Nintendo Switch Online plans compared
Nintendo's membership: play Switch games online with other people, keep your saved games backed up, and play a library of old Nintendo games. Nintendo Switch Online currently sells 4 plans in the US, from $2.92 a month. Here is what each one includes and who it suits.
Which Nintendo Switch Online plan is right for you?
Answer a few plain-English questions and we'll check your answers against every plan. Takes about a minute. No account needed.
Current Nintendo Switch Online plans and prices
Verified September 21, 2026 from Nintendo Switch Online's official pages. Prices are before tax and can change.
Individual Membership
$3.99 a month
or $19.99 a year
Best for: One person who mainly wants to play online and keep their saved games safe.
- People who can use the membership1
- Playing with other people onlineIncluded
- Older Nintendo games includedNES, Super NES and Game Boy games
- Paid game add-ons includedNot included
- Saved games backed up onlineIncluded
Family Membership
$2.92 a month
or $34.99 a year
Best for: Two or more people in a household — it is cheaper than two individual memberships.
- People who can use the membership8
- Playing with other people onlineIncluded
- Older Nintendo games includedNES, Super NES and Game Boy games
- Paid game add-ons includedNot included
- Saved games backed up onlineIncluded
Individual + Expansion Pack
$4.17 a month
or $49.99 a year
Best for: One person who wants the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Advance games, or the Mario Kart and Animal Crossing add-ons.
- People who can use the membership1
- Playing with other people onlineIncluded
- Older Nintendo games includedThose plus Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis games
- Paid game add-ons includedIncluded
- Saved games backed up onlineIncluded
Family + Expansion Pack
$6.67 a month
or $79.99 a year
Best for: A household where several people want the old games and the Mario Kart and Animal Crossing add-ons.
- People who can use the membership8
- Playing with other people onlineIncluded
- Older Nintendo games includedThose plus Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis games
- Paid game add-ons includedIncluded
- Saved games backed up onlineIncluded
What actually differs between the plans
Only 3 things change as you move up the Nintendo Switch Online plans: people who can use the membership, older nintendo games included, paid game add-ons included. Everything else is the same on every plan, so those are the only questions worth asking yourself.
| Plan | Price | People who can use the membership | Older Nintendo games included | Paid game add-ons included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Membership | $3.99/mo | 1 | NES, Super NES and Game Boy games | Not included |
| Family Membership | $2.92/mo | 8 | NES, Super NES and Game Boy games | Not included |
| Individual + Expansion Pack | $4.17/mo | 1 | Those plus Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis games | Included |
| Family + Expansion Pack | $6.67/mo | 8 | Those plus Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis games | Included |
Head-to-head comparisons
- Nintendo Switch Online Individual Membership vs Family Membership
- Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership vs Individual + Expansion Pack
- Nintendo Switch Online Individual + Expansion Pack vs Family + Expansion Pack
Common questions about Nintendo Switch Online plans
Do I need this to play my Switch at all?
No. Games you own work perfectly well without it. You only need a membership to play with other people over the internet, to back up your saved games, and to play the library of old Nintendo games.
Is the family membership worth it?
As soon as two people need it, yes. Two individual memberships cost $39.98 a year; one family membership covering up to eight people costs $34.99. The people sharing it do not have to live with you.
What does the Expansion Pack actually add?
Three things: the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis game libraries; the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass; and the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise add-on. If you play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Animal Crossing, those two add-ons alone cost about $25 each to buy outright.
What happens to my saved games if I stop paying?
The online backups are held for six months after your membership ends, so you can pick up where you left off if you rejoin within that time. After that they are deleted.
Where this information comes from
- How Much Does a Nintendo Switch Online Membership Cost? – Nintendo Support ↗ – checked September 21, 2026
- Nintendo Switch Online – Nintendo (US) ↗ – checked September 21, 2026
Checked 21 September 2026. Prices come from Nintendo's own US support page and are: Individual 1-month $3.99, 3-month $7.99, 12-month $19.99; Family 12-month $34.99; Expansion Pack Individual 12-month $49.99; Expansion Pack Family 12-month $79.99. Only the monthly and annual figures appear in the prices lists because the data format has no quarterly period; the 3-month individual price is recorded in that plan's notes. The Family plan covering eight accounts is taken from Nintendo's own page, which describes sharing with "seven other people". The Expansion Pack is not a separate subscription — it is the upgraded version of the membership — so it is listed here as two extra plans rather than an add-on. The GameCube library and Nintendo Music were not confirmed for a specific tier on the pages checked, so they are not listed as features.
BetterTier is not affiliated with Nintendo Switch Online. Plan names are used only to identify the plans being compared.