Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

Discord Nitro vs VLC

Discord Nitro logo

Discord Nitro

Entertainment

Upgrade your Discord experience

From
$2.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VLC logo

VLC

Entertainment

The free and open source media player

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VLC has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Discord Nitro pricing varies by country - not a single global price; VLC vLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract
  • They diverge on capability: Discord Nitro covers Enhanced file sharing, VLC covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discord Nitro and VLC actually diverge.

Attributes where Discord Nitro and VLC differ
AttributeDiscord NitroVLC
Starting price$2.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWindows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded20151998

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Discord Nitro

  • Enhanced file sharing
  • HD video streaming
  • Custom emojis
  • Server boosts
  • Animated avatars
  • Custom video backgrounds
  • Higher quality streaming
  • Priority support

Only in VLC

  • Media playback
  • Codec support
  • Streaming
  • Conversion
  • Plugins
  • Network streaming
  • DVD playback
  • Open source

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Windows support
  • Linux support
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Discord Nitro

  • Removing upload-size limits for sharing large files in serversnot VLC
  • Custom and animated emoji, profile banners and avatar decorationsnot VLC
  • Boosting servers to unlock server-wide perksnot VLC
  • HD video streaming and higher-quality screen sharenot VLC
  • Bundled perks such as Xbox Game Pass access on the full Nitro tiernot VLC

VLC

  • Media playbacknot Discord Nitro
  • Video conversionnot Discord Nitro

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Discord Nitro

  • Pricing varies by country - not a single global price
  • Nitro Basic is feature-limited versus full Nitro (e.g. 50MB vs 500MB upload cap)
  • Bundled perks (e.g. Xbox Game Pass) are partner-dependent and subject to change or discontinuation
  • Server-boost perks only benefit servers the user actively boosts

VLC

  • VLC is completely free open source software with no paid tier, ads, or vendor support contract

Pricing, plan by plan

Discord Nitro

$2.99/month
  • Nitro Basic$2.99/month
    • Custom emoji anywhere
    • 50MB uploads
    • Custom app icons
  • Nitro (Standard)$9.99/month
    • All Basic features
    • Xbox Game Pass Starter (50+ games)
    • Custom profiles per server

VLC

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All codecs
    • No ads
    • Open source

Which should you pick?

Choose Discord Nitro if

  • You need enhanced file sharing.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want hd video streaming.
Discord Nitro review

Choose VLC if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want codec support.
VLC review

Questions people ask

Is Discord Nitro or VLC better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord Nitro starts at $2.99/month and VLC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord Nitro or VLC?
VLC has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for Discord Nitro and Free for VLC.
Does Discord Nitro or VLC run on more platforms?
Discord Nitro runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. VLC runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use VLC for free?
Yes. VLC has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Discord Nitro starts at $2.99/month.
What is Discord Nitro best used for?
Discord Nitro is most often used for removing upload-size limits for sharing large files in servers, custom and animated emoji, profile banners and avatar decorations, boosting servers to unlock server-wide perks, hd video streaming and higher-quality screen share. Of those, removing upload-size limits for sharing large files in servers and custom and animated emoji, profile banners and avatar decorations are not what VLC is typically brought in for.
What can Discord Nitro do that VLC cannot?
Discord Nitro covers Enhanced file sharing, HD video streaming, Custom emojis, Server boosts. VLC covers Media playback, Codec support, Streaming, Conversion. Both handle Web support, Windows support, Linux support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Discord Nitro: How much does Discord Nitro cost?

Discord offers Nitro Basic at $2.99/month with custom emoji and 50MB uploads, and Nitro Standard at $9.99/month with Xbox Game Pass and 500MB uploads.

Source
VLC: Is VLC media player free to use?

Yes. VLC is completely free and open source software with no subscription or licensing fees.

Source
Discord Nitro: What is the difference between Nitro Basic and Nitro Standard?

Nitro Basic costs $2.99/month with 50MB uploads and custom emoji. Nitro Standard at $9.99/month adds Xbox Game Pass, 500MB uploads, HD video streaming, and 2 Server Boosts.

Source
VLC: Can VLC be used commercially?

Yes. VLC explicitly states there is no spyware, no ads, and no user tracking. As open-source software under permissive licenses, commercial use is permitted within each license's specific terms.

Source
VLC: Does VLC include all features across all platforms without additional purchase?

Yes. All playback features, codecs, cross-platform compatibility, and customization options are included with no additional purchases required for full functionality on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Discord Nitro

More on VLC

Keep looking

Other head to heads