Discord is an online communication that allows users to interact with each other. Interaction on the platform requires users to either add other users as friends or join existing servers. Users can also create their own servers on Discord, although it is for more advanced users as it requires some extra knowledge about the platform. Discord is available on all major operating systems and the web.
The platform allows users of a community to come together under the same roof, called a Discord server. The server enables users to interact with each other on different channels. These channels can either be text or voice. Channels are a part of the community but are used to keep similar topics in the same place.
Discord has over 100 million active users in various servers interacting with each other. These users belong to different communities, including gaming, programming, religion, music, education, entertainment, etc.
Initially, the platform focused on gamers and game-related features. It is one of the reasons why some people still think the platform isn’t for common users. However, it no longer limits its features to gamers. There are different communities hosted on the platform, as mentioned above. Some of these communities use the platform to organize their users, replacing online forums. Others use it as an online voice and video chat platform.
While these are the prominent features of the platform, none of them brings money to it. All these features are free to use. However, that does not mean the platform does not make any money. The company behind Discord is a private company. Therefore, its records are not publicly available.
However, some experts estimate its revenues were around $70 million in 2019. That raises the question to many users of how Discord makes money.
How does Discord make money?
Many different features generate money for Discord. Discord is a free-to-use platform for its users. The platform makes money through optional features that users can use to enhance their experience on Discord. Given below are some ways in which Discord makes money.
1) Discord Nitro
The Discord Nitro features of the platform is a subscription-based feature that allows its users some premium features. It costs users $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. In contrast, there is a cheaper version of the Nitro feature, called the Nitro Classic. The Nitro Classic package costs users $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
There are several features that Nitro users get that isn’t available for non-Nitro users. These features include:
- Personalized profiles, which gives users the ability to use animated avatars and custom tags.
- Customized emojis allow users to use emojis that they can import from other sources. Discord Nitro users are not limited to using default emojis only.
- Getting two server boosts and the ability to purchase further server boosts at a 30% discount.
- Custom profile badge, allowing users to show off their Nitro status.
- Bigger uploads, which helps users upload files up to 100 MB in size instead of the default 8 MB limit.
- HD Video, allowing users to have better resolutions for their streams.
2) Server boosting
“Server boosting” isn’t a feature for users but rather for communities. Server boosting allows servers to get some extra special perks. Server boost is not only for owners but also for the users of a specific server. There are different levels of perks that servers can get using server boosting. Below is an excerpt from their website explaining each of the three different levels for servers.
| Level 1 Perks | Level 2 Perks | Level 3 Perks |
| – +50 Emoji Slots (for a total of 100 emojis) – 128 Kbps Audio Quality – Go Live streams boosted to 720P 60FPS – Custom Server Invite Background – Animated Server Icon | – Everything in Level 1 and… – +50 Emoji Slots (for a total of 150 emojis) – 256 Kbps Audio Quality – Go Live streams boosted to 1080P 60FPS – Server Banner – 50MB Upload Limit for all members (server only) | – Everything in Level 1 AND Level 2 AND….. – +100 Emoji Slots (for a total of 250 emojis) – 384Kbps Audio Quality – 100MB Upload Limit for all members (server only) – Vanity URL |
One Server Boost costs $4.99 per month. However, for Discord Nitro users, the cost is 70% of the original price. Therefore, they have to pay $3.49 per boost.
3) Game inventory
Discord also has its own game store that only Discord Nitro users can buy games from directly. Initially, the platform only allowed exclusive games on its game store. However, now they allow developers to get their games on the store as well.
In exchange, Discord promotes their game and their related server for them. The money that Discord makes off game sales is commission-based. The platform charges 10% of the revenue for each sale. For instance, a game sold for $20.00, will reap $2.00 ($20.00 x 10%) for Discord.
Conclusion
Discord is an online communication platform for users around the globe. Most of Discord’s features are free to use. However, the company still makes in different ways. These include income generated from the sale of Discord Nitro, Server Boosts, and Game Inventory. These are all optional features that, which only enhance users’ experience on the platform.
