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

Nintendo offers two tiers of Switch Online membership. The standard plan runs $20 annually and gives you online multiplayer, cloud saves for most games, and access to a library of classic NES and SNES games. The Expansion Pack costs $50 per year and adds Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis games, plus 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. The monthly option costs more per month than the yearly rate, so annual payment saves money if you plan to stay subscribed. Nintendo also sells a three-month basic membership for $8, which sits between the monthly and yearly rates.

Family memberships are separate from individual accounts. A Family Plan covers up to eight Nintendo accounts on one console or across multiple consoles and costs $50 per year for the basic tier or $80 per year for the Expansion Pack. This works out cheaper per person if you have multiple household members who play.

Key Takeaways

  • The basic Nintendo Switch Online membership is $20 per year and includes online play and cloud saves.
  • The Expansion Pack adds retro game libraries (Game Boy, N64, Genesis) and DLC for select games, costing $50 per year.
  • Monthly payments ($4 basic, $11 Expansion Pack) cost more per month than paying annually.
  • Family Plans let up to eight accounts share one membership for $50 (basic) or $80 (Expansion Pack) per year.

What the basic plan includes

The $20 annual basic membership covers online multiplayer for games that support it — titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, and Pokémon Sword and Shield. You need an active membership to play these games online, though some free-to-play titles like Fortnite and Pokémon Unite do not require it.

Cloud saves are included, which means your game progress backs up to Nintendo's servers automatically. If your Switch breaks or you get a new one, you can restore your saves on the replacement console. Not every game supports cloud saves — Nintendo's own titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild do not, though most third-party games do.

The basic plan also gives you access to the NES and SNES game library. This includes around 100 titles across both systems, with new games added periodically. You cannot download these games permanently; you stream them or play them while your membership is active.

What the Expansion Pack adds

For an extra $30 per year, the Expansion Pack includes Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis games. The N64 library has titles like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Mario Kart 64. The Game Boy collection includes Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, plus Tetris and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. The Genesis library is smaller but includes Sonic the Hedgehog and Altered Beast.

The Expansion Pack also includes DLC for specific games. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets extra tracks, Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets additional items and features, and Splatoon 3 gets cosmetics and weapons. These are not available to basic members, even if they own the game.

Nintendo occasionally adds new games to the retro libraries, though the pace is slower than it was at launch. If you are interested in the Expansion Pack mainly for retro games, check what is currently available before committing, since the selection may not match what you remember or want to play.

How to choose between basic and Expansion Pack

The basic plan makes sense if you play online multiplayer games regularly and want cloud saves. Most people who play Switch games online do not need anything beyond this tier. The $20 annual cost is low enough that it becomes a non-issue for active players.

The Expansion Pack is worth considering if you have specific interest in the retro games it offers. If you grew up with N64 or Game Boy and want to revisit those titles, or if you want the Mario Kart 8 DLC tracks, the extra $30 per year may be worth it. If you are unsure, you can start with the basic plan and upgrade later — Nintendo prorates the difference if you switch mid-year.

Family Plans change the math if multiple people in your household play. A Family Plan Expansion Pack at $80 per year for eight accounts works out to $10 per person annually, which is cheaper than buying individual Expansion Packs. If only one or two people in the family play, individual memberships may be more cost-effective.

Payment methods and where to buy

You can purchase Nintendo Switch Online directly from the Nintendo eShop on your console, through your Nintendo Account online, or from retail stores that sell Nintendo gift cards. The eShop is the fastest route — you select your membership tier, choose your payment method (credit card, debit card, or Nintendo eShop balance), and the membership activates immediately.

If you buy a gift card from a retailer, you redeem it in the eShop first, then use that balance to purchase the membership. This is useful if you do not want to enter payment information on the console or if you are buying as a gift.

Nintendo does not offer free trials for Switch Online anymore, though occasionally the company runs promotions that bundle free months with console purchases or special events. Check the official Nintendo website or your eShop for current offers.

What happens when your membership expires

When your subscription ends, you lose access to online multiplayer immediately. Games that require online play will not let you connect to matches. Cloud saves remain on Nintendo's servers for six months after your membership expires, so you can reactivate and restore them if you rejoin within that window.

The retro games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, and Genesis libraries become unavailable once your membership lapses. You cannot play them until you renew. Any DLC you accessed through the Expansion Pack also becomes inaccessible, though DLC you purchased separately (not included with the membership) stays with your account.

Local multiplayer and single-player games work normally after your membership expires. You can still play offline games and local co-op titles without any subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share a Family Plan with friends, or does it have to be family members?

Nintendo does not restrict Family Plans to biological family — you can add any eight Nintendo accounts you want. However, all accounts must be on the same console or linked to the same Nintendo Account holder. If people live in different households, you may run into issues with account sharing policies.

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

No. You only need a membership for online multiplayer, cloud saves, and access to the retro game libraries. Single-player games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Metroid Dread work without any subscription.

Can I upgrade from basic to Expansion Pack mid-year?

Yes. Nintendo prorates the cost, so you only pay the difference between what you already paid and the Expansion Pack price. If you paid $20 for a year of basic and upgrade after six months, you would pay roughly $15 more to cover the remaining six months at the Expansion Pack rate.

What happens to my cloud saves if I cancel my membership?

Your cloud saves stay on Nintendo's servers for six months after your membership expires. If you renew within that window, you can restore them to your console. After six months, they are deleted permanently.

Are there any games that require Expansion Pack to play online?

No. All online multiplayer games work with the basic membership. The Expansion Pack only adds retro games and DLC — it does not unlock online play for any game that the basic plan does not already support.