Activate Nintendo Switch Online Free Trial in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide

If you own a Nintendo Switch or are considering getting the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, you're likely already acquainted with Nintendo Switch Online. This service is not only crucial for multiplayer gaming and connecting with friends in popular titles, but it also provides access to a vast collection of classic Nintendo games from over four decades. This includes titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the new GameCube library.

If you haven't yet explored Nintendo Switch Online, don't worry—we're here to guide you through it. In the following sections, we'll explain how to activate the free trial, detail the various subscription tiers, discuss pricing, and more.

Does Nintendo Switch Online Have a Free Trial?

Yes, Nintendo offers a seven-day free trial for Nintendo Switch Online. This trial provides access to online play for your Nintendo Switch (and eventually Nintendo Switch 2 games), cloud backup for your save data, select game soundtracks on Nintendo Music, and a library of over 100 NES, SNES, and Game Boy games.

Nintendo Switch Online Free Trial

• Seven days free, then renewed at a monthly rate of $3.99.
• No Expansion Pack benefits are included.
• See it at Nintendo

Click the link above to sign up for the free trial. After your trial period ends, you'll be automatically charged for your subscription if it's not canceled.

What Is Nintendo Switch Online?

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based service designed for use with Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. As the name implies, it enables online multiplayer and additional features for supported games, as well as automatic cloud backups for your save data.

However, the benefits extend beyond just online play. Subscribers gain access to a growing catalog of Nintendo Classics spanning over 40 years. The standard subscription includes a curated collection of NES, SNES, and Game Boy games, while the Expansion Pack adds titles from Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis. For those with a Nintendo Switch 2, the Expansion Pack subscription tier will also include select GameCube games at launch.

Nintendo Switch Online 12 Month Individual Membership + Expansion Pack eGift Card

• $49.88 at Walmart
• $49.88 at Target

Alongside the retro game catalog, Nintendo introduced the new Nintendo Music app in late 2024. This app allows you to stream and download your favorite tracks from a wide range of franchises, including Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Metroid, and many more.

How Much Does Nintendo Switch Online Cost?

Nintendo Switch Online offers both individual and family plans. The individual plan costs $3.99 per month, $7.99 for three months, or $19.99 per year. The family plan, which supports up to eight accounts, is available annually for $34.99 per year.

Nintendo Switch Online

• Compare plans, prices, and perks
• See it at Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which includes additional Nintendo Classics and specific game DLC packs, is only available as an annual subscription. It costs $49.99 per year for individual subscribers and $79.99 per year for family memberships.

How to Use Nintendo Switch Online - Available Platforms

Primarily, Nintendo Switch Online is available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems. However, with the addition of the Nintendo Music app, its benefits are now also accessible on mobile devices.