Hey there! Have you heard about Discord and wondered – can I really use it for free or are there hidden charges? Well, I‘ve got the answers for you in this comprehensive guide.
Discord is a popular chat app used by over 150 million people to talk and hang out with their communities and friends. But what exactly is Discord, how does it work, and can you use it forever 100% free?
I‘ll explain everything in detail, but the short answer is:
Yes, Discord is completely free to use! There are no hidden fees or limits imposed on free accounts.
Let me walk you through what Discord is, its key features, how the pricing works, and whether you need to pay. I‘ll also share some Discord statistics, fascinating facts, and address common questions people have.
So buckle up, and let‘s dive in!
What Exactly is Discord?
Discord is a free voice, video, and text chat platform launched in 2015. The company behind it is based in San Francisco.
It lets friends, communities, gaming clans, school clubs, and pretty much any interest group create a shared space to hang out in – called a Discord "server."
Each server contains organized chat channels for text discussions, sharing media or just hanging out in voice chats.
Some examples of popular Discord servers are:
- Gaming clans coordinating multiplayer games
- Content creators engaging with their audience
- Students preparing for exams
- Sports teams discussing strategies
- Brands providing customer support
There are over 19 million active Discord servers currently spanning all kinds of topics and niches!
The core features Discord offers include:
- Crystal clear voice chat for up to thousands of people
- Organized text channels for conversations and sharing media
- Video calling for up to 25 people
- Screen sharing to present documents, share gameplay and more
- Direct messaging for private chats between friends
- Server creation tools to build your own communities
And the best part? All these features are absolutely free!
Discord is available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers. You can take your conversations seamlessly across devices.
How Does Discord Actually Work?
Let‘s quickly walk through how chats are organized on Discord:
Everything happens within servers which act as central hubs dedicated to particular topics or groups.
Each server contains various text and voice channels focused on different conversations. For example, a gaming server may have channels for general chat, strategizing,Finding teammates etc.
You can join existing public servers using invite links or create your own instantly for free.
Popular public servers have tens of thousands of members while private servers are usually smaller friend groups.
permissions let you control who has access to each channel.
This structure allows communities to have free-flowing conversations in an orderly manner. You always know where to find people discussing specific subjects.
Now that you have a sense of how Discord works, let‘s move on to…
Is Discord Free to Use Forever?
This is the big question on your mind – whether you have to eventually pay to use Discord.
And the answer is…
Absolutely not! Discord is 100% free to use forever with no limits.
You‘ll never have to pay anything to enjoy Discord‘s full set of features including:
✔️ Unlimited users per server
✔️ Unlimited number of servers
✔️ Unlimited channels
✔️ Unlimited chat messages
✔️ Unlimited voice calling
✔️ 8MB max file sharing
✔️ Screen sharing up to 720p, 30fps
There are zero restrictions on core functionalities – you get the complete experience.
Discord follows a "freemium" model where the product is free but premium extras are available via paid subscriptions called Nitro (more on this later).
This free offering sets Discord apart from competitors like Skype or Teamspeak which had paid tiers. According to Discord CEO Jason Citron, keeping a generous free version was core to Discord‘s values and growth.
And the numbers speak for themselves – over 150 million people use Discord every month, with about 9 million concurrently during peaks!
Okay, So What is Discord Nitro Then?
Although Discord is free, they do offer an optional premium subscription called Discord Nitro starting at $9.99 per month.
Think of it as upgrading from economy to business class. You don‘t need it, but it makes the experience cooler.
Here are some benefits you get as a Discord Nitro subscriber:
- File size limit increased from 8MB to 50MB
- Use custom emoji across all your servers
- Get an animated profile picture
- Stand out with a Nitro profile badge
- Higher Go Live stream quality of 1080p, 60fps
- Access to exclusive Nitro-only perks
However, you should know:
- Discord has no ads currently. Nitro is their only way to earn some revenue.
- No core features like messaging, voice chat etc. are locked behind the subscription.
- You can use Discord perfectly fine forever without paying anything.
Many apps like Skype, Telegram, WhatsApp also make money from optional subscriptions while keeping the product free. This balanced approach allows Discord to sustain and expand their infrastructure.
Wondering what users get out of the free model and how it helped Discord grow? Let‘s discuss next!
Why Free Discord is a Game Changer
Discord‘s decision to keep core features free for everyone provided massive value and kickstarted their meteoric rise.
