Being a student can unlock some of the largest savings available online — sometimes free access to software that would otherwise cost a significant amount each year. The catch is that each company sets its own rules on who qualifies and how you prove it.
The main types of student offer
Free education plans for software
Several software companies give eligible students and teachers free access for learning. Examples we have confirmed on official pages include the GitHub Student Developer Pack, Notion's Education Plan, Figma for Education, Autodesk's education access, Canva for Education (for K-12 schools) and Microsoft's Office 365 A1 plan for eligible school email accounts. See all of them on our student discounts page.
Discounted subscriptions
Streaming and app subscriptions such as music services often have a student plan at a lower monthly price, usually limited to students at higher-education institutions and renewable for a limited number of years.
Education pricing on hardware
Computer makers including Apple, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung run education stores with special pricing for students and teachers in many countries. Some add seasonal "back to school" promotions on top.
How verification works
Companies use a few common methods to confirm you are a student:
- School email address — signing up with an address ending in your institution's domain. Some programs (for example Notion's) require the school email to be the main email on your account.
- Verification services such as SheerID, UNiDAYS or Student Beans, which check your enrollment against school records or documents.
- Proof of enrollment — an official, dated document such as an enrollment letter or student ID showing the current term.
Tip: keep a recent, dated proof of enrollment as a PDF. It speeds up most applications and renewals.
Eligibility rules that catch people out
- Level of study. Some programs are for university students only and exclude secondary or high school students; others (like Canva for Education) are specifically for K-12 schools.
- Age limits. GitHub's pack requires students to be at least 13; other services require you to be old enough to consent to their terms.
- Country. Programs are not always available everywhere. Figma, for example, says its education program is available only in select regions.
- Non-commercial use. Education licences (such as Autodesk's) cannot be used for paid client work.
- Time limits and renewals. Many plans expire after a year and must be renewed while you are still eligible.
- Existing paid plans. Some services ask you to cancel or downgrade a paid plan before switching to the education plan.
A sensible order to check
- Ask your school's IT department what software it already provides — you may already have access.
- Check the official education page of the software you need.
- Look for a student plan before buying any subscription.
- For hardware, compare education pricing with general sale prices; during big sales the regular price can sometimes be lower.
Teachers should look too: many programs (GitHub, Figma, Notion, Autodesk, Canva and Microsoft among them) include educators.
Examples of official education programs
These are examples of the kind of offer worth checking first. Terms change, so always confirm on the provider's own page:
- GitHub Student Developer Pack: a bundle of free and discounted developer tools for verified students, including GitHub Pro while you are a student.
- Office 365 A1: Microsoft offers web versions of its Office apps free to students and educators with an eligible school email address.
- Canva for Education: free for K-12 teachers and their students. Teachers verify, then invite students.
- Figma for Education: Figma and FigJam are free for verified students and educators.
Our Student Discounts page lists the programs we have checked, with the source and date of each check.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a school email address?
Many programs use one, but not all. Others accept an uploaded document, such as an enrolment letter or student ID, through a verification service. If your school email has no inbox you can access, look for the document option.
What happens when I graduate?
Most student plans end or switch to the regular price when your eligibility expires, and many ask you to re-verify each year. Note the renewal date so you can decide whether to keep the service at full price.
Are part-time and online students eligible?
It varies. Some programs require enrolment at an accredited institution and accept any study mode. Others specify a minimum course load. The provider's eligibility page is the only reliable answer.
