Whether you are a gamer, a casual user, or part of a professional team, understanding Discord pricing is essential in choosing the right plan for your needs. Discord has evolved from a voice chat app for gamers to become a communication tool for online creators, online communities, and distributed teams. Among the features it is known for is its real-time voice communication during multiplayer games.

In this guide, I will break down everything you need to know about Discord’s free and paid options. I will cover Discord Nitro pricing, the features you get with every plan, and how it compares to similar communication channels. If you are wondering whether you should stick to Discord’s free version or explore its paid plans, then this guide is for you. 

Key Takeaways: How Much Does Discord for Teams Cost?

• Discord is free to use. However, teams that want extras like increased upload limits and custom emojis can upgrade to Discord Nitro Basic ($2.99/month) or Nitro ($9.99/month).
• Compared to other communication platforms, Discord offers a competitive edge with its freemium model, flexible communities, and minimal learning curve.
• Though its roots are in gaming, Discord has evolved into a popular collaboration tool for tech-savvy professionals, online communities, education groups, and even small businesses looking for a more informal, community-driven workspace.

What’s Discord?

Discord is a text, voice, and video communication platform originally built for gamers. Over time, it has evolved to become a fully-fledged collaboration and communication tool for online communities, gamers, and content creators. 

It is packed with features like custom servers and screen sharing, making it a good communication tool for those who want to blend social and professional communication. Custom servers are user-created communities created by users tailored to specific purposes and interests. These channels are highly customizable and managed by their creators. 

As of this writing, Discord is still home to gamers who share gameplay highlights, guides, and strategies. As such, streamers and content creators on platforms like YouTube and Twitch also use Discord to connect with their followers. Other users include remote teams, educators, startups, and fan groups. 

Discord Pricing and Plans 

Discord’s pricing is designed to be flexible and accessible. Users on a budget can start with a free plan, which has all the essential features for everyday use. They can choose to upgrade their access at any time by opting for the paid Discord pricing plans: Discord Nitro Basic and Nitro. These suit users who require enhanced customization, improved streaming quality, and larger file uploads. 

In this section, we will explore the differences between the product’s free version and Nitro Basic and Nitro plans to help you decide which tier suits you best. 

Is There a Free Version of Discord?

Yes. Discord has a free plan with a surprisingly rich set of features. I tested the free plan, and I was able to create and manage a Discord server, participate in video and voice calls, send direct messages, and share screens. As a free user, you can also moderate communities, create channels, and integrate bots. 

Features:

• Unlimited text messages
• Group voice/video chat for up to 25 participants
• File uploads up to 10MB
• Use bots and community tools
• Create unlimited servers and channels
• Access to Discord on desktop, browser, and mobile

The Discord free plan is ideal for small communities, casual users, hobbyist creators, and student creators who don’t need advanced customization features. 

Discord’s Nitro Basic Plan

Discord offers localized plans, which means it is based on your region and the payment processors you choose. Nitro Basic is Discord’s cheapest plan. 

It has a few essential enhancements like basic custom profile customization and custom emojis across all servers over the free plan. If localized offers are not available in your region, you’ll pay $2.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly for this plan.

Features:

• 50MB upload limit
• Use custom emojis across all servers
• Custom video backgrounds
• Nitro badge
• Custom app icon

Nitro Basic is an upgrade for those who want to enjoy larger file sharing and emoji flexibility without committing to an expensive plan. It is ideal for regular users, streamers, and community moderators. 

Discord’s Nitro Plan

Nitro is Discord’s top-tier plan, ideal for those who want the full Discord experience. It has all the features you get in Nitro Basic, plus powerful upgrades like HD streaming and custom and animated emojis. Nitro costs  $9.99/month or $99.99/year. 

Features:

• Custom and animated emojis anywhere
• HD streaming 
• Upload files up to 500 MB
• Join up to 200 servers
• Custom app icon
• Custom video backgrounds
• Custom stickers anywhere

Nitro is ideal for power users, community builders, streamers, and content creators who want top-tier personalization and performance. 

How Does Discord Compare to Other Communication Software?

