Discord Nitro is Discord‘s premium subscription plan, offering perks like custom emojis, animated avatars, expanded file limits, and improved video quality. With a $9.99 per month price tag however, not every Discord user can afford Nitro‘s bonuses.
That‘s where the open-source Discord modification client BetterDiscord (BD) comes in. By installing BD and its broad plugin library, you can activate many Nitro subscription features entirely free.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know to start enjoying Discord Nitro perks without paying… by harnessing the power and customization potential of BetterDiscord.
Why Mod Custom Clients Like Discord
But first – why do people even bother tinkering with apps like Discord in the first place?
As a life-long gamer who‘s very active chatting across various gaming communities, I definitely understand the appeal. Unofficial "mods" have been a staple in the video game world for decades.
Modding grants players deeper control to customize their gaming experience. And chatting apps like Discord are just an extension of that gaming journey.
For creative types, BD themes and plugins are a form of self-expression. Custom profiles with tweaked features can feel more personal and fun.
Others just enjoy unlocking hidden functionality for free that would normally cost money. Getting 90% of the Nitro perks without a subscription fee saves a lot of cash.
And frankly, peeking behind the curtain of apps via unofficial tools satisfies our human curiosity! BD lets you experiment and tinker under the hood in ways Discord doesn‘t intended.
Of course modding does carry risks. But used responsibly, most BD enthusiasts never deal with major downsides. Now let‘s explore some plugins that unlock premium niceties.
Top Plugins for Free Nitro Perks
Here are some of my top picks for BD plugins that provide Discord Nitro features without paying for a subscription.
NitroPerks
NitroPerks replicates some of the most popular Nitro benefits:
| NitroPerks Feature | Nitro Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Animated Emojis | Use animated emoji like Nitro |
| Animated Avatar | Set a gif as your profile pic |
| Higher Quality Screen Sharing | Up to 1080p 60fps |
| Fancy Chat Embeds | Rich embeds in chat |
| Personal Stickers | Create and use custom sticker pack |
Grab NitroPerks from the Github repo here.
InfinityCord
InfinityCord lifts various restrictions for free users:
| InfinityCord Unlock | Free Plan Limit |
|---|---|
| File Upload Size | 50MB max |
| Characters per Message | 2000 max |
| Edited Tag Colors | Nitro only |
| Hidden Channels | Nitro only |
Truly unlock limitless potential by installing InfinityCord from their Github here.
ReadAllNotifications
ReadAllNotifications adds a handy "Mark All Read" button to clear notifications globally across all your mutual Discord servers in one click.
No more distracting brightly colored bars everywhere tempting you to check every single server constantly! This helps you focus on the task and community in front of you.
Download the ReadAllNotifications plugin at their GitHub repo here.
Additional Handy Plugins
Here are a few other great mods to check out:
| Plugin Name | Features |
|---|---|
| NitroBadge | Unlocks the Nitro profile badge |
| XPBoost | Faster levelling up & profile XP |
| NoTrack | Stops Discord tracking some activity |
| TypingIndicator | Shows when others typing like Nitro |
Responsible Usage To Avoid Bans
I want to re-emphasize that although BD plugins are powerful Discord customizations, you are using modified client software in ways Discord does not officially approve.
There are always risks tampering with apps like this. While full account bans are rare, there‘s no guarantee you won‘t run into issues.
Here are tips to staying safe while enjoying your unlocked Nitro perks:
| Safety Precaution |
|---|
| – Use throwaway or alt Discord accounts rather than main |
| – Avoid griefing/spammy plugins that negatively impact communities |
| – Don‘t share your client mods or try selling access |
| – Keep BetterDiscord + plugins constantly updated |
| – Only install plugins from trustworthy known sources |
| – Review permissions/source code before new plugins |
| – Disable all mods if trying to contact Discord support |
Bd responsibly this way, most users never deal with major downsides. Still, it‘s on you to use maturely. BetterDiscord offers amazing customization potential – so wield it conscientiously.
Why People Love Customizing Apps Like Discord
What drives people to mod and customize apps like Discord in the first place? As an avid PC gamer who chats across various gaming communities daily, I genuinely enjoy tailoring my chat clients to my style.
Discord has achieved massive popularity in gaming circles by fostering an extremely customizable chat and community creation platform. Everything is moldable, from your personal profile to granular server permissions.
So for creative types and power users, BetterDiscord represents the next evolution in tailoring your perfect chatting interface. The plugins, skins, and tweaks bend Discord in new ways neither the developers nor community yet imagined.
Unlocking hidden or paid features feeds into a universal human love of exploration and curiosity. Peeking behind the digital curtain with unofficial tools reveals new possibilities.
And achieving premium perks for free through clever technical wizardry provides a thrill for savvy internet users. Even if I could afford Nitro, I enjoy not having to pay!
Of course with great power comes responsibility. But used maturely, most BD fans find immense value customizing tools that deeply impact their social lives.
More on Using BetterDiscord Securely
Given BD and its plugins do modify Discord‘s internals significantly, it‘s worth illuminating best practices to avoid issues:
Pick Plugin Sources Wisely
Not all BD plugins come from reputable developers. When browsing the built-in BD library or manually installing mods:
- Verify plugin code isn‘t doing anything suspicious before installing
- Ensure permissions being requested make sense
- Check the developer‘s reputation and other community chatter
Stick to downloading plugins only from trustworthy sites like GitHub or the official BetterDiscord hub.
Maintain Privacy & Security
Granting external scripts access to an app always increases potential privacy risks. Disable any concerning plugins immediately.
It‘s also critical to keep BetterDiscord itself constantly updated whenever new versions release. Developer fixes key security issues and ban loopholes every update.
So enable auto-updates in Discord settings and periodically check the site for new releases. Don‘t use outdated BD builds!
Troubleshooting Problems
If you suddenly experience crashes, glitches or strange issues in Discord, BD plugins could be the culprit:
- Try disabling all plugins and re-enabling one by one to isolate problem addons
- Uninstall/reinstall BetterDiscord cleanly if needed
- Restore your backed up Discord data if nothing else works
Proper troubleshooting techniques help smooth over any hiccups in your modded client experience.
Controversies Around Free Nitro Mods
While most BD fans use plugins innocuously to customize their Discord experience, controversies around this underground ecosystem have emerged:
Reselling Access & Scamming
Some disreputable groups repackage plugins or modded clients into scammy software suites. They then sell access to naive users unaware BetterDiscord itself is free.
Worse, hacked/cracked Discord accounts have had Nitro subscriptions transferred illegally too.
Always get mods only from official trusted sources. And please use responsibly!
Are My Actions Supporting Crime?
There‘s an ethical discussion around promoting piracy of premium features people work hard producing. Server strain from large unlocked uploads costs Discord money too.
I believe most plugin creators and users have good intentions supporting an open ecosystem. But it still bears reflecting on how our actions affect others.
As with all things, moderation is wise. The middle path should consider both Discord‘s needs and our community‘s.
Closing Thoughts
While BetterDiscord and its plugins do carry risks if used irresponsibly, tens of thousands of community members continue enjoying awesome customizations unlocked every day within its open platform.
The plugins shared here should grant you an amazing headstart tailoring a beautifully personalized, feature-packed Discord at zero cost.
Yet also cultivate empathy for both the developers working hard behind the scenes to fuel our passions, and fellow users just trying to chat in peace. If we all contribute positively, apps like Discord have so much potential nourishing online community.
Now get out there, be bold in your self-expression, but also be wise. Game on my friends!