What Is Discord and How to Use It? [Updated]

Discord, launched in 2015 to cater to gamers, has grown into a popular platform for a variety of communities, including Bitcoin enthusiasts and reptile lovers. By 2019, it ranked as the 11th most popular mobile social networking app in the US, reaching 8.03% of mobile users. In 2020, it generated an estimated $120 million in revenue, with over 31,000 active websites using the platform. Its user-friendly interface and strong privacy features have contributed to its growing popularity.

Read ahead to find out what makes it better than other communication platforms out there.

Part 1: What Is Discord?

Discord has everything you need in a good communication software with its voice chats, video calls, and text options. These let users get in touch with each other, which works perfectly for gamers to form communities, coordinate, and talk while playing.

Primarily a chat app, it makes chatting while playing games on PC very convenient. However, it is not just used by gamers, as a lot of people use it as a social and organizational tool. 

This past year, Discord has become the default destination for Youtubers, influencers, and Instagrammers who want to build a community around their content and connect with audiences in a more meaningful way.

Part 2: How Does Discord Work And What Can It Be Used For?

1. Basic Functionality

Discord is a communication platform that allows users to:

• Message and voice-chat with others.
• Share videos, links, images, music, etc.
• Interact in servers (community spaces) organized into text and voice channels. Each channel has a unique topic or purpose (e.g., gaming, pet pictures).

2. Community Interaction

• Join existing servers: Explore various communities centered around shared interests.
• Create your own server: If you can‘t find a community you like, start your own for free.
• Search for servers: Use Google or Discord‘s internal search engine to find servers based on your interests.

3. Additional Features

• GIFs: Use the "/giphy" command to add GIFs to your chats.
• Spoilers: Mark messages as spoilers using the "/spoiler" command.
• Direct Messaging: USend private messages to others and initiate voice or video calls.
• App Integrations: Connect Discord to apps like Spotify or YouTube to enhance your experience.

4. Multitasking and Accessibility

• Play and chat simultaneously: Join a server while gaming or doing other activities. Access your Discord server on any device and interact with friends in real-time.
• Popular with professionals: Many day traders and investors use Discord to multitask and stay connected during their work.

5. Free and Paid Versions

• Free Version: Discord is completely free to download and use.
• Discord Nitro (Premium): Includes features like larger file uploads, animated emojis, better-quality streaming, and more.

Part 3: What Makes Discord Standout?

There's a reason why Discord has managed to garner over 300 million registered users as of June 2020. Even though you can find many communication tools, the variety of chat options makes Discord stand out amongst others.

• Easy-to-Use Interface: Discord combines a clean, intuitive UI with features from apps like Slack and Skype, making it easy to navigate. Its voice chat is optimized for gaming, ensuring clear communication during gameplay.
• A Social Forum: Discord isn't just a communication tool; it's a social platform. Users connect with like-minded people in private or public servers, making it ideal for both friends and new connections—not just gamers.
• Member Roles: When creating a server, you can set different roles for members, such as moderators, admins, or special titles for active users, making server management easier and rewarding engagement.
• Accessibility: Discord works across multiple platforms, including web, mobile, and desktop versions. It runs smoothly in the background on your PC while you play games, ensuring you can stay connected from anywhere.

Part 4: Where Can You Use Discord?

Whether you have Windows or Mac, you can download and use the app effortlessly.

You can also use it in-browser at its official website, though there are some limitations. For example, you won't be able to detect audio devices or a webcam and screen-sharing feature to stream desktops or windows to other people.

If you want to use it on the go, try the iOS and Android apps that offer relatively similar features as the desktop one. They have recently added the screen sharing feature to the mobile version as well making it accessible for everyone.

Part 5: How to Get Started On Discord?

Step 1Creating a Discord Account

Download Discord, click "Register," and fill in your details (email, username, password). Hit "Continue" to create your account. Check your email to verify and unlock full functionality. If you don‘t see the email, click "Resend."

Step 2Joining a Server

Find a server by using the search function and entering keywords related to your interests. Click on a server to preview it, and if you like it, click "Join Server." The server will appear as an icon on your dashboard for easy access.

Step 3Adding Friends

To add friends, go to the "Friends" tab and click "Add Friend." Enter their username and #number, then click "Send Friend Request." Your username and number are visible at the bottom of your dashboard.

Bonus Part: How Discord and Video Editing Software Work Together

Discord is a fantastic platform for sharing content, whether it's gameplay, reactions, or fun moments with friends. To make your shared content stand out, using a video editing software like Wondershare Filmora can add a creative touch. Here's how Discord and Filmora can work together:

1. Sharing Edited Videos on Discord

After recording your gameplay or content on Discord, you can edit it using Filmora to polish it.

Add special effects, music, text overlays, and more to your videos, turning them into high-quality content to share with friends or your Discord community.

2. Custom Emojis for Your Server

Create custom emojis by editing short video clips or animations in Filmora.

Upload these personalized emojis to your Discord server, giving your community more unique and engaging ways to communicate.

3. Creating and Sharing GIFs

Filmora makes it easy to transform parts of your video into GIFs.

These fun, reaction-based GIFs can be uploaded directly to Discord, where they can be used in chats or reactions.

4. Enhancing Community Engagement

With Filmora, you can also create highlight reels, memes, and reaction videos.

These can be shared within Discord servers, keeping your friends, followers, or gaming group engaged with fresh, entertaining content.

Conclusion

As you would've already gathered from above, Discord is a very cool and useful app. It is not just meant for communication but to also build a social platform where you can meet other people and form communities around the same interests.