Adding paid tiers to a community server is one of the riskiest changes you'll ever make. Do it well and you build a sustainable income; do it poorly and you'll alienate your most loyal members.
Here are six rules that show up repeatedly when we talk to owners who've made it work.
1. Don't paywall the existing core
If members joined for the daily news channel, the daily news channel stays free. Paywall new content or perks, never something members already had.
2. Lead with intrinsic value
VIP roles, exclusive channels, voice rooms, behind-the-scenes content — make the paid tier feel like joining an inner circle, not paying for access.
3. Price for outliers, not the median
You're targeting the 1-2% of members who'd pay for any reason. Don't price your tier so low you have to convert 30% of the server.
4. Stripe handles the hard part
Don't try to build your own payment flow. Use DoorFee, Patreon, Ko-fi, or your own Stripe integration. Refunds, chargebacks, and tax are not your job.
5. Be transparent about where the money goes
"Funds the bot hosting + monthly giveaways + my coffee" goes a long way. Members can't be cynical about a clearly-spelled-out budget.
6. Cancel without friction
If unsubscribing is hard, you'll get chargebacks. One click to cancel; access ends at the period end, not immediately.