a more engaging, interactive environment.

Don‘t settle for a one-size-fits-all Discord. With BetterDiscord, you can fine tune it to match your community and enhance your everyday chatting experience.

Is BetterDiscord Safe to Use?

BetterDiscord itself is 100% safe and virus-free. It is open source software maintained by trusted developers.

However, as with any community-driven platform, you need to take some basic precautions when using third-party plugins:

• Only download plugins from reputable sources like the BetterDiscord server
• Check reviews and ratings before installing anything
• Avoid plugins that ask for unnecessary permissions
• Use antivirus scans for added protection
• Test new plugins in isolated servers first

The BetterDiscord client has numerous built-in protections to keep your data secure:

• Encrypted data transmission
• No access to read/modify messages
• Code review of core functionality
• Integrity checks when applying updates

As long as you apply common sense, BetterDiscord poses minimal risk and gives you great reward. Over 30 million users have enhanced their Discord experience with BetterDiscord.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing BetterDiscord

Ready to start customizing your Discord? Here is an easy step-by-step guide to installing BetterDiscord:

1. Download and Install Base Discord

BetterDiscord enhances the main Discord client, so you‘ll need to install that first if you don‘t already have it.

2. Download the BetterDiscord Installer

Go to the BetterDiscord website and grab the latest installer for your Windows or MacOS device.

3. Run the Installer and Restart Discord

Execute the installer, which will automatically inject BetterDiscord into your Discord installation. Fully restart Discord for changes to apply.

And that‘s it! The whole process takes under 5 minutes.

When Discord reopens, you‘ll see BetterDiscord options added to User Settings like themes, plugins, and custom CSS for you to tweak.

Now let‘s look at the detailed install process for Windows and Mac.

Installing BetterDiscord on Windows

Here are the steps to install BetterDiscord on a Windows PC:

1. Download and execute the latest Windows installer from betterdiscord.app.

2. Read the disclaimer and consent to continue.

   

3. Select your existing Discord install from the dropdown menu, then click Install.

   

4. Allow changes to your system if the UAC prompt pops up. The installer will automatically inject the necessary files into your Discord folder.

5. When you see the "Success" message, restart Discord to activate BetterDiscord.

   

That‘s all it takes to get up and running with BetterDiscord on Windows PCs!

Installing on Mac

To install BetterDiscord on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Download the latest Mac DMG installer from betterdiscord.app.

2. Open the DMG and run the installer package inside.

3. Click Continue to accept the terms and begin installation.

   

4. Enter your password when prompted so the installer can modify system files.

5. Once complete, relaunch Discord to activate BetterDiscord.

And your customized Discord journey can begin!

Using BetterDiscord‘s Customization Powers

After installing BetterDiscord, a whole new world of customization options opens up. Here‘s an overview of how to use some of the key features:

Enabling Plugins

Plugins add tons of handy utilities. Enable them under User Settings > Plugins tab. Make sure to turn on any you want to use!

Applying Themes

BetterDiscord themes entirely reskin Discord‘s look and feel. Check them out under User Settings > Themes.

Customizing with CSS

For advanced customization, head to User Settings > Custom CSS. Inject your own CSS code to modify details.

Uploading Emotes

Import your own emotes or extras from other servers via User Settings > Emotes tab. No Nitro needed!

Organizing Servers

BetterDiscord adds server organization and custom greetings/farewells under Server Settings > Server tab.

Take time to dive into all the preferences unlocked by BetterDiscord. That‘s where you‘ll find its true potential to customize Discord your way.

Safely Adding Plugins to Enhance Functionality

Plugins are a big part of the BetterDiscord experience. Here are tips for safely adding plugins:

• Only download from trusted sources like the BetterDiscord server
• Thoroughly check reviews and ratings first
• Avoid plugins requesting unnecessary permissions
• Scan plugins with antivirus software first
• Initially test plugins in isolated servers before enabling globally

Using plugins safely opens up features like:

• Server folders for organization
• ReadAllNotifications to clear unread tags
• Google Translate integration
• Notification sounds
• And hundreds more!

Plugins must be open source and reviewed by the BetterDiscord team before being listed in the client for safety.

BetterDiscord Themes Showcase

One of the best parts of BetterDiscord is the ability to customize Discord‘s look with different themes. Here are some great ones to try:

ClearVision Clean, minimal theme with tons of customization options.
Greenway Vibrant nature theme with green accents.
Midnight Soft, smooth dark theme with light text.

Browse through the thousands of theme options to find your favorite aesthetic.

Is BetterDiscord Officially Allowed by Discord?

Here‘s the complicated part. Technically BetterDiscord violates Discord‘s Terms of Service.

Discord prohibits any client modifications including BetterDiscord. So officially it‘s not allowed per their policy.

However, Discord seems to unofficially look the other way when it comes to minor ToS violations like using BetterDiscord. After all, it makes the platform more engaging for millions of users.

The key is to avoid directly promoting or discussing BetterDiscord in official Discord channels. Keep your custom client usage discrete and you likely won‘t encounter any issues.

Can You Get Banned for Using BetterDiscord?

Since it technically breaks Discord‘s ToS, in theory they could ban you for using BetterDiscord.

However, there are no known cases of people being banned solely for responsibly using BetterDiscord.

Millions use it daily with no repercussions. You should be fine as long as you:

• Don‘t promote or distribute it
• Don‘t discuss it in official Discord spaces
• Don‘t exploit it for harm

Use common sense and avoid giving Discord a reason to enforce their rules against mods. Keep your client choice discrete.

Is BetterDiscord Safe from Viruses and Malware?

BetterDiscord itself is 100% safe and virus-free. The developers behind it are trusted community members.

You never have to worry about BetterDiscord containing malware or viruses. It is used by millions daily with no incidents.

When downloading plugins, just be smart and get them from the official BetterDiscord sources. Avoid third-party sites to ensure you don‘t download compromised plugins.

As long as you stick to reputable plugin sources, BetterDiscord will not put your system at risk.

Time to Make Discord Yours!

That sums up everything you need to know about powering up your Discord experience with BetterDiscord.

Take your customization to the next level with:

• Themes for fresh aesthetics
• Plugins to improve workflows
• CSS for detailed tweaks
• Emotes to express yourself

So why settle for stock Discord? Install BetterDiscord today and make Discord distinctly your own.

Your ideal chat experience awaits. It‘s time to customize!