Glow discharge characteristics in two discharge devices, i.e. in a needle-plate electrode geometry and a needle-water electrode one were compared by using spectroscopic method. Results show that the different emission regions were found in both discharges generated by the two devices. From the cathode to the anode, there are a cathode glow region, cathode dark glow, a positive column, and an anode glow region. The anode dark region can be clearly discerned in the glow discharge in the needle-plate electrode device, while it almost cannot be found in the needle-water electrode discharge. Comparing the current-voltage characteristics of the two glow discharges, it was found that the voltage across the electrodes decreases with increasing the discharge current in both discharge devices, while the voltage in the needle-water glow discharge is higher than that of the needle-plate one at the same current value. The current-voltage curves have a negative slope and their current densities lie in the range from 10-5 to 10-4 A?cm-2, which indicates that a normal glow discharge mechanism was involved in the two discharges. Comparing the optical spectra scanning from 300nm to 800nm and emitted from the whole normal glow discharge in the two electrode devices, similar spectral lines from the two discharges can be found on the optical emission spectrum, including the second positive system of nitrogen molecules (337.1nm) and the first negative system of nitrogen molecular ions (391.4nm). However, the intensity ratio of spectral lines is different. The intensity ratio (391.4nm to 337.1nm) and vibrational temperature were investigated at different locations. It was found that the intensity ratio of the needle-water electrode discharge is larger than that of the needle-plate electrode discharge at the same location. Furthermore, the vibrational temperature in the needle-water electrode discharge is higher than that of the needle-plate one at the same location.