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Software · head to head

Discord vs Reddit

Discord logo

Discord

Software

Your place to talk and hang out

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Reddit logo

Reddit

Software

The front page of the internet

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; Reddit an ads-free experience requires the paid Reddit Premium upgrade
  • They diverge on capability: Discord covers Voice channels, Reddit covers Subreddits.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discord and Reddit actually diverge.

Attributes where Discord and Reddit differ
AttributeDiscordReddit
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidIos, Android, Web
Founded20152005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Reddit

  • Subreddits
  • Upvoting/Downvoting
  • Comments
  • Awards
  • AMAs
  • Reddit Talk
  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Reddit
  • Running a moderated community server with roles and channelsnot Reddit
  • Screen sharing and streaming gameplay to a small groupnot Reddit

Reddit

  • Following topic-based communities and discussion threadsnot Discord
  • Posting questions and getting answers from a subredditnot Discord
  • Ad-free browsing and community perks through Reddit Premiumnot 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

Reddit

  • An ads-free experience requires the paid Reddit Premium upgrade
  • Premium avatar gear, r/lounge access and custom app icons are locked to Reddit Premium
  • Some communities require a minimum amount of karma before you can post or comment
  • Premium subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the subscription ends
  • The iOS app requires iOS 16.0 or later

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

Reddit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Browsing
    • Posting
    • Commenting
  • Reddit Premium$5.99/month
    • No Ads
    • Premium Awards
    • Exclusive Subreddit

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 Reddit if

  • You need subreddits.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want upvoting/downvoting.
Reddit review

Questions people ask

Is Discord or Reddit better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord starts at Free and Reddit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord or Reddit?
Discord starts at Free and Reddit at Free.
Does Discord or Reddit run on more platforms?
Discord runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Reddit runs on Ios, Android, Web.
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 Reddit is typically brought in for.
What can Discord do that Reddit cannot?
Discord covers Voice channels, Video calls, Text channels, Screen sharing. Reddit covers Subreddits, Upvoting/Downvoting, Comments, Awards.
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Related pages

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