Marco Polo vs Discord
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
It's close: Marco Polo edges it 8.5 to 8.4, so the right pick depends on what you need. Marco Polo wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Discord on 3.
Families and long-distance friends who want face-to-face moments without calls
Gamers, hobby groups and online communities that want voice and text in one place
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Marco Polo | Discord |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Messaging & Calls | Messaging & Calls |
| Category rank | #6 of 10 | #7 of 10 |
| Developer | Joya Communications | Discord Inc. |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | — | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Linux | — | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Marco Polo better than Discord?
It's close: Marco Polo edges it 8.5 to 8.4, so the right pick depends on what you need. Marco Polo wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Discord on 3.
Which is cheaper, Marco Polo or Discord?
Marco Polo: Free; Marco Polo Plus is $79.99 a year, or $159.99 for a six-person family plan. Discord: Free; Nitro Basic $2.99/month, Nitro $9.99/month. On value for money, Discord scores higher.
Do Marco Polo and Discord work on the same devices?
Only Discord runs on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web.
Which is more private, Marco Polo or Discord?
Marco Polo scores higher on privacy (8.2/10). Marco Polo says it shows no ads and never sells your data. App Store label: contact info, identifiers, usage and diagnostics may be linked to you. No tracking.
Strengths and weaknesses
Marco Polo
- Feels more personal than texting
- Free, ad-free and unlimited chats
- Works across time zones and busy schedules
- Unlimited storage and HD need Plus
- Video replies take longer than a text
Marco Polo is a video walkie-talkie for the people you love. Record a quick video and they watch live if they're free or reply later if they're not, so grandparents, far-flung friends and busy families stay close without scheduling calls. There are no likes, feeds or ads. The free app covers unlimited chats, while Plus adds HD, playback speed controls and unlimited storage. In September 2026 it launched Circles, which matches women into small friendship groups.
Full Marco Polo review
Discord
- Excellent free voice chat with low latency
- Flexible servers with roles, bots and permissions
- Nearly everything important is free
- Text messages are not end-to-end encrypted
- Some adults must scan their face or upload an ID to unlock settings
- Busy servers can get noisy and hard to follow
Discord is the best free home for an online community. Servers mix text channels, drop-in voice rooms and screen sharing, and voice quality is excellent. Calls are end-to-end encrypted, but text is not, and since March 2026 every account starts with teen-safe settings until Discord is satisfied you are an adult. Nitro adds perks you can easily skip. Pick it for gaming and hobby groups, not work.
Full Discord review
