Switch Online costs $20 per year for the basic plan or $50 per year for the Expansion Pack

Nintendo Switch Online is a paid membership that lets you play games online with others, access cloud saves, and use classic NES and SNES games. The basic plan runs $20 per year. The Expansion Pack costs $50 per year and adds Nintendo 64 games, Sega Genesis games, and access to DLC for certain titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

You can also pay monthly: $4 for the basic plan or $11 for the Expansion Pack. A three-month basic membership costs $8. Nintendo does not offer a free trial, though some games like Fortnite and Splatoon 3 let you play online without any membership.

Key Takeaways

  • The basic Switch Online plan costs $20 per year and covers online multiplayer, cloud saves, and access to NES and SNES games.
  • The Expansion Pack costs $50 per year and adds Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy games, plus DLC for select titles.
  • Monthly payments are available at $4 for basic or $11 for Expansion Pack if you do not want to commit to a year.
  • Some games like Fortnite and Splatoon 3 let you play online multiplayer without any membership at all.

What the basic plan includes

The basic Switch Online membership covers online multiplayer for most games that support it. This means you can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and hundreds of other titles with players around the world. Without this membership, online play is blocked for almost all games.

The basic plan also stores your game saves in the cloud. If your Switch breaks or you get a new one, your saves are backed up and can be restored on another console. You get access to a library of NES and SNES games — titles like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and Kirby Super Star. The library changes occasionally as Nintendo adds and rotates games.

The basic plan also includes the Nintendo Switch Online app, which you download on your phone. The app lets you chat with friends, see who is playing what, and access game-specific features like voice chat for certain titles.

What the Expansion Pack adds

The Expansion Pack includes everything in the basic plan, plus Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. The N64 library has titles like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, and GoldenEye 007. The Genesis library includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, and Phantasy Star IV. Like the NES and SNES games, this library rotates and grows over time.

The Expansion Pack also gives you access to Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, including the original Tetris, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, and Metroid II. You get DLC for certain games without paying extra — this includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tracks, Animal Crossing: New Horizons items, and Splatoon 3 weapons and gear.

The Expansion Pack also includes a controller skin and a few other cosmetic items that rotate seasonally. You do not get a physical Game Boy or N64 controller — these are digital items only.

Whether you need a membership at all

If you only play single-player games or games that do not require online multiplayer, you do not need Switch Online. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Hollow Knight work completely offline without any membership.

Some games let you play online without a membership. Fortnite, Splatoon 3, and a few others are free-to-play titles that do not require Switch Online to play online. Check the game's store page to see if it lists "Online play does not require Nintendo Switch Online."

If you want to use cloud saves or play online multiplayer in most games, you need at least the basic plan. The Expansion Pack is worth it only if you want to play the N64, Genesis, or Game Boy games, or if you want the DLC for Mario Kart 8 or Animal Crossing.

How to buy and manage your membership

You buy Switch Online through the Nintendo eShop on your console. Go to the eShop, select your profile, and look for the Switch Online section. You can choose to pay monthly ($4 basic or $11 Expansion Pack), three months ($8 basic only), or yearly ($20 basic or $50 Expansion Pack). Your payment method is stored in your Nintendo Account.

Your membership is tied to your Nintendo Account, not to a specific console. If you have multiple Switch consoles, you can use the same membership on all of them as long as you are signed in with the same account. If someone else on your console is signed in with a different account, they can also use your membership if your account is set as the primary account on that console.

You can cancel your membership anytime through your Nintendo Account settings on the website. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of your billing period — Nintendo does not refund partial months.

Comparing the cost to other platforms

PlayStation Plus costs $60 per year for the basic Essential plan, or $120 per year for the Extra plan (which includes a game library). Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $17 per month or $180 per year and includes hundreds of games plus online multiplayer. Switch Online at $20 per year is the cheapest option for online play, though it does not include a large rotating game library like Game Pass does.

If you want to compare what you actually get for the money, consider what games you own and whether you play online. Switch Online's value depends on whether you care about the classic games library and DLC access. If you only want online multiplayer and cloud saves, the basic $20 yearly plan is straightforward. If you want N64 and Genesis games, the Expansion Pack at $50 per year is still cheaper than PlayStation Plus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Switch Online to play single-player games?

No. Games like Zelda, Mario, and Metroid work completely offline without any membership. You only need Switch Online if you want to play online multiplayer, use cloud saves, or access the classic games library.

Can I share my Switch Online membership with family members?

Yes, if they are on the same console and your account is set as the primary account. Everyone on that console can use your membership. If they have their own console, they need their own membership unless you set your account as primary on their console too.

What happens to my saves if my membership expires?

Your saves stay on your console. Cloud saves are deleted after six months of not having an active membership, but your local saves remain. If you renew your membership, you can restore cloud saves from backup if you still have them.

Are the classic NES and SNES games the full versions?

Yes, they are the original games. The library rotates occasionally — Nintendo adds new titles and sometimes removes others. You can see the full current list in the Switch Online app or on Nintendo's website.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

Nintendo typically does not refund Switch Online memberships once purchased. If you cancel within a short window of buying, contact Nintendo Support to ask, but refunds are not may provide.