The early days of gaming voice chat communications were difficult for anyone who remembers them.
Back then you had a few different options – applications such as TeamSpeak, Ventrillo, Line or Mumble were some of the most popular choices, and all of them came with a whole host of difficulties.
These applications allow creating groups of gamers to all gather in a singular room to discuss, socialize or communicate within a locked environment.
However, this all then changed in 2015 with the launch of Discord. With its free base service and high reliability, Discord became the go-to service for not only gamers but many other organizations that wanted to speak easily and quickly online.
So Discord has reigned supreme for a long time now, but that’s not to say it’s the only option out there. Guilded is a new option released in 2017 that some gamers swear by and use in its place.
So which is the better option? Guilded or Discord? If you’re wondering about this, then you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’re going to be giving you a complete comparison of the two apps to see which is the best for you!
We’ve also included a short Frequently Asked Questions section to help clear up any questions you may have left over at the end.
So let’s get right into it!
What Is Discord?
Released in May of 2015, Discord describes itself as a place where communities can gather online.
During its original development, original creator Jason Citron was trying to solve one a classic gamer problem of how frustrating it could be to get guilds or teams in games such as League of Legends and Final Fantasy XIV to communicate over the course of a match or raid encounter.
In many ways, Discord is an app built by gamers, for gamers. They chose the name to reflect the problem they were trying to solve – the ‘discord’ within the gaming community revolving around constant issues with VoIP server structure.
Flash forward a few years and Discord was released. One of the main things that helped it to get so popular was by honing in on games that traditionally make use of voice software, like guilds in World of Warcraft.
This, combined with relationships with Twitch Streamers and Subreddit Communities allowed the word to be spread and Discord to become a household name.
Although it was originally, primarily a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application, it has since branched out to accommodate a much wider range of customers.
Discord is free to download and to make a server, and you can set everything up within a matter of minutes. It’s because of this simplicity that many gaming communities use it over all other alternatives.
Discord Main Features
We figured the best way to compare these two VoIPs is to lay out all their features and see what each has to offer.
In this section, we’re going to give you a complete overview of how Discord, works, including its main features, Nitro server subscriptions model, and everything else you’ll need to know.
User Interface Overview
Discord is available as an application on the PC or on mobile devices. When you open up the application you’ll find that you have the ability to join or create a server.
We’ll go into how to set up a server in more detail below, but when it comes to joining one all you need to do is either have an invite link or the name of the server that you want to join.
Once you’ve joined a server you will find it on the left of your screen and you’ll be able to see all of the different voice and text channels available.
New Users often create a welcome channel, as well as specific servers for anything and everything their community might need.
To join a voice channel, all you need to do is to click on one of the rooms and you’ll automatically join.
Discord is a remarkably reliable VoIP, allowing you to easily join a conversation discord channel. Providing you have a mic setup on your PC, or one already built into your phone, you’ll be able to start voice chat right away.
Discord users also has video-sharing capabilities, allowing you to broadcast video from your phone, webcam or attached camera without difficulty.
Streaming
One of the coolest things about Discord is its instant streaming channels.
When you’re in a voice channel, all you have to do is select the ‘start streaming’ button and you’ll be able to share your screen in the same way you might be used to with other pieces of communication software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
This can be especially good for gamers who want to be able to easily share information or different perspectives of the game they’re playing.
It’s also great for general social aspects of the community you’re in. Let’s say you’re a gamer who isn’t currently playing the same game as your friend.
They can simply stream it for you to keep you engaged in the conversation without much hassle.
Instant Messaging
It’s important to note that Discord also doubles up as an instant messaging service.
You can add friends as you might on any other similar app (for example WhatsApp) and then sent messages, voice notes, and files to your friends at a moment’s notice.
You can also use these personal chat spaces to stage private calls with your friends.
Simply press the phone icon and you’ll create your own voice chat room between you and another person, which you can easily add others to if you ever need to.
Creating Servers On Discord
We’d like to highlight here just how easy it is to make a discord server. All you have to do is log into your discord account, search for the large ‘plus’ icon on the left hand of the application, and then select the option ‘Create a Server.’
From here, you have to enter a name and there are a few more detailed settings that you can start working on, and from there, your server will be created.
Discord then allows you to customize the server further by creating additional chat/voice rooms, as well as other settings that will allow you to accommodate new server members or new users, no matter how large the community you’re trying to build is.
Discord Nitro
Discord Nitro is the company’s premium subscription that lets you strengthen your servers and gain additional features to customize your experience. Some of the main highlights of this subscription service include:
- Share Larger Files – with Discord Nitro, you’ll be able to share files up to 100MB in size. This can be important if you’re working on a group project and need to swap a lot of files around.
- Video Quality Upgrade – Nitro also allows you to stream with HD video quality.
- Server Boosts – server boosts allow you to add many different perks and benefits to your server.
- Increased Server Limit – from 100 to 200.
- Character Capacity – means you can write more in a singular message.
Whether or not Nitro is worth it for your server depends a lot on how much you use Discord and how many people you’re looking to accommodate at once.
What Is Guilded?
Guilded is a free VoIP application, similar to Discord, that is primarily used by gamers. Guilded users can create public or private chat rooms, send text messages, make video calls, and share files.
