Ethvex vs Carl-bot: An Honest Comparison for Server Owners
Ethvex and Carl-bot compared on free features, AutoMod, reaction roles, tickets, setup and price, so you can pick the right Discord bot for your community.
Carl-bot is a long time favourite for reaction roles, logging and automod, and it has a famously generous free plan. Ethvex is a newer all in one bot that adds systems like tickets, giveaways and temporary voice channels, all set up through panels inside Discord. Both are good choices, and the right one depends on what your server needs.
Facts about Carl-bot here come from independent write ups dated August 2026, listed in the sources. Plans change, so double check before you decide.
The short answer #
- Choose Carl-bot if your server mainly needs huge numbers of reaction roles, detailed logging and automod, and you like configuring through a web dashboard.
- Choose Ethvex if you also want a full ticket system, giveaways, Join to Create voice rooms, an embed builder and welcome cards, all set up in Discord.
Free features side by side #
| Feature | Ethvex Free | Carl-bot Free |
|---|---|---|
| Reaction roles | 3 groups, reaction style | 250 reaction roles per server |
| Automatic moderation | AutoMod with escalating punishments | Free automod with many filters and punishments |
| Moderation commands | All 18 commands | Included |
| Server logs | Moderation, member and message logs | Included |
| Ticket system | Categories, questions, claiming, transcripts | Not covered in our sources |
| Giveaways | 3 active at a time | Not covered in our sources |
| Temporary voice channels | Join to Create, 1 trigger | Not covered in our sources |
| Embed builder | Full Builder with webhook sending | Embeds available, custom colours and images on Premium |
| Sticky messages | 1 channel | Premium only |
| Levels and XP | Not available | Premium only |
| Social alerts | Not available | 5 YouTube and 2 Twitch alerts |
Rows marked Not covered in our sources mean we could not confirm the feature from the sources we used, not that Carl-bot lacks it. Check Carl-bot's own documentation.
AutoMod compared #
Both bots take automatic moderation seriously, and both offer it for free. Carl-bot's automod covers spam, attachments, profanity, caps, invites, links and mentions, with a range of punishments.
Ethvex AutoMod covers similar ground with nine modules, and its standout feature is the punishment ladder: each module has a list of steps that get stricter every time the same person breaks the rule, for example warn, then a 10 minute timeout, then a kick. Counts reset after a clean streak you choose. Ethvex also includes Abuse Guard, which alerts you if a moderator suddenly mass bans or kicks people.
Reaction roles compared #
Carl-bot is hard to beat on raw numbers, with 250 reaction roles per server for free. If you need a very large number of self roles and are happy with reactions, Carl-bot is excellent.
Ethvex reaction roles focus on presentation and behaviour. On Pro you get buttons and dropdowns as well as reactions, five modes (Normal, Unique, Verify, Drop and Binding), max role limits, denied roles and messages designed as plain text, embeds or modern containers.
Price #
| Ethvex Pro | Carl-bot Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4.55 a month for 1 server | From about £6.50 a month through Patreon |
| Multiple servers | 3 servers for $11.99, 5 for $17.99 | Server slots, more slots on higher tiers |
| What it adds | Removes every limit and adds Pro systems | Higher limits plus extras like levels and sticky messages |
| Custom bot look | Custom Branding included | Custom appearance on Premium |
| Billed through | Patreon | Patreon |
Interestingly, both bots use Patreon and both let you move your premium between servers.
How setup works #
Carl-bot is mostly configured through its web dashboard plus commands. Ethvex is configured entirely inside Discord: run a command such as /reactionroles or /automod and a private panel opens with buttons and forms. Which you prefer is personal. Panels are quicker on mobile, dashboards give you a bigger screen.
Where Carl-bot is stronger #
- Reaction role limits. 250 free reaction roles is very generous.
- Social alerts. YouTube and Twitch alerts, even on the free plan.
- Maturity. Carl-bot has years of history and a large community.
- Levels are available on Premium. Ethvex has no levels yet.
Where Ethvex is stronger #
- More systems in one bot: tickets, giveaways, Join to Create, boost rewards, welcome cards and an embed builder.
- Escalating AutoMod punishments and Abuse Guard for your own staff.
- Sticky messages on the free plan.
- Panels inside Discord instead of a dashboard.
- Simple multi server pricing, with Custom Branding included in every Pro tier.
The verdict #
If reaction roles and logging are all you need, Carl-bot's free plan is fantastic. If you want one bot to also handle support tickets, giveaways, voice rooms and polished announcements, Ethvex covers more ground, and you can run both if you like. Try Ethvex free and see every feature.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carl-bot free?
Carl-bot has a generous free plan that includes automod, reaction roles, custom commands and logging. Premium, sold through Patreon, raises limits and adds extras like levels and sticky messages.
Can I use Ethvex and Carl-bot together?
Yes. Many servers use more than one bot. Just avoid having both do the same job, such as two automod systems acting on the same message.
Does Ethvex have more reaction roles than Carl-bot?
No. Carl-bot allows far more reaction roles on its free plan. Ethvex focuses on styles and modes instead, with buttons, dropdowns and five pick modes on Pro.
Sources
Facts about other products were checked against these pages at the time of writing. Plans and prices can change.
Try it on your own server
Ethvex is free to add and every system is set up through simple panels. No code needed.
