Discord's own app
The official client. It's built on Electron, so Discord's web app runs inside a copy of Chromium. You get every Discord feature, and no translation or live captions.
Guide OptiCord
Discord for Mac, compared.
You can run Discord on a Mac in Discord's own app, in a browser tab, in a community client such as Vesktop or Legcord, with a mod like BetterDiscord, or in OptiCord, a native app written in Swift. Here's what each one is built on and what it gives you.
01 The options
Every way in. Same Discord.
Whichever you pick, you sign in to the same account and talk to the same people.
Discord in a browser
Nothing to install. Push to talk only works while the browser window is in focus, and a tab is easy to lose among the others.
Vesktop
An open-source Electron app that loads Discord's web app with the Vencord mod built in, for plugins and themes.
Legcord
An open-source Electron client, formerly ArmCord, that loads Discord's web app with the Shelter mod built in and Vencord as an option.
BetterDiscord
Not a separate app. It injects themes and plugins into Discord's own app, so Electron is still underneath.
OptiCord
A native Mac app written in Swift with SwiftUI and AppKit, for Apple Silicon. It adds live translation, captions, drawing on your screen share, Pinterest in the message box and seventeen themes.
02 Which one
Pick by what you need.
- 01
Nothing to install.
Use Discord in a browser tab.
- 02
Discord exactly as it ships.
Use Discord's own app.
- 03
Plugins, or an Intel Mac.
Try Legcord or Vesktop. Both are open source, and Legcord runs on Intel Macs.
- 04
A real Mac app, with more in every call.
Use OptiCord for live translation, captions and drawing on your screen share. Your friends stay on Discord.
03 Questions
Straight answers.
Is the Discord app for Mac native?
No. It's built on Electron, so Discord's web app runs inside a copy of Chromium. OptiCord is written in Swift with SwiftUI and AppKit.
Is there a Discord client for Mac without Electron?
Yes. OptiCord is a native Mac app for your Discord account, written in Swift for Apple Silicon. It's in beta.
Do my friends need the same app?
No. Every option here connects to the same Discord. With OptiCord, your friends stay on the regular Discord app and still see your screen, your drawings and your translations.
Does push to talk work in the browser?
Only while the browser window is in focus, according to Discord. Discord's desktop app doesn't have that limit.
Which options run on an Intel Mac?
Discord's own app, the browser and Legcord all do. OptiCord is for Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 15 or later.
How do I try OptiCord?
OptiCord is in beta. Press Join The Beta, tell us about your Mac, and we'll reply by email about access.
OT-06 OptiCord
The best seat on Discord is waiting.
OptiCord is in beta now. Tell us about your Mac, request access and we'll be in touch by email.
Apple Silicon · macOS 15 or later
Translate Discord messages and calls