Rather than monetize their free user-base through ads like Facebook, Snap, and other social apps, Discord decided ads weren’t for them.ĬEO Jason Citron explained his thinking around monetization in an interview with Patrick O’Shaughnessy on the Invest Like the Best podcast. Rather than charge per user like Slack, Teams, and other Enterprise messaging apps, Discord’s core functionality is free.
Their current positioning stretches far beyond gaming, encapsulating any community or group that wants a place to connect online.Īlongside this focus of cultivating community, Discord has pursued a unique monetization model. Today, the Discord team is focused on giving users the best digital hang possible. In fact, CEO Jason Citron claims growing beyond gaming wasn’t even on their radar until they realized 30% of users were using the product for non-gaming communities. While that’s interesting, it doesn’t seem to be a focus for them right now. Though Discord hasn’t tried to challenge Slack in the Enterprise, that hasn’t stopped analysts from making the case that they may be Slack’s biggest threat (besides Teams). Users can jump on, see who’s around, and chat seamlessly. Not quite built to support the Enterprise, but more capable than social messaging apps, Discord lives somewhere in between.įor the unfamiliar, Discord started as a chat-app for gaming but has since evolved to serve communities of all interests with a place to hang out, talk, and collaborate.įor those old enough to remember, Discord’s neighborhood vibe has been compared to the golden days of AIM. Discord occupies a fascinating middle-ground in the world of messaging.