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Discord vs Heroic Games Launcher

Discord logo

Discord

Entertainment

Your place to talk and hang out

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Heroic Games Launcher logo

Heroic Games Launcher

Gaming

Open source client for Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Heroic Games Launcher it depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • They diverge on capability: Discord covers Voice channels, Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discord and Heroic Games Launcher actually diverge.

Attributes where Discord and Heroic Games Launcher differ
AttributeDiscordHeroic Games Launcher
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidLinux, Windows, macOS
CategoryEntertainmentGaming
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Heroic Games Launcher

  • Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries
  • Cross-platform
  • Wine and Proton management
  • Steam Deck packaging
  • Cloud saves
  • Add to Steam

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 Heroic Games Launcher
  • Running a moderated community server with roles and channelsnot Heroic Games Launcher
  • Screen sharing and streaming gameplay to a small groupnot Heroic Games Launcher

Heroic Games Launcher

  • A Steam Deck owner who wants to play Epic or Amazon titles they already ownnot Discord
  • A Linux desktop user with a GOG library and no interest in configuring Wine by handnot Discord
  • A macOS user wanting access to a GOG library without a Windows machinenot Discord
  • Someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on Windowsnot 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

Heroic Games Launcher

  • It depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • It does not handle Steam, so anyone with a mixed library still runs two clients and the consolidation is partial.
  • Cloud save support varies by store and by game, and finding out that a title does not sync usually happens after losing progress.
  • It is an Electron application, so memory use is high for what is fundamentally a list of games, which matters on a handheld with limited resources.
  • Games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat still do not run on Linux, and the launcher cannot change a publisher decision.

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

Heroic Games Launcher

Free
  • Heroic Games LauncherFree
    • Full functionality
    • No paid tier
    • Store accounts used directly

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 Heroic Games Launcher if

  • You need epic, gog and amazon libraries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want cross-platform.
Heroic Games Launcher review

Questions people ask

Is Discord or Heroic Games Launcher better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord starts at Free and Heroic Games Launcher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord or Heroic Games Launcher?
Discord starts at Free and Heroic Games Launcher at Free.
Does Discord or Heroic Games Launcher run on more platforms?
Discord runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Discord for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Heroic Games Launcher is typically brought in for.
What can Discord do that Heroic Games Launcher cannot?
Discord covers Voice channels, Video calls, Text channels, Screen sharing. Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Cross-platform, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging.

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
Heroic Games Launcher: Why does this exist when Epic has its own launcher?

Epic publishes no Linux client. Heroic fills that gap and then extended to GOG, Amazon, Windows and macOS.

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

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

Source
Heroic Games Launcher: Is it safe to log into my store accounts?

It is open source and widely used, and it authenticates against the real store endpoints. As with any third-party client, you are trusting the maintainers and the build you installed.

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
Heroic Games Launcher: Does it work in Steam Deck game mode?

Yes, generally by adding titles to Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, which is a documented part of the normal workflow.

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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Related pages

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