Discord Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Discord pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $9.99 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Discord offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Unlimited text and voice channels
- Up to 100 servers
- Video calls up to 25 participants
- Screen sharing at 720p/30fps
- 8MB file upload limit
- Standard emoji
- Basic voice quality
- Direct messages and group DMs
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- 50MB file upload limit
- Custom emoji anywhere
- Custom video backgrounds
- Nitro badge on profile
- Special Nitro avatar decoration
- 2 Server Boosts included
- Custom App icons
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| File uploads | 8MB | Unlimited/Higher |
| Streaming | 720p/30fps | Unlimited/Higher |
| Servers | 100 | Unlimited/Higher |
| Custom emoji | 50 per server | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like 50MB file upload limit or Custom emoji anywhere
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Discord branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Nitro Basic Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Nitro Basic $2.99/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 8 included | 7+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Discord branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Casual users, gamers, and small communities | Users wanting basic customization and larger file uploads |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Discord free?
Yes, Discord offers a freemium plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on file uploads, streaming that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Discord's free plan?
Discord's free plan includes: Unlimited text and voice channels, Up to 100 servers, Video calls up to 25 participants, Screen sharing at 720p/30fps, 8MB file upload limit, and 3 more features. Key limits include File uploads: 8MB, Streaming: 720p/30fps, Servers: 100.
03 What's NOT included in Discord's free plan?
The free plan excludes: 50MB file upload limit, Custom emoji anywhere, Custom video backgrounds, Nitro badge on profile, Special Nitro avatar decoration. You'll also have Discord branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Discord's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 50MB file upload limit or Custom emoji anywhere, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $2.99/user/month.
05 Is Discord's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Discord's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
Get Discord pricing updates
We'll notify you when pricing changes or new free features are added.