Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 owners who need online multiplayer and want access to Nintendo’s classic-game libraries, cloud saves, mobile-app features, and member offers. In the United States, the standard plan costs $19.99 per year for one Nintendo Account or $34.99 per year for a family group of up to eight accounts. The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier costs $49.99 per year for one account or $79.99 per year for up to eight accounts.
The right choice depends on four things: how many Nintendo Accounts you need to cover, whether you need only standard online features or the Expansion Pack’s extra libraries and selected downloadable content, whether Switch 2-only features matter to you, and how long you expect to subscribe. Prices and availability differ by country; the figures below are current U.S. prices listed by Nintendo.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What Nintendo Switch Online includes
Nintendo Switch Online is tied to Nintendo Accounts rather than to a particular console. A membership can provide the following benefits, but online, cloud, and app functions work only with compatible games and services.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- Online play: multiplayer and other online functions in compatible Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games.
- Classic games: a curated catalog of NES, Super NES, and Game Boy titles with a standard membership.
- Save Data Cloud: cloud backup for compatible games. Not every game supports cloud backup, so check a title’s support information before relying on it as your only backup.
- Nintendo Music: access through a compatible smart device.
- Special offers: member promotions and other benefits that Nintendo makes available over time.
- Switch 2 features: Nintendo lists GameChat among the service benefits for Nintendo Switch 2.
Some app features, including voice chat, require a compatible smartphone and a Nintendo Account holder who is at least 13 years old. Availability can vary by country, game, console generation, and account settings.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Current U.S. plans and prices
Nintendo lists the following U.S. prices. The annual options are 12-month memberships; the standard individual plan also has shorter terms.
| Plan | Term | Accounts covered | U.S. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online, individual | 1 month | One Nintendo Account | $3.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online, individual | 3 months | One Nintendo Account | $7.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online, individual | 12 months | One Nintendo Account | $19.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online, family | 12 months | Up to eight Nintendo Accounts in one family group | $34.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, individual | 12 months | One Nintendo Account | $49.99 |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, family | 12 months | Up to eight Nintendo Accounts in one family group | $79.99 |
Nintendo says membership pricing depends on the duration selected and the country where the account is registered. The prices in this table should not be assumed to apply outside the United States.
What the prices mean per person
For eight people who all use the membership, the standard family plan works out to about $4.37 per account per year ($34.99 divided by eight). An eight-account Expansion Pack family membership works out to about $10 per account per year ($79.99 divided by eight). These are arithmetic calculations from Nintendo’s listed prices, not separate Nintendo statistics.
Eight separate standard annual individual memberships would cost $159.92, compared with $34.99 for one standard family membership. Eight separate Expansion Pack individual memberships would cost $399.92, compared with $79.99 for one Expansion Pack family membership. Those comparisons assume all eight accounts remain in the family group and need coverage for the full year.
Standard membership benefits in detail
Online multiplayer
The standard membership supplies online play in compatible games. It does not make every game online-enabled, and a game’s own requirements still apply. Free-to-play games can have different access rules from paid games, so check the individual title rather than treating the subscription as a universal requirement.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
NES, Super NES, and Game Boy collections
Standard members receive access to Nintendo’s curated libraries of classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games. The catalog is a service benefit, not a purchase of each game. If the membership ends, access provided through the subscription ends as well.
Save Data Cloud
Save Data Cloud can back up saves for compatible titles. Compatibility is determined by the game, so a membership is not a guarantee that every save on the console can be restored from the cloud. Use the game’s support information to confirm coverage before deleting local data or moving to another console.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Nintendo Music and special offers
Nintendo Music is available on a compatible smart device, while special offers can change. These benefits are part of the active membership and may have separate device, account, age, or regional requirements.
What Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack adds
Expansion Pack includes every standard benefit plus additional classic-game libraries and selected game content.
- Nintendo 64: access to the Expansion Pack’s Nintendo 64 collection.
- Game Boy Advance: access to the Game Boy Advance collection.
- SEGA Genesis: access to the SEGA Genesis collection.
- Nintendo GameCube on Switch 2: Nintendo lists GameCube Classics as a Nintendo Switch 2-only benefit.
- Selected downloadable content: certain DLC is available at no additional charge while the membership is active.
- Selected Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade packs: eligible upgrade packs can be downloaded without an additional charge, subject to Nintendo’s requirements.
Expansion Pack is still a subscription tier. It does not permanently purchase the underlying games or DLC. Access to included collections and selected DLC lasts while the membership remains active and while the title, account, console, and region meet Nintendo’s requirements.
Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
Requirements for included DLC and upgrade packs
For included DLC, you need the associated base game. For an included Switch 2 upgrade pack, Nintendo says you need a physical or digital copy of the game to download the upgrade. The subscription does not replace the base game or create a license for content that is not part of Nintendo’s selected catalog.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Switch 2 and the optional GameCube controller
Nintendo says the optional Nintendo GameCube controller offered for purchase to Nintendo Switch Online members is compatible only with Nintendo Switch 2. It is an accessory for interested Switch 2 players, not a requirement for Nintendo Switch Online, the Expansion Pack, or GameCube Classics generally.
