So What Should You Use Discord For

Discord has quickly become the go-to online communication tool, the type of service that caused Microsoft to drum up billions of dollars in an attempt to acquire it. You'll see why Discord is so popular. Discord makes it extremely easy and intuitive for anyone who wants to set up chat servers and connect with friends or strangers via audio, text, and video. Discord is so widely used that even non-gamers use it. discord server You probably have it open while reading this, but if you were somehow on the fence, know that Discord is an Editors' Choice pick for online messaging tools. You should incorporate it into your digital life immediately.

Your Discord account is free and follows you across all platforms. Visit the website for more information or download the desktop application to use Discord from your Windows, macOS or Linux computer. Download the Discord mobile app on Android and iOS. Microsoft and Sony let you integrate Discord into their respective PlayStation Network and Xbox Live accounts. Currently, Nintendo doesn't allow Discord on the Nintendo Switch, which is expected given the company's rocky relationship with the internet. However, Sony has recently allowed Discord to be used (Opens in new window) after Microsoft's failed acquisition attempts. Perhaps Nintendo will reconsider its position in the future.

Discord's free tier should provide enough for most users. Discord Nitro Premium Tiers are also available. Discord Nitro Classic ($5/month; $50/year), lets you change your username, show off your Nitro badge, use custom emotes beyond your home server, and transform GIFS to animated avatars or emojis. Discord Nitro (just Nitro), is $10 per month, $100 per annum, and offers additional perks such as the ability to upload 100MB files in the Classic Tier or 8MB the Free Tier.

You also get two "server boosts" from Discord Nitro. When members boost a server they level it up. Even members who are not at a high enough level can receive premium benefits on the server. Server boosts can be purchased for $5 per user.

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Both premium tiers enhance Discord's audio quality and video quality. Free users stream video in 720p resolution, 30 frames per second, and 96kbps audio. Premium users enjoy 1080p resolution at 60fps, with 384kbps audio quality. Guilded, a Discord competitor offers high-quality video and audio (1080p at sixty frames per second, with 256kbps sound) with its free Tier.

Even with the best-looking video, Discord is only meant to complement video game live streaming services, not replace them. You can use Discord to create a community for your streaming audience. Integrate your Twitch account. Want to give Discord members more ways to help you financially? Integrate your Patreon accounts. Discord is able to tell you what it is. Once upon a time you could buy games from Discord, but the company shut that down once it became clear it wouldn't be the next Steam.

Create Your Community

Everything in Discord happens on a server; either ones you make or the ones you join. Like Slack's servers, Discord's servers consist of themed channels where members communicate about various topics. The channel type will determine whether members can talk via audio or text. Members can also send messages directly to each other and make video calls. You can further organize the channels by placing them in different categories such as general chat channels, or channels for specific games. A server can host up to 500 channels in 50 different categories. A single server can have up to 500k members, but only 25,000 can be online at once.

You are encouraged as an administrator to customize your server to meet the needs of your community. You can either make your server available to the public or lock it for private invites. Memorialize an inside joke with a unique emoji. Display banner artwork proudly Designate moderators to ban or warn of hostile users. Encourage premium members and other users to improve your server's performance for everyone.

Discord also offers many third-party integrations. These include social media and productivity automation. Connect your Discord servers to GitHub, Google, IFTTT, Slack, Trello, Twitter, YouTube, and other services. The apps are like bots that execute specific functions within your server.

You don't have to limit yourself to one server. You can join as many as 100 servers with one user. You can take on a completely new identity by changing your name. Invite friends from one server to another. Prioritize which servers receive notifications. Discord allows you to seamlessly move between small ponds and open oceans. You get the benefits and freedom to explore a larger ecosystem as well as tight-knit communities.

Discord's interface can get quite cluttered when there is so much to do. A quick glance at my screen will show me a list all the servers I have joined, notification icons and a list with server channels. The main feed is where you see everyone's message. There are also icons that allow you to see my inbox and any mentions or threads. It can be difficult to understand even text. Discord's strength is evident in the fact that it has so many servers worth joining, and so many other users to communicate with.

Surfing the Servers

What is Discord used for? Video games remain the primary focus. You and your friends might want to play Overwatch, Rocket League or other games with crossplay. Discord allows you to create a central, private place where you can verbally strategize and play on different consoles. After a match, you may also just want to wind down and chat. You can also pair Discord with social party games like Jackbox Party Pack, which have strong online features such as Jackbox Party Pack.

Meanwhile, the public servers give Discord an almost Reddit-like quality, where strangers come together to create a community over a shared interest. I'm in public Discord servers for Nintendo fans, as well as Black video game developers. Game developers frequently create official Discord servers to directly communicate with fans.

With more than a quarter billion users and counting, Discord appeals not just to gamers, but to basically anyone who wants a way to chat online. Discord is used by many people to do their schoolwork, watch Netflix together, and listen to Spotify. Discord can be used to continue your tabletop roleplaying games campaign even when not everyone is available in person. Video calls turn Discord into a Zoom Meetings alternative so effective that I've sat in on live press briefings from publishers conducted via Discord servers.

Although it feels awkward to say that Discord is popular because it's good, and good because it's great because of it, the vast community actually improves the service. Guilded provides useful tools and features to help you organize esports tournaments. However, only a small percentage of users use Guilded so it becomes irrelevant if you only care about private servers. Discord feels alive, and that is exactly what you need from a social platform.

Nothing Discordant Here

For countless users, Discord has become a new pillar of online communication, a dominant force in its field. This Editors' Choice pick lets you type, talk, and get face time with old friends, or potential new friends, from the comfort of your own computer, phone, or video game console. From creating and organizing your own server to seeing what's available to join, Discord honors its gaming roots while growing into a broad and accessible platform for all. Discord is the best place to be if everyone else is on it.