Discord Nitro is Discord's paid subscription, and as of October 2026 you can buy it in two versions: Nitro and the cheaper Nitro Basic. Both add things like custom emoji anywhere and bigger uploads, but only full Nitro comes with Server Boosts, a Boost discount and the Orbs perks.
Here's the catch most people miss. Discord's own help never states a Nitro price. It says prices differ by location, local market, currency exchange rates and regional operating costs, and that Discord tests different pricing. So the only place you'll see your real price is the checkout in the Nitro tab, and it may not match what a friend in another country pays.
Nitro vs Nitro Basic: where the gap is
Both plans are monthly or annual subscriptions, billed once per billing period. You can cancel any time, and the plan stays active until the end of the period you've paid for. The difference is in what each one gives you:
| Perk | Nitro | Nitro Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Server Boosts included | 2, plus a discount on extra Boosts | None, and no Boost discount |
| Upload size (Discord's Nitro article) | Up to 1GB | 50MB |
| Message length | Up to 4000 characters | Not listed |
| Servers you can join | Up to 200 | Not listed |
| Custom emoji and stickers in any server | Yes | Yes |
| Super Reactions | Yes | Yes |
| Custom video backgrounds | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Orbs drop (experiment) | 250 Orbs | Not included |
| Badge | Nitro badge | Basic badge |
The Server Boosting FAQ is blunt about it: Nitro Basic subscribers get no Boost perks and no Boost discount. If you want to help a server you care about, that alone decides it.
Everything on Discord's full Nitro list
Discord's list for full Nitro is longer than most people expect. Alongside the perks in the table, it includes:
- HD streaming
- An animated avatar, banner and profile theme
- Different profiles for different servers
- Colour themes and app icon customisation
- The soundboard from any server
- Shop perks and display name styles
- Extended Quest rewards
Nitro Basic keeps the everyday chat perks: custom emoji and stickers from any server, Super Reactions, 50MB uploads, custom video backgrounds, a Basic badge and app icon customisation. If you want to know what you get without paying anything at all, I've covered that in whether Discord is free.
Why there's no Nitro price on Discord's help pages
This is the bit that confuses people searching for a number. Discord's help says it reviews prices by region and will notify you in advance of a change. Its Localized Pricing article adds a few details worth knowing:
- If your payment method or region doesn't support localised pricing, you're charged in US dollars.
- Nitro and Shop gifts aren't sold at localised prices. They cost the standard US dollar price, paid in local currency in select regions.
- The checkout shows the currency symbol or code next to the price, so check it before you pay.
So if you're buying Nitro as a gift for someone in another country, expect it to cost more than your own subscription might.
Nitro Classic, credits and gifts
Nitro Classic can't be bought any more. If you already have it, you can keep it, but once you cancel you can't go back to Classic.
Nitro credits are a different thing again. They're an Orbs-only Shop item and an occasional Quest reward, and they give you Nitro for a limited time. Credits stack, they don't expire and they never turn into a recurring subscription. You can only claim them on desktop or browser, but they work on any device. What they leave out is important: no 2 Server Boosts, no Boost discount, no Nitro profile badge and no Share Nitro.
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Gifting works from a DM, group chat, server channel or the Nitro page. A gift link posted in a group or channel can be claimed by anyone, so send it privately if it's meant for one person. Once a gift is claimed it can't be switched or refunded. Nitro Basic gifts can only be bought from the Nitro page, and Amazon's digital Nitro gift cards (US and EU only) cover 1, 3, 6 or 12 months of full Nitro, never Basic.
How to manage or pay for Nitro
- Check your price in the Nitro tab before you commit, because that's the only place Discord shows it.
- Pick monthly or annual. Either way, you're billed once per billing period.
- If you have a Discord gift card balance, you can use it to pay for Nitro, Nitro Basic or Server Boosts.
- To cancel or switch plans later, use the same type of device you bought on: desktop or browser if you bought there, or the app store on mobile. My guide to cancelling Discord Nitro walks through each one.
My verdict: Nitro or Nitro Basic?
If you mostly want your own emoji and stickers everywhere, Basic covers it and there's no reason to pay for more. If you run or support a server, full Nitro is the one, because those 2 Boosts and the Boost discount are the perks Basic simply doesn't have. And if you'd like to try Nitro without a subscription, Nitro credits from Orbs are the low-risk route, as long as you're happy to go without the Boosts.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Discord Nitro?
Discord's help doesn't give a fixed price. It says prices differ by location, local market, currency exchange rates and regional operating costs, so you see your price at checkout in the Nitro tab.
What's the difference between Nitro and Nitro Basic?
Full Nitro adds 2 Server Boosts, a discount on extra Boosts, uploads up to 1GB, 4000-character messages, HD streaming and the Orbs perks. Nitro Basic covers custom emoji and stickers, Super Reactions and 50MB uploads.
Can I still buy Nitro Classic?
No. Discord says Nitro Classic can't be bought any more. Existing subscribers can keep it, but can't re-subscribe after cancelling.
Do Nitro credits give the same perks as Nitro?
Not all of them. Nitro credits leave out the 2 Server Boosts, the Boost discount, the Nitro profile badge and Share Nitro.
Why does a Nitro gift cost more than my own Nitro?
Discord says Nitro and Shop gifts aren't available at localised prices. They cost the standard US dollar price, paid in local currency in select regions.
