Software · head to head
Nintendo Switch Online vs Discord
N
Nintendo Switch Online
Software
Online play, classic games and more
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Discord has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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; 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
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Nintendo Switch Online and Discord actually diverge.
| Attribute | Nintendo Switch Online | Discord |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 2015 |
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 Nintendo Switch Online
Nothing recorded that Discord does not also cover.
Only in Discord
- Voice channels
- Video calls
- Text channels
- Screen sharing
- Go Live streaming
- Server organization
- Role management
- Moderation tools
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Nintendo Switch Online
No use cases recorded yet. See the Nintendo Switch Online review.
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Nintendo Switch Online
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Nintendo Switch Online review.
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
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Nintendo Switch Online or Discord better?
- Neither clearly leads. Nintendo Switch Online starts at On request and Discord at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Nintendo Switch Online or Discord?
- Discord has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Nintendo Switch Online and Free for Discord.
- Does Nintendo Switch Online or Discord run on more platforms?
- Nintendo Switch Online runs on Web. Discord runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- 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 can Nintendo Switch Online do that Discord cannot?
- Discord covers Voice channels, Video calls, Text channels, Screen sharing.