Discord is a free app for voice, video and text chat. People join servers, which are communities organised into text and voice channels, and can also message friends directly, share their screen and stream games to each other. It started among gamers and is now also used by study groups, open-source projects and hobby communities.
Who it suits
- Gamers who talk while they play.
- Communities that want topic channels, roles and moderation tools in one place.
- Friends who want free group voice and video calls.
How to get the official version
- Windows, macOS, Linux: from discord.com/download. Windows builds exist for x64 and ARM64. Linux is offered as .deb, .tar.gz and other packages.
- Android: Discord on Google Play, published by Discord Inc.
- iPhone and iPad: only through the App Store, seller Discord Inc.
Discord also runs in a web browser at discord.com/app, and has a Public Test Build for people who want to try features early.
Cost
Discord is free to use. It sells an optional subscription called Nitro, and the Google Play listing shows in-app purchases. You do not need Nitro for chat, voice or video calls.
Requirements
Discord’s support site lists Windows 10 or later; Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, openSUSE 16.2+ or Fedora 32+ on Linux; Android 7 or later (Android 10 or later recommended); and iOS 16.0 or later. Its system-requirements page still showed macOS 12, but a separate Discord support notice says macOS 12 is no longer supported as of 17 September 2026 and you need at least macOS 13. Discord on Android requires a device that ships with Google Play Services.
Safety notes
Scammers send fake “Discord” or “Nitro” downloads and modified APKs through messages and websites. Install only from discord.com, Google Play or the App Store, and ignore messages offering free Nitro through links. Discord’s age ratings differ by store: Google Play (US) shows Teen and the App Store shows 12+.
Questions
Is Discord free?
Yes. Nitro is optional and adds extras; core chat and calls are free.
Can I use Discord on Windows 7 or 8?
No. Discord requires Windows 10 or later and has published a support notice about ending Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 support.
Can I install it with winget?
Yes: winget install Discord.Discord.