While Discord is an amazing communication tool, it is not the only communication platform out there. Even though it has its advantages — like being an all-in-one communication hub, an easy-to-use interface, and a strong developer community — it also fails in areas like low performance on low-end devices as well as  limited search and file history. 

We will discuss how Discord compares to some of its competitors, focusing on key differences in features, pricing, and target users. 

1. Discord vs Slack 

Discord and Slack both serve as communication channels. However, they cater to different audiences. Slack is used for workplace productivity and it’s ideal for those who want structured business communication and want a high level of integration. 

Meanwhile, Discord was originally created for gamers but has evolved to become a powerful hub for communities, creators, and small businesses. It is used for real-time text, video, and audio communication in casual and professional settings. 

As far as pricing goes, Slack has a free plan with limited features. For instance, audio calls are only available on a one-on-one basis and message history is limited to 90 days. Video calls are only available on Slack’s paid plans, starting from $7.25 per user per month if you pay annually.  

On the other hand, most of Discord’s features like text messaging and video and audio calls are available on the free plan. You can make a group call with up to 25 people on the free plan. However, those who want optional upgrades like higher upload limits, custom emojis, and enhanced visuals can try paid Discord pricing plans starting from $2.99/month. 

2. Discord vs Pumble            

Pumble is designed as a free Slack alternative. It focuses more on threaded conversations, team-based collaboration, and organized channels. Pumble supports message pinning, one-on-one video calls on the free plan, and a powerful search feature for messages and files. These make Pumble ideal for a formal workplace that needs structured communication.

Meanwhile, Discord is designed for real-time voice and video chat. It features always-on audio rooms and unlimited voice channels. Discord also has community management features and moderation tools, making it ideal for casual and community-driven communication. 

Both Discord and Pumble offer great free plans. However, their value propositions differ. Discord’s free plan allows users to utilize community features, unlimited messages, voice/video group video chat, and screen sharing.

It also has optional upgrades like custom emojis and an increased upload file limit through the Nitro Basic ($2.99/month) and Nitro ($9.99/month) plans. 

On the other hand, Pumble is free for unlimited users. Users looking for group video calls, advanced analytics, and custom permissions control will need to opt for the product’s paid plans, which start at $1.99/user/month. 

3. Discord vs Microsoft Teams 

Microsoft Teams is designed for corporate teams, educators and enterprise users. It fits teams that need structured collaboration, document co-authoring, and interactive meetings. Its native integration with Microsoft 365 tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint make it ideal for organizations and individuals already in the Microsoft ecosystem.  

On the flipside, Discord fits online communities, gamers, and online content creators. The persistent voice channels, video calls, and screen sharing make it ideal for those who want real-time conversations. Discord suits informal and casual conversations, especially in communities around gaming. 

Discord is free to use and includes group video calls with up to 25 participants. However, you can go for optional upgrades like increased file upload limit size and custom emojis on Nitro Basic ($2.99/month) or Nitro ($9.99/month) plans. 

Meanwhile, Microsoft Teams also has a free plan that allows up to 100 participants for group meetings that last for 60 minutes. Paid plans start from $4 per user per month and offer premium Office apps and larger meeting capacities. 

In Conclusion: Is Discord the Right Solution For You?

Discord is a top communication platform that balances powerful community tools with casual communication. Its free plan is a good choice if you want to enjoy real-time unlimited text messaging, video conferences (up to 25 participants), audio calls, file sharing (up to 25mb) and screen sharing. It is an excellent choice for startups, gamers, creators, study groups, and hobby communities looking for casual community setups. 

However, if you need advanced additions, you should explore Discord’s Nitro plans. Nitro Basic at $2.99/month gives you better video streaming, file upload limits (50MB), and custom emojis. Meanwhile, the Nitro subscription gives 1080p/60fps video streaming capability and upload limits to 500MB. 

So, is Discord right for you? If you’re seeking a flexible, intuitive, and highly social communication platform with a strong free tier, Discord is a great choice. However, if you are a power-user, streamer, or a community manager who wants to elevate their experience and presentation, I recommend opting for Discord’s Nitro plans instead. 

Discord Pricing: FAQs