Launchsub vs LaunchPass: Which Is Better for Paid Discord Communities in 2026?
LaunchPass is one of the best-known tools for selling access to Discord servers, and Launchsub was built for exactly the same job. Both connect to your Stripe account, both assign Discord roles automatically, and both remove access when a subscription ends. So the real differences come down to pricing at your revenue level and a handful of features.
Competitor information is taken from LaunchPass's public pricing page and is accurate as of November 6, 2026. Prices change, so double-check before deciding.
Quick comparison
| Launchsub | LaunchPass | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you sell on the free plan? | ✅ Yes (10% fee) | ❌ No, Basic is for free members only |
| Paid plans | Pro: €29/mo + 4%, Scale: €49/mo + 2% | Premium: $29/mo + 3.5% |
| Payment processor | Stripe (your own account) | Stripe (your own account) |
| Automatic role assignment and removal | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free trials and coupons | ✅ | ✅ |
| One-time payments | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lifetime access | ✅ | Not listed on pricing page |
| Billing periods | Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, yearly | Recurring and one-time |
| Affiliate program | ✅ Built in | ✅ Affiliate integration |
| Import existing members | ✅ CSV import | Not listed on pricing page |
| Revenue analytics (MRR, churn) | ✅ | Not listed on pricing page |
Pricing: which one costs less?
This is where the choice usually gets made, and the honest answer is: it depends on how much you earn.
LaunchPass has one paid plan, Premium, at $29 per month plus a 3.5% transaction fee. Its free Basic plan only handles free members, so you need Premium to take a single payment.
Launchsub has three plans, and all of them can take payments:
- Free: no monthly fee, 10% per transaction
- Pro: €29 per month, 4% per transaction
- Scale: €49 per month, 2% per transaction
Here's the total platform cost at different monthly revenues, using the cheapest plan on each side:
| Monthly revenue | Launchsub (best plan) | LaunchPass Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | 30 (Free) | 39.50 |
| 1,000 | 69 (Pro or Scale) | 64 |
| 3,000 | 109 (Scale) | 134 |
| 10,000 | 249 (Scale) | 379 |
Platform fees only. Launchsub prices are in euros and LaunchPass prices in US dollars, so treat the comparison as approximate. Stripe's processing fees apply on top with both tools.
What the table shows:
- Under about 450 per month, Launchsub is cheaper, because you pay nothing until you make sales.
- Between about 450 and 1,300 per month, LaunchPass Premium is slightly cheaper.
- Above about 1,300 per month, Launchsub Scale is cheaper, and the gap grows with your revenue. At 10,000 per month, the difference is about 130 every month.
If you're just starting out, or you already run a large community, Launchsub costs less. In the middle band, the difference is a few units per month, and features will matter more than price.
Setup and day-to-day use
Both tools follow the same basic flow: connect Discord, connect Stripe, create a plan, share a link.
With Launchsub, setup takes about two minutes. You create a product, choose the Discord role it grants, set the price and billing period, and get a checkout page at launchsub.com/your-name. You can brand that page with your logo, colors, a description, an FAQ, and links to your socials.
From the dashboard, you track MRR, active subscribers, churn, and recent payments, and Discord webhooks post purchases, renewals, and failed payments into a channel of your choice.
Feature differences that matter
Selling on a free plan
This is the biggest structural difference. With LaunchPass, a free plan exists but cannot collect money, so your first paid member costs you $29 per month plus fees. With Launchsub, you can launch, test your offer, and only pay a percentage when someone buys.
Billing flexibility
Launchsub supports more billing periods: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and yearly subscriptions, plus one-time and lifetime access. Free trials, coupons, and an optional setup fee are available on every plan.
Moving existing members
If you already have paying members on another platform, Launchsub lets you import them from a CSV export. Each imported member gets a link to attach a payment method, so you don't have to ask everyone to sign up again from scratch.
Where LaunchPass shines
LaunchPass has been around longer and its pricing is simple: one paid plan, one fee. If your revenue sits between roughly 450 and 1,300 per month, it's marginally cheaper, and its feature set covers the essentials (trials, coupons, tiers, affiliates).
Which should you choose?
Choose Launchsub if:
- You're starting out and want to sell without a monthly fee.
- You earn more than about 1,300 per month and want lower fees as you grow.
- You want lifetime access, short billing periods, or built-in revenue analytics.
- You're moving members from another platform.
Choose LaunchPass if:
- Your revenue is steady in the 450 to 1,300 per month range and simple flat pricing is all you need.
- You're already set up there and happy with it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Launchsub a LaunchPass alternative?
Yes. Launchsub covers the same core job (selling Discord access through Stripe with automatic role management) and adds a plan that lets you sell without a monthly fee.
Do both tools take a cut on top of Stripe?
Yes. Both charge a platform fee on each transaction, and Stripe charges its own processing fee on top. With both tools, payments go to your own Stripe account.
Can I switch from LaunchPass to Launchsub?
Yes. Recreate your plans in Launchsub, import your members from a CSV, and send them the link to continue their membership. Your Discord server and roles stay the same.
Which is cheaper for a small Discord server?
For a server making less than about 450 per month, Launchsub's Free plan is cheaper, because there's no monthly fee.
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