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

Nintendo Switch Online has two tiers. The standard membership runs $20 annually and gives you online multiplayer, cloud saves, and access to a library of classic NES and SNES games. The Expansion Pack costs $50 per year and adds 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 keep the membership active.

Family plans are available at $50 per year for the basic membership (covers up to 8 accounts on one Switch console) and $80 per year for the Expansion Pack family version. The family plan is the cheapest way to cover multiple people in a household.

Key Takeaways

  • Basic Nintendo Switch Online is $20 per year or $4 per month and includes online play and classic game libraries.
  • The Expansion Pack is $50 per year or $11 per month and adds Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games plus DLC for select titles.
  • Family plans cost $50 per year for basic or $80 per year for Expansion Pack and cover up to 8 accounts on one console.
  • Paying annually saves money compared to paying monthly, especially over multiple months.

What the basic membership includes

The $20 annual basic plan covers online multiplayer for games that support it — titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, and Smash Bros. Ultimate all require this membership to play online. Without it, you can still play these games locally or against the computer, but not against other people over the internet.

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. This does not work for all games — some titles like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Animal Crossing: New Horizons do not support cloud saves for technical reasons.

The basic plan also gives you access to the NES and SNES game library. This is a rotating collection of older games you can play as much as you want while your membership is active. The library includes titles like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and Kirby Super Star. New games are added occasionally, but the full list is not huge — roughly 100 games across both systems.

What the Expansion Pack adds

For an extra $30 per year, the Expansion Pack includes Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. The N64 library has games 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 II. Like the NES and SNES collections, these rotate occasionally but the full selection is limited.

The Expansion Pack also includes DLC for specific games. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe gets the Booster Course Pass (48 additional tracks), Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets the Happy Home Paradise DLC, and Splatoon 3 gets access to certain cosmetics and items. If you own these games, the DLC is included with your Expansion Pack membership — you do not buy it separately.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack also gives you access to Game Boy and Game Boy Color games through the Expansion Pack. This library is smaller than the other retro collections but includes titles like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Metroid II.

When you need a membership and when you do not

You need Nintendo Switch Online to play online multiplayer in most games. Local multiplayer — playing with someone else on the same console or in the same room — does not require a membership. Single-player games do not require it either, though some games like Fortnite or Minecraft do require it for any online feature.

Voice chat and messaging with other players also require the membership. Nintendo's online app, which some games use for voice communication, works only if at least one person in the conversation has an active membership.

If you only play single-player games or local multiplayer, you do not need a membership at all. The membership is purely for online features and the retro game libraries.

How to check your membership status

On your Switch, go to System Settings, then Accounts, then your account name. Select Subscriptions and you will see your current membership status, when it renews, and which tier you have. If your membership has expired, you can renew it from this same screen.

You can also check your membership through your Nintendo Account online at accounts.nintendo.com. Log in, go to Subscriptions, and you will see the same information — your current plan, renewal date, and payment method.

Family plans and multiple accounts

The family plan covers up to 8 Nintendo Accounts on a single Switch console. Everyone on that console can use the membership features — online play, cloud saves, and the retro game libraries. The person who purchases the plan does not need to be the one using it.

If you have multiple Switch consoles in your household, the family plan works on all of them as long as the account that purchased the membership is registered on each console. This is useful if you have a Switch Lite and a regular Switch, or if multiple family members each have their own console.

The family plan does not cover different Nintendo Accounts on different consoles if those accounts are not linked to the same household. If you want to share a membership with someone who lives elsewhere, you would need to set up a local account on your console that they can use, which is not the intended use and may violate Nintendo's terms of service.

How to purchase and manage your membership

You can purchase Nintendo Switch Online directly from your Switch console. Go to the eShop, select your account, and choose Memberships. Select the plan you want (basic or Expansion Pack) and the payment term (monthly or yearly), then complete the purchase using your payment method on file.

You can also purchase through the Nintendo website at nintendo.com. Log into your Nintendo Account, go to Subscriptions, and select the plan you want. Payment is processed immediately and the membership activates right away.

To cancel your membership, go back to the Subscriptions section in your account settings and select Cancel Subscription. Your membership will remain active until the current billing period ends, then it will not renew. You can reactivate it at any time by purchasing again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share a Nintendo Switch Online membership with someone who lives in a different house?

Not officially. The family plan is designed for people on the same console or in the same household. Sharing a membership across different households may violate Nintendo's terms of service, though enforcement is inconsistent. If you want to share with someone far away, you would each need your own membership.

Do I lose my games if my membership expires?

You lose access to the NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and Game Boy libraries when your membership ends. Games you own separately (like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Splatoon 3) remain on your console. Your cloud saves stay on Nintendo's servers for six months after your membership expires, so you can restore them if you renew within that window.

Is Nintendo Switch Online worth the cost?

That depends on what you play. If you play online multiplayer games regularly, the $20 annual cost is reasonable compared to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass. If you only play single-player games, you do not need it. The retro game libraries are a bonus, but they are not large enough to justify the membership on their own for most people.

Can I change from monthly to yearly membership?

Yes. You can cancel your monthly membership and purchase a yearly one instead. Your monthly membership will remain active until the current month ends, then you can start the yearly plan. You will not be charged twice if you time it right.

What happens if my payment method fails?

Nintendo will attempt to charge your payment method again over several days. If it continues to fail, your membership will lapse. You can reactivate it by updating your payment method and purchasing again. You will not lose your cloud saves during this time as long as you renew within six months.