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Entertainment · head to head

Discord vs Discord Nitro

Discord logo

Discord

Entertainment

Your place to talk and hang out

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Discord Nitro logo

Discord Nitro

Entertainment

Upgrade your Discord experience

From
$2.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Discord has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Discord file upload size is tied to subscription: Nitro Basic at $2.99 a month raises it to 50MB and Nitro at $9.99 a month to 500MB; Discord Nitro pricing varies by country - not a single global price
  • They diverge on capability: Discord covers Voice channels, Discord Nitro covers Enhanced file sharing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Discord and Discord Nitro differ
AttributeDiscordDiscord Nitro
Starting priceFree$2.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment), founded (2015).

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

  • Voice channels
  • Video calls
  • Text channels
  • Screen sharing
  • Go Live streaming
  • Server organization
  • Role management
  • Moderation tools

Only in Discord Nitro

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

What people use each for

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

Discord

  • Text, voice and video chat for communities and gaming groupsnot Discord Nitro
  • Running a moderated community server with roles and channelsnot Discord Nitro
  • Screen sharing and streaming gameplay to a small groupnot Discord Nitro

Discord Nitro

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

Where each one falls short

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

Discord

  • File upload size is tied to subscription: Nitro Basic at $2.99 a month raises it to 50MB and Nitro at $9.99 a month to 500MB
  • HD video streaming requires the full Nitro subscription
  • Custom emoji use across servers, custom profiles and per server profiles are full Nitro only
  • Server boosts are bundled only with full Nitro, at two boosts plus a discount on extras
  • Nitro Basic explicitly excludes several Nitro perks including Xbox Game Pass access and custom video backgrounds

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Discord

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited text chat
    • Voice & video calls
    • Screen sharing
  • Nitro Basic$4.99/month
    • 50MB file uploads
    • Custom emojis anywhere
    • Special Nitro badge
  • Nitro$9.99/month
    • 500MB file uploads
    • HD video streaming
    • 2 Server Boosts

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Discord if

  • You need voice channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video calls.
Discord review

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

Questions people ask

Is Discord or Discord Nitro better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord starts at Free and Discord Nitro at $2.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord or Discord Nitro?
Discord has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Discord and $2.99/month for Discord Nitro.
Does Discord or Discord Nitro run on more platforms?
Discord runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Discord Nitro runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Discord for free?
Yes. Discord has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Discord Nitro starts at $2.99/month.
What is Discord best used for?
Discord is most often used for text, voice and video chat for communities and gaming groups, running a moderated community server with roles and channels, screen sharing and streaming gameplay to a small group. Of those, text, voice and video chat for communities and gaming groups and running a moderated community server with roles and channels are not what Discord Nitro is typically brought in for.
What can Discord do that Discord Nitro cannot?
Discord covers Voice channels, Video calls, Text channels, Screen sharing. Discord Nitro covers Enhanced file sharing, HD video streaming, Custom emojis, Server boosts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Discord: What is the price difference between Discord's free tier and Nitro subscriptions?

Discord's core service is free. Nitro Basic costs $2.99/month, and the full Nitro subscription costs $9.99/month. Both are recurring monthly charges with pricing that varies by region.

Source
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
Discord: Can I try Nitro before committing to a subscription?

No trial period is mentioned on Discord's Nitro pricing page.

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
Discord: What is included with the full Nitro subscription that is not in Nitro Basic?

Full Nitro includes Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition, custom profiles, 500MB file uploads (vs 50MB in Basic), HD video streaming, color app themes, 2 server boosts, and 3 friend passes to share Nitro benefits. Both tiers allow custom emoji anywhere.

Source
Discord: What happens to my Discord account if I cancel Nitro?

The pricing page does not specify what happens after cancellation. You would retain your Discord account but lose Nitro-exclusive features.

Source
Discord: Are there any differences in regional pricing or currency accepted?

Pricing varies by country and region. Users can check their localized rates in User Settings. Multiple payment methods are accepted.

Source
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