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Entertainment · head to head

Discord vs Nintendo Switch Online

Discord logo

Discord

Entertainment

Your place to talk and hang out

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nintendo Switch Online logo

Nintendo Switch Online

Gaming

Online play, classic games and more

From
$19.99/year
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 free trial requires credit card or PayPal, automatically converts to paid after 7 days
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

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 priceFree$19.99/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidWeb
CategoryEntertainmentGaming
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: 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 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

  • Online multiplayer gaming for Nintendo Switch ownersnot Discord
  • Access to classic NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, and GameCube titlesnot Discord
  • Family gaming with multi-account supportnot 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

Nintendo Switch Online

  • Free trial requires credit card or PayPal, automatically converts to paid after 7 days
  • Premium plan at $49.99/year is 2.5x the cost of Standard but limited to specific retro titles
  • No included modern games; mostly focuses on classic Nintendo titles

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

$19.99/year
  • Standard - Individual$19.99/year
    • Play compatible games online with friends and family
    • GameChat functionality
    • Access to classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy titles
  • Standard - Family$34.99/year
    • All Standard benefits
    • Up to 8 Nintendo accounts
    • Each person saves approximately $4.37/year
  • Premium - Individual$49.99/year
    • All Standard membership benefits
    • Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and SEGA Genesis games
    • Virtual Boy titles
  • Premium - Family$79.99/year
    • All Premium benefits
    • Up to 8 Nintendo accounts
    • Each person saves approximately $10/year

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 $19.99/year, 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 $19.99/year 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 $19.99/year.
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.

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
Nintendo Switch Online: How much does Nintendo Switch Online cost?

Nintendo Switch Online Standard costs $19.99 per year for one account or $34.99 per year for up to 8 family accounts. Premium membership with additional retro games costs $49.99 per year for one account or $79.99 per year for up to 8 accounts.

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

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

Source
Nintendo Switch Online: Is there a free trial for Nintendo Switch Online?

Yes, Nintendo Switch Online offers a free 7-day trial. A credit card or PayPal account is required to start the trial, and you will be automatically charged unless you cancel before the trial ends.

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
Nintendo Switch Online: What is the difference between Nintendo Switch Online Standard and Premium?

Standard ($19.99/year individual or $34.99/year family) includes online play, cloud backup, and classic NES/SNES titles. Premium ($49.99/year individual or $79.99/year family) adds Nintendo GameCube, N64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis, and Virtual Boy games.

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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