In addition to these VoIP features, the user own Guilded server also comes with a social network aspect that allows you to follow other users and view their content, like their posts, or leave comments.
Guilded also has a smartphone app, which allows you to use most of the features of the desktop app and more.
Gilded focuses mostly on video gaming and other types of gaming communities and has been designed with these customers in mind.
Although it started off as a much smaller project, it has since grown into a true competitor, especially after its primary development was taken over by the Roblox Corporation in 2021.
Main Features Of Guilded
User Interface Overview
The first thing you’ll notice when you open up Guilded is the clean and simple interface. The main window is divided into three sections: your contacts list, your text chat room, and your activity feed.
Contacts List: this is where you can see a list of all the people you’re connected to on Guilded. You can also add new contacts here by clicking the “Add Contact” button.
Chat Room: this is where you’ll have all your conversations with other Guilded users. You can create new text chat rooms by clicking the “Create Chat Room” button or join existing ones that your contacts are already in.
Activity Feed: this is where you’ll see a feed of all the activity from your contacts. This includes things like their posts, comments, and likes.
You can also access your settings from the main window by clicking the “Settings” button in the top-right corner. Here you can adjust your notification preferences, chat window behavior, and more.
One thing we’d like to point out here is that the general organization of Guilded servers is a lot more simplistic than Discord.
The two look very similar for good reason, but we would say that the Guilded UI looks all in all cleaner and is much easier on the eyes.
Creating Chat Rooms On Guilded
To create a new chat room on Guilded, click the “Create Chat Room” button. This will open up a window where you can enter the name of your chat room and invite other Guilded users to join.
You can also set whether you want the better voice chat room to be public or private. Private chat rooms can only be accessed by invitees, while public chat rooms can be accessed by anyone on Guilded.
Once you’ve created your chat room, you can start chatting with other members right away! Just type your message into the text box and hit enter to send it.
Activity Feed
Guilded’s activity feed lets you keep track of all the activity from your contacts in one place. You’ll see things like new messages, upcoming events, and recent game activity.
You can also use the activity feed to quickly start a chat with someone by clicking on their name. Just click the “Message” button next to their name and you’ll be taken to a new chat window.
If you’re ever in need of customer support, Guilded has you covered there too! Just click the “Help” button in the top right corner of the site and you’ll be taken to their help center.
Instant Playback
One of the best things about Guilded is their instant playback you can use to capture specific gaming moments.
Whether you’re trying to remember what was said in a meeting or want to share a funny or important moment in a game with friends, instant playback makes it easy.
To access your recordings, just click the “Recordings” button in the top right corner of the site. From there, you can listen to any of your recordings or download them for later.
Calendar Feature
Guilded’s VoIP system also comes with a handy calendar tool. This makes it easy to schedule recordings in advance and ensures that you never miss an important guild meeting or conversation.
To access the calendar tool, just click the “Calendar” button in the top right corner of the site. From there, you can create new recordings, view upcoming recordings, and more.
Which Is Better (Discord Server Or Guilded Server)?
Trying to choose between Discord and Guilded can be a difficult decision for gaming communities. Which is better for you might come down to the individual needs of the community/space you’re trying to create.
Discord is a VoIP and chat app designed for gamers that has seen widespread adoption.
It is because of this widespread adoption that many people choose to go for Discord, as it’s simpler, easier, and more commonly used by gamers.
Perhaps the main positive of Discord is its simple use and can be accessed on any device.
However, that’s not to say it’s the superior product.
Guilded server, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive gaming platform that includes features like voice and video chat, ladders/tournaments, and tools for managing your gaming friend groups. It’s designed to be more of an all-in-one stop for gamers, rather than just a VoIP app.
So then – we would suggest Discord if you’re a small guild/gaming community that needs something simplistic, reliable, or a place that you can easily invite other gamers to.
We would recommend Guilded if you have a larger community that requires more expansive features; especially if you’re looking to organize huge events with a lot of different members.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! That was a comparison of both Discord and Guilded, with a key focus on how they compare as well as how they differ.
We’d like to conclude by saying that both VoIPs are great applications that have and will continue to serve gamers for years to come. The one you pick is going to come down to your personal requirements.
We hope that this article has given you some insight into these two different apps and that you’re now a lot more confident about what they offer. If you still have some questions, check out our short FAQ section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Bots In Guilded?
One thing that users love about Discord is its inclusion of bots. These are AI tools that can help you with a variety of different uses such as automated sign-ups and even playing music as you’re gaming.
You’ll be glad to know that Guilded also has bots! It can be a little complicated to set one up, but all you have to do is check out a tutorial online to get one up and running on your new servers.
What Are The System Requirements For Guilded?
Guilded is a web-based application, so as long as you have a modern web browser, you’re good to go! No downloads or plugins are required.
Is Guilded Free To Use?
Yes, Guilded is completely free to use! The app does have some premium features available for purchase, but the vast majority of the features are free.
How Popular Is Discord?
Discord is by far the most popular VoIP in existence today. It has over 150 million estimated active users.
This means that if you choose Discord server as the place for your guild’s dedicated server, there’s a big chance that any new gamers will already have it installed on their PC or mobile devices.
Do Older People Use Discord?
The average age of a Discord user is 20 years of age. This is because it appeals to a variety of different gamers, from kids all the way up to older gamers.
