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Discord vs Nintendo Switch Online

Discord logo

Discord

Software

Your place to talk and hang out

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
N

Nintendo Switch Online

Software

Online play, classic games and more

From
On request
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; Nintendo Switch Online individual plan is $19.99 per year but access to GameCube, N64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis titles requires the $49.99 per year Expansion Pack tier

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discord and Nintendo Switch Online actually diverge.

Attributes where Discord and Nintendo Switch Online differ
AttributeDiscordNintendo Switch Online
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded2015Unknown

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

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 Nintendo Switch Online

Nothing recorded that Discord does not also cover.

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 Nintendo Switch Online
  • Running a moderated community server with roles and channelsnot Nintendo Switch Online
  • Screen sharing and streaming gameplay to a small groupnot Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo Switch Online

No use cases recorded yet. See the Nintendo Switch Online review.

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

Nintendo Switch Online

  • Individual plan is $19.99 per year but access to GameCube, N64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis titles requires the $49.99 per year Expansion Pack tier
  • Family plan pricing of $34.99 or $79.99 per year caps membership sharing at 8 accounts

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

Nintendo Switch Online

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nintendo Switch Online review.

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 Nintendo Switch Online if

Nothing in the data separates Nintendo Switch Online from Discord on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Nintendo Switch Online review

Questions people ask

Is Discord or Nintendo Switch Online better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord starts at Free and Nintendo Switch Online at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord or Nintendo Switch Online?
Discord has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Discord and On request for Nintendo Switch Online.
Does Discord or Nintendo Switch Online run on more platforms?
Discord runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Nintendo Switch Online runs on Web.
Can I use Discord for free?
Yes. Discord has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Nintendo Switch Online starts at On request.
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 Nintendo Switch Online is typically brought in for.
What can Discord do that Nintendo Switch Online cannot?
Discord covers Voice channels, Video calls, Text channels, Screen sharing.
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Related pages

More on Discord

More on Nintendo Switch Online

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