How to Use Discord Role With Custom Linked Role Subscription Criteria

Discord now allows server owners to link a custom role to a paid subscription through the Server Subscriptions feature. This linked role automatically grants or removes access based on whether a member holds an active subscription. The challenge is setting up custom criteria — such as requiring a minimum subscription tier or a specific duration — so the role only applies to subscribers who meet those conditions. This article explains how to configure a role with custom linked role subscription criteria and how to manage the associated permissions.

What Are Linked Role Subscription Criteria?

A linked role subscription ties a server role to one of your server subscription tiers. When a member purchases or cancels a subscription, Discord automatically adds or removes the linked role. This eliminates manual role assignment and ensures that only paying subscribers get the benefits you define. The custom criteria are the specific conditions you set when creating the subscription tier — for example, a monthly tier at $4.99 or a yearly tier at $49.99. The role is linked to the tier, not to the payment method or the member’s join date. You can create multiple tiers and link each to a different role, giving you granular control over what each subscriber level can access.

Prerequisites for Using Linked Role Subscriptions

Before you can link a role to a subscription, you must meet these requirements:

• Your server must have Server Subscriptions enabled. This feature is available to servers that meet Discord’s Partner or Community requirements.
• You must have the Manage Server permission in the server where you want to create subscriptions.
• You must have created at least one subscription tier. If you have not created any tiers, you cannot link a role to a subscription.
• The role you want to link must exist in the server. You can create a new role or use an existing one.

Steps to Create a Linked Role Subscription With Custom Criteria

Follow these steps to set up a subscription tier and link a role to it. You will need to create the tier first, then link the role, and finally configure the role’s permissions.

1. Open Server Settings and Go to Server Subscriptions
   On the Discord desktop app or web client, click your server name at the top left. Select Server Settings from the dropdown menu. In the left sidebar, click Server Subscriptions. If you do not see this option, your server may not have the feature enabled. Check the Community Requirements tab to enable it.
2. Create a Subscription Tier
   Click the Create Tier button. Enter a name for the tier — for example, “Gold Member.” Set a price in your local currency. You can also set a monthly or yearly billing cycle. Optionally, add a description and a benefits list. Click Save to create the tier. Repeat this step if you want multiple tiers.
3. Create or Select the Role to Link
   Go to Server Settings > Roles. Click the Create Role button to make a new role, or click on an existing role you want to link. Give the role a name that matches the subscription tier, such as “Gold Subscriber.” Set the role color and display settings as desired.
4. Link the Role to the Subscription Tier
   While editing the role, scroll to the Linked Role section. Click the dropdown menu and select the subscription tier you created earlier. Only one tier can be linked to a single role. If you need multiple roles for different tiers, create separate roles for each tier. Click Save Changes at the bottom.
5. Configure Role Permissions
   Still in the role edit panel, click the Permissions tab. Enable or disable permissions based on what subscribers should be able to do. For example, you can allow the role to view a private channel by adding that channel’s permissions and granting View Channel to the role. Click Save Changes to apply the permissions.
6. Test the Subscription Link
   As a test, purchase the subscription tier from your server’s subscription page. Discord should automatically assign the linked role to your account within a few seconds. Cancel the subscription and verify that the role is removed after the billing period ends or immediately if you cancel before the next cycle.

Common Mistakes and Limitations When Using Linked Roles

Role Not Being Assigned After Purchase

If a member purchases a subscription but does not receive the linked role, check these items:

• Ensure the role is linked to the correct subscription tier. Go to Server Settings > Roles > Edit Role > Linked Role and confirm the tier is selected.
• Verify that the role is not set as a managed role by an integration. Some bot roles cannot be linked to subscriptions.
• Check that the role is not higher than the bot’s highest role. Discord’s role hierarchy may prevent automatic assignment if the role is above the bot’s role.

Role Not Being Removed After Cancellation

When a subscription is canceled, the role is removed at the end of the current billing period, not immediately. If you need immediate removal, you must manually remove the role from the member. To avoid confusion, inform subscribers that the role stays until the paid period ends.

Cannot Link One Role to Multiple Tiers

Discord does not allow a single role to be linked to more than one subscription tier. If you want a role that applies to multiple tiers, create a separate role for each tier and give them identical permissions. Alternatively, use a single role and manually assign it to subscribers of different tiers, but this defeats the automation purpose.

Discord Server Subscription Tiers: Linked Role vs. Unlinked Role

Item	Linked Role	Unlinked Role
Role assignment	Automatic based on subscription status	Manual by server admins or bots
Role removal	Automatic at end of billing period	Manual removal required
Custom criteria	Based on the subscription tier only	No built-in criteria; admins set rules
Permission control	Same as any other role	Same as any other role
Use case	Paid subscriber benefits	General role management

Now you can create a custom subscription role that grants or restricts access based on your chosen criteria. Start by defining your subscription tiers, then link each tier to a dedicated role. Test the setup with a test purchase to confirm automatic assignment works. For advanced control, consider creating multiple tiers with different roles and permissions to offer tiered benefits to your subscribers.