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Entertainment · head to head

Discord vs Xbox Game Pass

Discord logo

Discord

Entertainment

Your place to talk and hang out

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xbox Game Pass logo

Xbox Game Pass

Gaming

Play together with friends, new games and classic favorites

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; Xbox Game Pass day-one access to new Xbox-published games is only included on the Ultimate tier, not on Essential or Premium
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discord and Xbox Game Pass actually diverge.

Attributes where Discord and Xbox Game Pass differ
AttributeDiscordXbox Game Pass
Starting priceFreeOn request
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 Xbox Game Pass

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 Xbox Game Pass
  • Running a moderated community server with roles and channelsnot Xbox Game Pass
  • Screen sharing and streaming gameplay to a small groupnot Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

  • Access hundreds of games without individual purchasesnot Discord
  • Play new AAA titles on day one of releasenot Discord
  • Stream games across multiple devices seamlesslynot Discord
  • Earn rewards points while gaming and shoppingnot Discord
  • Experience multiplayer gaming with online friendsnot 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

Xbox Game Pass

  • Day-one access to new Xbox-published games is only included on the Ultimate tier, not on Essential or Premium
  • Cloud gaming quality is explicitly tiered, with the vendor stating Premium gets improved cloud quality and only Ultimate gets premium cloud gaming

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

Xbox Game Pass

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Xbox Game Pass 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 Xbox Game Pass if

Nothing in the data separates Xbox Game Pass from Discord on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Xbox Game Pass review

Questions people ask

Is Discord or Xbox Game Pass better?
Neither clearly leads. Discord starts at Free and Xbox Game Pass at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discord or Xbox Game Pass?
Discord has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Discord and On request for Xbox Game Pass.
Does Discord or Xbox Game Pass run on more platforms?
Discord runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Xbox Game Pass runs on Web.
Can I use Discord for free?
Yes. Discord has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xbox Game Pass 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 Xbox Game Pass is typically brought in for.
What can Discord do that Xbox Game Pass 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
Xbox Game Pass: What are the pricing tiers and trial offers?

Essential tier: Get your first month for $1, then regular pricing. Premium tier: Get your first 14 days for $1, then regular pricing. Ultimate plan: regular pricing with no trial discount mentioned.

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

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

Source
Xbox Game Pass: How many games are included in each tier?

Library varies: 50+ games (Essential), 200+ (Premium), 500+ (Ultimate), 300+ (PC-only)

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
Xbox Game Pass: How long can I access games on Game Pass?

Game Pass subscribers enjoy access to games in the library until either the subscription is canceled/expires, or a game leaves the Game Pass library.

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
Xbox Game Pass: What is the refund policy?

If you cancel your subscription within 30 days after payment, you may qualify for a one-time refund of recurring charges.

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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