Best student discounts on streaming services — save big on Hulu, Spotify and more
Students can save big on Prime Video, Hulu, and more
Laptops and backpacks may dominate back to school shopping, but student discounts on streaming services can also help you save money. Some of the best streaming services like Hulu and Prime Video offer compelling student discounts on streaming services that can knock up to 75% off the price of a full subscription.
Each streaming provider will have its own criteria for student eligibility, but most of the time, any student with an edu-based email address can qualify. Many of these discounts are valid for as long as you're enrolled, so it's easy for the savings to add up over time.
One of the best student discounts on streaming services comes courtesy of Amazon. The e-comm giant offers a free 6-month Amazon Prime trial if you're a student. In addition to fast delivery, Amazon Prime Student includes access to Prime Video, Amazon Music Prime, and Prime Gaming. After your trial period is up, you can cancel or opt to pay $7.49/month or $69/year. That's half the price of a traditional Prime membership.
Not to be outdone, Walmart Plus now includes free access to Paramount Plus at no additional cost. Walmart Plus costs $98/year or $12.95/month. You can sign up via Walmart's website.
To help you save on your entertainment, we've rounded up the best student discounts on streaming services you can get right now. If you or your parents are already paying for these services, make sure to cancel them and sign up again via the student discount. (For more savings, follow our back to school sales coverage).
Best student discounts on streaming services
Amazon Prime Student: free 6-month trial @ Amazon
Prime Student gives you access to free 2-day shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Music Prime, and Prime Gaming. Amazon Prime Student costs $69/year, which is 50% less than a typical Prime membership. Alternatively, you can opt for a monthly plan at $7.49/month. Other student perks include discounted Prime Video channels (+$1/month) for Showtime, Epix, and more.
Hulu Student: was $7.99/month now $1.99/month @ Hulu
Hulu Student takes a whopping 75% off the cost of a traditional Hulu subscription. Whereas most Hulu members pay $7.99/month for Hulu's ad-supported service, students pay just $1.99/month. With a ton of original series and movies, plus the latest TV shows, Hulu is one of the best alternatives for cord cutters. If you're already a standalone Hulu subscriber, you can easily switch to the student plan to start piling up the savings.
Spotify Premium Student: was $21.98/month now $5.99/month @ Spotify
Spotify Premium Student bundles Spotify Premium and Hulu (ad-supported) for just $5.99/month. Traditionally, these services would cost you $18.98/month, which makes this an extraordinary deal for cash-strapped students. You'll need to re-verify your eligibility every 12 months. Additionally, you're only entitled the student rate for a maximum of three years.
Paramount Plus Student: was $5.99/month now $4.50/month @ Paramount
Paramount Plus gives students a 25% discount on its Essential Plan. Paramount Plus Essential includes access to original programming (1883, Star Trek: Picard, Halo), NFL on CBS Live, 24/7 live news with CBSN, and limited ads. The discount is valid for four years only.
YouTube Premium Student: was $13.99/month now $7.99/month @ YouTube
Ditch those YouTube ads once and for all with YouTube Premium Student. This deal bundles YouTube and YouTube Music (ad-free) for just $7.99/month. You'll also get a 1-month trial for free. You'll need to verify your student eligibility every year.
Apple Music Student: was $9.99/month now $5.99/month @ Apple
Apple Music offers access to 90 millions of songs, alongside exclusive live radio channels and interviews with the world's biggest artists. The ad-free service also offers access to original shows, concerts, and curated playlists. Although the price recently increased from $4.99/month to $5.99/month, this offer is still a hefty $4/month cheaper than a traditional non-student plan. Plus, for a limited time, students will get free access to Apple TV Plus. (Scroll to the bottom of the Apple page to see the details). The student offer doesn't extend to a Family Sharing group.
Student discounts on streaming services comparison
Row 0 - Cell 0 | Regular Price (monthly) | Student Price (monthly) | Free trial |
Amazon Prime | $14.99 | $7.49 | 6 months |
Hulu | $7.99 | $1.99 | No |
Spotify | $21.98 | $5.99 | 1 month |
Paramount Plus | $5.99 | $4.50 | 7 days |
YouTube Premium | $11.99 | $6.99 | 1 month |
Apple Music | $9.99 | $5.99 | 1 month |
What to know about student discounts on streaming services
- Eligibility: Practically all streaming services will require that you prove your eligibility before you can sign up for their student services. A lot of times, you'll need to verify your student eligibility via a third party service such as SheerID. These services require that you enroll in an accredited, Title IV higher education institution (college or university).
- Duration: Some services require that you verify your student eligibility every 12 months. Other student plans will last for a duration of four years only.
- Beware of add-ons: All student discounts on streaming services offer generous savings. However, be careful of adding on too many discounted services to your student plan. Amazon Prime Student, for instance, lets you add Prime Video channels for $1/month.
Which services don't offer student discounts?
Disney Plus, Netflix, and HBO Max are three of the biggest streaming services that don't offer student discounts. Likewise, Sling TV once offered a student discount, but has since discontinued its student program. Make sure to follow our Sling TV deals and Sling TV promo codes coverage for other ways to save on your Sling subscription. Alternatively, check out our guides to this week's best Hulu promo codes, Paramount Plus coupon codes, and Peacock TV promo codes.
Sign up now to get the best Black Friday deals!
Discover the hottest deals, best product picks and the latest tech news from our experts at Tom’s Guide.
As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.