What Is Discord Used For? A Plain English Guide

Discord is used to chat with other people by text, voice and video, usually inside a community of your own. Discord calls itself a communication platform, and its communities (called servers) can be built around any topic, interest or gaming group. You join an invite-only server, then talk in its text channels or hop into a voice channel.

If you've heard someone say "find us on Discord" and wondered what you were being asked to join, you're not alone. Plenty of creators, club organisers and small business owners get the same invite and aren't sure what it's for.

I've kept to what Discord's own Help Center says about the app, so you get its description and not the rumours. I'll also point out where a small business or creator could use it, because that's where I see most people get value from it.

What Discord is, in Discord's own words

Discord's beginner's guide calls it a communication platform that allows people to interact through text, voice and video. You can join communities or create your own, and those communities can be organised around various topics, interests or gaming groups.

So it started life as a place for gamers, but nothing in Discord's description limits it to games. A book club, a study group, a dance class or a group of friends all fit the same shape.

Discord servers: the private spaces everything happens in

The word you'll hear most is server. Discord describes a server as a private, invite-only space for your friends or community, somewhere you can connect, collaborate and talk. When someone sends you a Discord invite, they're inviting you into their server.

Anyone can make a server for almost any kind of group. That's the whole point: it's less like a public feed and more like a clubhouse that you decorate and run yourself.

Text channels and voice channels inside a Discord server

A server is made up of two kinds of channel, and between them they cover most of what people use Discord for.

Text channels: dedicated spaces for written conversation. A group can make one channel per topic, so planning, chat and announcements don't get tangled together.
Voice channels: you click one to join, with no calling or ringing needed. Others in the server can see you're there and drop in to say hello, switch on video or share their screen.

That drop-in voice idea is what makes Discord feel different from a phone call. It's more like walking into a room where people happen to be.

Discord says you can share your screen or gameplay while you're connected to a voice channel, a direct message or a group DM. For a creator, that means you can walk a friend or a small group through something live. For a small team, it's a quick way to show a colleague a problem without booking a meeting.

Using Discord on your phone, on your computer or in a browser

According to Discord, you can register an account through the desktop app, on your mobile device or in a browser. That's handy if you can't install software on a work computer, because the browser route still gets you into your servers.

Connecting other apps to your Discord profile

Discord says you can connect outside apps such as PlayStation, Spotify and Xbox to your account. The beginner's guide gives an example: a connected Spotify account lets your profile show what you're listening to.

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You can also customise your profile with an avatar, an about me section, a custom status and profile badges. If you want a tidier look, my guide to changing your Discord profile picture walks through the avatar part.

How a creator or small business could use Discord

The platform doesn't describe itself as a business tool, so I'm not going to pretend it's one. But the building blocks (invite-only spaces, topic channels and drop-in voice) suit a few simple jobs.

A community for your followers or customers, with a channel for announcements and one for chat.
A private space for a small team or a group of freelancers who want quicker conversation than email.
A study or mastermind group that meets in a voice channel and shares screens.
A hangout for a podcast, stream or newsletter audience that wants to talk to each other and to you.

Once you've got a server going, you can make it feel like yours with custom emojis for your server, and developers can look at how to make a Discord bot. If you're comparing it with other chat apps, my explainer on what WhatsApp is used for covers the phone-number-based side of things.

What Discord is not: a few things people assume

It isn't one giant public room. Servers are separate spaces, and many are invite-only.
It isn't only for gamers. Discord's own examples include book clubs, study groups and dance classes.
It isn't a replacement for email or a website. It's a conversation space, so anything important still needs a home elsewhere.

Getting started with Discord without feeling lost

Create your account in the app or in a browser. Discord has sign-up and login troubleshooting guides in its Help Center if you hit an error.
Join one server you've been invited to before you make your own.
Look at its text channels first and read before you post.
Try a voice channel when you feel ready; nobody is rung, you simply join.
Open your profile and set an avatar and a short about me so people know who they're talking to.

Keeping yourself safe when you use Discord

Treat Discord like any place where you talk to people you may not know. Only accept invites from places you trust, think before you share personal details, and use the report tools if someone is unpleasant. If you ever feel you're in danger because of something you've read, report it to Discord and contact the police.

Frequently asked questions

What is Discord used for?

Discord is used to talk with people by text, voice and video inside communities called servers. Discord describes it as a communication platform, and servers can be built around topics, interests or gaming groups.

Is Discord only for gaming?

No. Discord's beginner's guide gives examples such as book clubs, study groups and dance classes, as well as gaming groups.

What is a Discord server?

A server is a private, invite-only space for friends or a community. It's made up of text channels and voice channels.

Do I need to download Discord?

Not necessarily. Discord says you can register through the desktop app, your mobile device or a browser.

Can I share my screen on Discord?

Yes. Discord says you can share your screen or gameplay in a voice channel, a direct message or a group DM.

Can Discord show what I'm listening to?

Discord says you can connect apps like Spotify to your account so your profile can show what you're listening to.

Published and maintained by the Lilach Bullock team, covering marketing, AI and business growth.