Here are some benefits this brought:
👥 No Barrier to Entry for New Users
Anyone can join existing servers and explore communities for free. This helped Discord onboard new users rapidly.
If there was a paywall, growth would be severely limited. People want to dip their toes in and try new platforms risk-free.
🎮 Ideal for Gaming Groups
Gamers were quick to create Discord servers for voice chat and organizing multiplayer matches. This is Discord‘s breakout audience.
The free model meant gaming groups could coordinate without paying subscription fees like business products.
🗣 Brings Niche Communities Together
Discord enables niche interests like anime, TV shows, hobbies etc. to find each other via free public servers.
These small communities may not have paid for a social space otherwise.
🏫 Great for Students and Teachers
Students can use Discord to create study groups, collaborate on projects and even attend classes during Covid – no fees required.
🤝 Business Brands Can Offer Customer Support
Airlines, retail stores, and tech brands provide customer care for free via Discord servers – saving on call center costs.
As you can see, keeping the platform free revolutionized social interaction online. Next, let‘s look at some key Discord stats and growth metrics.
Just How Big is Discord? Key Stats and Facts
From game night apps to business meetings, Discord is taking over conversations worldwide. Some jaw-dropping stats about its growth:
- Over 150 million active users per month currently
- Being used in over 84% of virtual classrooms
- 6 million new users joined from 2020 to 2021
- Every day over 1 billion messages are sent on Discord
- 20% of all internet traffic at peak hours is Discord voice
- Has over 19 million public and private servers
- Valued at over $15 billion currently
- Raised over $480 million in funding since launch
Discord hit the nail on the head by providing a modern chat experience users wanted. And the numbers prove it has taken the world by storm!
Next, let‘s check out some Discord screenshots to get a feel for the UI.
What Does Discord‘s Interface Look Like?
Here are a few screenshots illustrating Discord‘s slick chat interface:
A Discord server with organized text and voice channels
It only takes seconds to create your own Discord server
Discord Nitro subscription options for premium perks
Everything is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. You‘ll get the hang of it in no time!
Next up, I‘ll tackle some frequently asked questions about Discord and its pricing.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About Discord
Let‘s address the top questions people have about Discord‘s functionality, safety, and pricing model:
💰 Does Discord cost money to use?
Nope! Discord is 100% free to use forever with no limits or catches. You‘ll never have to pay anything.
🤔 What happens if I don‘t buy Nitro subscription?
Nothing changes. You can use Discord just as well without Nitro. All core features remain accessible.
🕹️ Who is Discord mainly for?
Although extremely popular among gamers, Discord caters to all kinds of communities these days – from hobby clubs to business teams.
🧒 Is Discord safe for kids?
Discord requires users to be 13+ but parental supervision is still recommended for teens. Some servers contain mature content.
🏢 Does it work well for remote teams?
Yes! Discord provides excellent free group voice chat and screen sharing. Many remote companies use it for meetings.
🎥 Can I really stream video on Discord for free?
Yup, you can do free video streaming via Go Live at 720p, 30fps resolution, which is pretty decent. Nitro bumps it up to 1080p, 60fps.
🖼️ What‘s the maximum file upload size?
Free users can attach files up to 8MB in size. With Nitro it goes up to 50MB. For larger files, links can be shared.
💳 What payment options does Discord accept?
They accept all major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover as well as PayPal payments.
📱 Can I use Discord on my phone?
Yes, Discord has free apps for both Android and iOS. You can sync chats across devices using the same account.
As you can see, Discord has thought of everything to provide seamless free voice, video, and text chat!
Final Thoughts
Phew, that was a lot of information!
To summarize, Discord is an incredibly powerful free chat app that makes it effortless to create shared spaces for communities.
You can use all core messaging, calling, and group chat features forever without spending a penny. Discord manages costs through optional cosmetic subscriptions (Nitro) and investors.
This generous freemium model has sparked tremendous growth, with over 150 million active monthly users globally.
Discord has become the go-to hub for gamers, niche hobbyists, businesses and virtually every social group out there. The numbers will only grow from here.
So don‘t hesitate to start using Discord – you have nothing to lose. Create your own servers or join existing communities relevant to your interests.
Who knows, you may just find your new home on Discord for gaming nights, school projects or even business meetings!
I hope this guide cleared up all your questions about Discord. Feel free to drop me any other queries you have!
