Discord is widely regarded as the go-to messaging app for gamers. While user sentiment has been largely positive, concerns are mounting as the company moves toward going public. According to The Financial Times, the company is currently in talks with banks about a public listing. This is not exactly shocking news, as Discord has been considering going public since 2021. However, the company likely held back from taking this big step due to market and political unpredictability.
Ever since Donald Trump became US president for the second time, he has been laying down more tech-friendly regulations. Discord likely saw this as its chance to finally go public. “We understand there is a lot of interest around Discord’s future plans, but we do not comment on rumours or speculation,” Discord told the Financial Times. “Our focus remains on delivering the best possible experience for our users and building a strong, sustainable business.”
Unlike many free apps that rely on ads and premium features for revenue, Discord has remained ad-free. Instead, it generates income through Discord Nitro, a premium subscription that offers exclusive features. Whether this approach will change once the company goes public remains uncertain, but many users fear it will.
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“RIP Discord, brought into the cycle of infinite growth at any cost,” one Redditor commented. Many others echoed their dissatisfaction with Discord’s decision. To them, going public means the company will prioritize squeezing more money out of users. It may start with ads being placed liberally in what was once a clean, ad-free chat app.
Another user commented that Discord will struggle to monetize its popular chat app. “Chat apps are notoriously difficult to monetize, and most big ones end up selling themselves to a larger entity with deeper pockets or more revenue streams,” they said.
One Redditor even wrote a lengthy essay outlining the potential stages of Discord’s decline. “Final Stage: The Discord you once loved is gone. In a relentless chase to satisfy investor demands, they’ll sacrifice user experience for profit, eventually selling out to another company. By then, everyone’s already moved on,” they wrote.
Some users have already begun jumping ship and searching for Discord alternatives. The most popular suggestion is a chat app called Revolt, which closely resembles Discord—likely its biggest draw. The app is also free, and users can access it through both the app and web versions.
