discord.js vs discord.py: which library should you use?

The two most used libraries for Discord bots are discord.js for JavaScript and discord.py for Python. Both are mature and both support slash commands, buttons and modals. The choice is mostly about the language you know and how you want to host the bot.

The short answer

• Pick discord.js if you know or want to learn JavaScript, or if the rest of your project is in Node.js.
• Pick discord.py if you know Python, or you want to share code with data and automation scripts in Python.
• If you do not code, pick the library of the tool that generates the bot for you. BotsMaker generates discord.js.

Language and style

discord.js uses promises and async functions in JavaScript. discord.py uses async and await in Python. The structure is similar: a client, event handlers, commands, and components. A command in either library is a function that receives the interaction and answers it.

Slash commands

discord.js has builders such as SlashCommandBuilder, and you register commands through the REST client. discord.py has an app commands system with decorators and a command tree that you sync. Both are well documented.

Ecosystem

JavaScript has a huge package ecosystem on npm. Python has strong libraries for data, machine learning and scripting. A bot that talks to a Python data pipeline may be easier in Python. A bot that shares code with a web app in Node.js is easier in JavaScript.

Hosting and deploying

Both run anywhere with the runtime installed: a VPS, a container or a panel with the right egg. Node.js is available on almost every host for apps. Python is available on most too. For Pterodactyl panels both have standard eggs.

Performance

For almost every bot, the speed of the library does not matter. The limits come from Discord rate limits and from the work the bot does, such as calling an API or reading files.

Stability and updates

Both are maintained and follow the Discord API. Whichever you choose, pin the major version in your dependencies, and read the release notes before an update, because breaking changes happen at major versions.

What BotsMaker uses

BotsMaker generates JavaScript with discord.js v14. The generated project uses only discord.js and dotenv, so it installs with one command and has no native modules to build.