Is Discord Nitro Basic Worth It? Every Feature Ranked

Discord Nitro Basic costs $2.99 a month. It’s the budget version of full Nitro, and Discord markets it as “just the essentials.” But what are you actually getting for three bucks?

This guide ranks every Nitro Basic feature by usefulness so you know if the cheapest Nitro tier is worth it, or if you should just earn Nitro for free.

What You Get with Nitro Basic

Nitro Basic includes:

• 50MB upload limit (instead of 25MB)
• Custom emojis everywhere
• Animated avatar
• Custom video backgrounds
• Longer messages (4,000 characters)
• HD video (720p 60fps)

That’s it. No server boosts, no profile decorations, no 1080p streaming, no 500MB uploads. Just the core features.

Tier 1: Actually Useful

These are the features that justify the $2.99 price tag.

Custom Emojis Everywhere

Why it matters: This is the single best feature in Nitro Basic. Use any server’s emojis in any other server.

If you’re active in multiple Discord communities, this feature alone changes how you communicate. Your favorite reaction emojis travel with you. Animated emojis work everywhere. It’s genuinely useful.

Without Nitro, emojis are locked to their home servers. With Nitro Basic, your entire emoji library is portable.

Verdict: Essential if you use Discord regularly across multiple servers.

50MB Upload Limit (vs 25MB)

Why it matters: You can share larger images, short videos, and small project files without hitting the wall.

The 25MB default limit is annoying. You compress videos, split files, or use external links. 50MB fixes most of those problems for casual use.

That said, 50MB still isn’t huge. Full Nitro’s 500MB limit is way more practical for serious file sharing. But for screenshots, memes, and quick clips, 50MB works fine.

Verdict: Nice upgrade, but not game-changing.

Tier 2: Decent But Not Essential

These features are fine but won’t change your Discord experience.

Animated Avatar

Why it matters: Your avatar can move. It looks cooler than a static image, and people notice it in chat.

Animated avatars are fun. They add personality to your profile. But most people see your avatar as a tiny circle in chat. The animation is subtle.

It’s a solid cosmetic upgrade for $2.99, but it’s not why you should buy Nitro Basic.

Verdict: Nice flex, not a necessity.

Custom Video Backgrounds

Why it matters: Replace your messy room with a custom background during video calls.

This is legitimately useful if you do video calls on Discord and don’t want people seeing your background. That said, most Discord calls are voice-only or screen shares, not face cams.

Verdict: Useful for the 5% of users who do regular video calls.

Longer Messages (4,000 characters)

Why it matters: Write longer messages without hitting the 2,000 character limit.

Most people don’t write 2,000+ character messages. If you’re explaining complex topics, doing roleplays, or writing mini-guides in chat, this helps. For everyone else, it’s irrelevant.

Verdict: Niche. Useful for writers, useless for everyone else.

Tier 3: Not Worth Caring About

These features technically exist but add almost no value.

HD Video (720p 60fps)

Why it matters: Video calls and screen sharing run at 720p instead of 480p.

Here’s the problem: 720p 60fps is still not great for screen sharing. Text is readable, but games and videos look compressed. Full Nitro’s 1080p is way better.

If you stream or screen share regularly, Nitro Basic’s HD video is a marginal improvement at best. You’ll want full Nitro anyway.

Verdict: Better than nothing, but not enough if streaming matters.

What You DON’T Get with Nitro Basic

This is important. Nitro Basic skips the most useful full Nitro features:

• ❌ No 500MB uploads (stuck at 50MB)
• ❌ No server boosts (full Nitro includes two free boosts)
• ❌ No profile decorations (avatar frames, effects, banners)
• ❌ No 1080p streaming (capped at 720p)
• ❌ No premium stickers (only emoji access)

If any of those features matter to you, Nitro Basic won’t cut it. You’ll need full Nitro instead.

So… Is Nitro Basic Worth It?

If you pay $2.99/month: Only if custom emojis are genuinely important to you. Everything else is bonus.

If you earn it free: Sure, why not. It’s free.

Nitro Basic is Discord’s way of monetizing casual users who don’t need all the premium features. At $2.99, it’s cheap enough that emoji access alone might justify it. But if you stream, share files, or care about profile customization, you’ll outgrow it fast.

Nitro Basic vs Full Nitro: Which Should You Get?

Here’s the honest comparison:

Choose Nitro Basic if:

• You mainly want custom emojis
• You don’t stream or share large files
• $3/month is your budget

Choose full Nitro if:

• You stream games or do screen shares
• You share videos, project files, or large images
• You own or help run a server (boosts matter)
• You care about profile customization

Choose free Nitro if:

• You earn it on NitroLoot and skip the subscription entirely

The Real Value Breakdown

Let’s be honest:

• $2.99/month = $36/year for emoji access and minor perks
• $9.99/month = $120/year for the full experience
• $0/month = Free if you earn points consistently

Nitro Basic is fine if you’re on a budget and emojis matter. But it’s a stepping stone, not a destination. Most people either stick with free Discord or jump straight to full Nitro.

If you’re not sure, start by earning free Nitro and see which features you actually use. Then decide if Basic or full Nitro fits your needs.