Individual versus family membership
Individual membership
An individual membership covers one Nintendo Account. It is the simplest option for one player, for a person who does not want to coordinate with other users, or for someone trying the service for a short period through the one-month or three-month standard terms.
Family membership
A family membership covers everyone in the purchaser’s Nintendo Account family group, up to eight Nintendo Account users total. The users can play on one console or on multiple consoles; they do not have to share a system.
Profiles merely existing on the same console are not automatically covered. Each Nintendo Account that needs service must be added to the family group. Nintendo says a family membership can be purchased by someone aged 18 or older, and the purchaser does not have to be the family-group administrator.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
How to add people to the family group
- The family-group administrator signs in to the Nintendo Account website.
- Open Family group.
- Choose Add a member.
- Select Invite someone to your family group.
- Enter the invitee’s Nintendo Account email address and send the invitation.
- The invited person accepts the invitation. Coverage applies once the account is part of the family group.
Because the family plan is shared at the account level, coordinate who controls the family group and how renewals will be paid. A family membership is a 12-month plan.
Which plan should you choose?
| Your situation | Most suitable starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One player who needs online play and standard classic games | Standard individual, $19.99/year | Lowest annual individual price for the core benefits. |
| One player testing the service briefly | Standard individual, $3.99/month or $7.99/three months | Shorter commitment, though the annual term costs less per month when used for a full year. |
| Two or more coordinated accounts | Compare the $34.99 family plan with separate individual plans | The family plan can be cheaper once enough accounts need coverage. |
| Players who want Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, or SEGA Genesis collections | Expansion Pack | Those libraries are not part of standard membership. |
| Switch 2 owners who want GameCube Classics, eligible DLC, or upgrade packs | Expansion Pack | These are Expansion Pack benefits, with GameCube Classics and GameChat listed as Switch 2-only. |
| Eight accounts that all need Expansion Pack benefits | Expansion Pack family, $79.99/year | One family plan replaces eight $49.99 individual annual memberships, provided every account stays in the family group. |
Assessing the Expansion Pack premium
In the United States, Expansion Pack costs $30 more per year than standard for one account ($49.99 versus $19.99) and $45 more per year for a family group ($79.99 versus $34.99). The extra tier makes sense when the added classic libraries, selected DLC, or Switch 2 upgrade content will be used enough to justify that difference. If you only need online play, standard membership supplies the less expensive route.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Free trial, automatic renewal, and cancellation
Seven-day trial
Nintendo advertises a seven-day free trial. Unless automatic renewal is turned off by the end of the trial, it converts to a one-month membership that renews automatically. The trial cannot be redeemed as an Expansion Pack trial, and an account with an active individual or family membership cannot redeem it.
Turn off automatic renewal
Nintendo says automatic renewal can be turned off in Your Subscriptions in Nintendo eShop or in Nintendo Account settings. Nintendo’s overview warns that, after automatic renewal is turned off, it cannot be turned on again for that same renewal setting. Account screens can change, so confirm the current wording and expiration date shown on your account.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Turning off renewal stops the next charge; it does not normally erase the remaining paid period. The membership benefits continue until the displayed expiration date, subject to Nintendo’s current terms.
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Changing from standard to Expansion Pack
Nintendo says eligible switches are available from a standard individual membership to an Expansion Pack individual or family membership, and from a standard family membership to an Expansion Pack family membership, through subscription settings. Nintendo’s support information describes a discount based on remaining days in relevant plan changes, although restrictions can apply.
An individual account covered by a family membership cannot independently upgrade itself while that family subscription remains active. The family subscription would need to be changed. Nintendo’s support FAQ also says an active Expansion Pack membership cannot be changed down to standard. After the Expansion Pack membership ends, you can choose a different plan.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Assuming a shared console equals a family plan: add every required Nintendo Account to the family group; console profiles alone are not enough.
- Assuming every game supports cloud saves: verify compatibility for each title.
- Expecting Expansion Pack DLC to be permanent: included DLC and collections are access benefits while the subscription is active.
- Forgetting the base game: included DLC requires the associated game, and upgrade packs require a physical or digital copy of the game.
- Ignoring trial renewal: turn off automatic renewal before the seven-day trial ends if you do not want the one-month conversion.
- Comparing U.S. prices globally: Nintendo sets prices and availability by country.
- Treating GameChat or voice chat as universal: Nintendo lists GameChat for Switch 2, while some voice-chat functions require a compatible smartphone and an account age of 13 or older.
Bottom line: is Nintendo Switch Online worth it?
For one U.S. player who needs online play, standard classic libraries, and compatible-game cloud saves, the $19.99 annual individual plan is the baseline value. The $3.99 monthly and $7.99 three-month terms are useful when you need a shorter commitment. A family plan is the clear cost comparison for a coordinated group because one $34.99 standard or $79.99 Expansion Pack membership can cover up to eight accounts, including users on different consoles.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Choose Expansion Pack when its Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis, Switch 2 GameCube Classics, selected DLC, or upgrade packs are central to what you will play. Otherwise, standard Nintendo Switch Online delivers the core service for less.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
