What Discord badges are and where they appear
Discord badges are small icons that sit next to your username in chat and on your profile. They show other users that you have done something specific — bought Nitro, been on the platform for years, participated in official Discord events, or worked with Discord in some way. Some badges are given automatically when you meet the requirement. Others you have to claim yourself after Discord sends you a notification.
Badges appear in two places: next to your name in the member list and chat, and on your profile card when someone clicks your name. They are purely informational — they do not change what you can do in Discord, and you cannot hide them once you have earned one. If you do not want a badge visible, your only option is to not earn it in the first place.
Discord has changed which badges exist and how you earn them several times. The badges available to you depend on your account history and what Discord is currently running. Some older badges (like the HypeSquad badge) are no longer given out, though accounts that earned them keep them.
Key Takeaways
- Nitro badges appear automatically when you buy Discord Nitro or Nitro Basic, and disappear if your subscription ends.
- Server Booster badges show on your profile when you spend money to boost a server, and stay as long as you keep boosting.
- Verified Bot Developer and Early Verified Bot badges require you to register a bot with Discord and meet specific criteria.
- Event badges appear when Discord runs limited-time campaigns, and you must claim them through a link or button Discord sends you.
- Most badges cannot be earned through normal gameplay — they require spending money, building something, or being invited to a specific program.
Nitro and Nitro Basic badges
The Nitro badge appears next to your name automatically the moment you buy Discord Nitro (the paid subscription). It stays visible as long as your subscription is active. If you cancel Nitro, the badge disappears within a few hours. The same applies to Nitro Basic, which is a cheaper tier Discord introduced in 2023 — it gives you a slightly different badge but works the same way.
You do not have to do anything to claim the badge. Discord adds it to your account the when ready your payment processes. If you do not see it right away, try closing Discord completely and opening it again. The badge will show on your profile and next to your name in every server you are in.
Nitro costs money each month or year depending on which plan you choose. Prices vary by country. If you are unsure whether you have Nitro, open Discord, click your username at the bottom left, and look for "Nitro" in the menu — if it says "Upgrade to Nitro" you do not have it yet.
Server Booster badges
When you spend money to boost a server (a feature that gives the server perks like better audio quality and more emojis), you earn a Server Booster badge on your profile. The badge shows which tier you are boosting at — Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 — based on how many months you have kept the boost active. The longer you boost, the higher your tier and the fancier your badge looks.
To boost a server, open the server, click the server name at the top, and look for "Boost this server" or a rocket icon. You will see the cost and what perks the server gains. Once you pay, the badge appears on your profile when ready. If you stop boosting (by letting the subscription end or canceling it), the badge stays on your profile but changes to show you are no longer an active booster.
Unlike Nitro, you can boost multiple servers at once, and you can have multiple booster badges if you boost different servers. Each server's boost is a separate purchase.
Verified Bot Developer and Early Verified Bot badges
If you have built a bot and registered it with Discord's developer program, you may earn a Verified Bot Developer badge. This badge shows that Discord has checked your bot and confirmed it is legitimate and safe. You cannot earn this badge just by using bots — you have to be the person who created and submitted one.
To register a bot, you go to the Discord Developer Portal, create an process, add a bot to it, and submit it for verification. Discord reviews your bot's code and behavior. If it passes, the badge appears on your account. The process takes time and requires you to understand how Discord's API works.
There is also an Early Verified Bot badge for developers who verified their bots very early in Discord's bot program. Discord no longer gives out this badge, but accounts that earned it keep it. If you see someone with this badge, they were an early adopter of Discord's bot system.
Event and campaign badges
Discord runs limited-time events and campaigns where you can earn badges by completing tasks. These might include watching a livestream, joining a specific server, or attending a Discord event. When an event is running, Discord sends you a notification or shows a banner in the app with a link or button to claim the badge.
To claim an event badge, click the link or button Discord provides. Some badges require you to do something first (like join a server or watch a video), and some are claimed when ready. Once claimed, the badge stays on your profile permanently, even after the event ends.
Event badges are unpredictable — Discord does not announce them far in advance, and they are not always available to every user. If you miss an event, you usually cannot earn that badge later. Checking your notifications regularly is the best way to catch them.
Badges you cannot earn anymore
Discord has retired several badges over the years. The HypeSquad badge was given to users who joined one of Discord's official community teams, but Discord stopped accepting new HypeSquad members. People who earned it before the program closed still have the badge, but new users cannot get it.
Similarly, Bug Hunter badges (for finding security issues in Discord) are no longer given out through the public program, though Discord still works with security researchers privately. If you see someone with a Bug Hunter badge, they found a bug before the program ended.
If you are interested in contributing to Discord in other ways, check the Discord Developer Portal or the official Discord blog for current programs. Discord sometimes launches new ways to earn recognition, but there is no way to know what will be available in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove or hide a badge once I have earned it?
No. Once a badge is on your profile, it stays visible to everyone. You cannot hide, delete, or turn off individual badges. If you want to remove a Nitro or Server Booster badge, you have to cancel that subscription, which removes the badge after a few hours.
Do badges give me special permissions or powers in Discord?
No. Badges are purely decorative and informational. They do not change what you can do in servers, do not give you moderation powers, and do not affect how Discord treats your account. A badge next to someone's name means they spent money or completed a task — nothing more.
Why do some people have badges I have never seen before?
Discord has given out different badges at different times, and some are no longer available. Older accounts may have badges from retired programs. You are also only seeing badges for people in servers you are in — Discord does not show a complete list of all badges that exist.
If I buy Nitro and then cancel it, do I lose the badge forever?
The badge disappears when your subscription ends, but you can earn it again by buying Nitro again later. There is no permanent loss — you just have to pay again to get the badge back.
Are there badges for being in Discord for a long time?
Not currently. Discord removed the account anniversary badge system. Some very old accounts may still show badges from that program, but new users cannot earn them no matter how long they have been on Discord.