5 of the Best Subscription Discounts for Students in 2026

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Student life comes with a lot of expenses, so if you’re in college, you’re probably looking for ways to save money. For those living on their own for the first time, college is an important time to learn how to manage your finances and stick to a budget. Luckily, there are plenty of deals available exclusively to students, including many on subscriptions you may already have.

Some of these discounts only require a student email address (one that ends in “.edu”), while others require additional verification. This is often done through SheerID, a platform that confirms whether you are eligible for discounts such as student, military or senior discounts by using sources such as University Registrar’s offices and, if necessary, reviewing documents.

If you’re looking for more student discounts, there are websites like Unidays, Student Beans and ID.me that compile deals on things like clothing, travel and technology. If you’re looking to save on subscriptions, here are five notable deals covering a range of categories from food to software.

With over 200 million members, Amazon Prime is the world’s second-largest subscription service, surpassed only by Netflix. An Amazon Prime membership has hidden benefits that many users aren’t aware of, as well as obvious perks like free shipping and Prime Video. However, at $14.99/month ($139/year), it’s not cheap. That’s why Amazon Prime for Young Adults (formerly called Amazon Prime Student) is such a great deal at $7.49/month (50% off). If you are an older student, don’t let the name fool you. While all young adults ages 18-24 can access the offer regardless of their college enrollment status, it’s also open to students regardless of age who verify their status through Amazon.

An Amazon Prime membership for young adults starts with a six-month free trial. After that, you’ll be charged $7.49/month for as long as you’re eligible. For students, it is until graduation or for a maximum of four years (trial period included); For those who sign up via age verification, the discount ends once you turn 25. Once your eligibility ends, your membership will change to a standard membership unless you cancel it.

Many streaming services offer student discounts, including Max, Spotify, and YouTube Premium, but among them, Hulu has by far the best deal. You can get Hulu (with ads) for just $1.99/month as long as you’re a student, which is a whopping 83% off. That student price has remained the same despite Disney+ and Hulu’s price increases last year, sweetening an already strong deal that gives you access to shows like “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

To get the student price, you will need to verify your registration through SheerID. From there, your status will be automatically rechecked each year, reverting to regular price once you graduate or leave school. You also don’t need to create a new account for this, as you can apply the offer to an existing account. The only downside is that you’ll have to watch ads, but that’s a small sacrifice for such a big discount at a time when streaming services are becoming more and more expensive.

Similar to streaming services, students can also benefit from great discounts on software and online services. Microsoft even offers various perks to keep students from purchasing a MacBook Neo, as well as discounts on Microsoft 365 and hardware. Students can also benefit from Adobe Creative Cloud at a deeply discounted price. However, while these deals are great, there are smart financial alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office, and you may be able to get them through your school if they’re needed for classes or communication.

That’s why we feature Squarespace as the best software offering for students. The website building platform offers 50% off your first year, which is verified through Student Beans and can be applied to any plan. This probably won’t last your entire college experience, but think about when you’ll actually need it. Squarespace is great for recent and future graduates who need to build a website or portfolio to help them in their job search, so even one year at half price is a good deal.

Ordering food is an essential part of student life, whether you’re sharing pizza with new friends or popping Lo Mein in your mouth while studying for your exams. There are more options than ever, but shipping quickly gets expensive. If you order a lot, subscribing to DoorDash can help you save money with free shipping and other discounts. It usually costs $9.99/month ($96/year), but there is also a student DashPass plan for $4.99/month ($48/year), a 50% discount.

DashPass offers benefits beyond $0 shipping and other discounts. Members who order through DoorDash but pick up their own can earn 5% in credits, plus up to four discounted Lyft rides per month. If you’re in the mood for something extraordinary, the benefits of DashPass also apply to Caviar, a DoorDash-owned service that positions itself as a premium alternative to other delivery apps. If you order delivery frequently, DashPass will pay for itself in just a few orders per month, especially at student pricing.

While not a household name like the other subscriptions listed, Headspace addresses the serious topic of mental health. It’s far too easy to neglect your own wellbeing when juggling the demands of student life, which is why a mindfulness app like this can be a big help. Headspace is designed to help users relax, sleep better, and practice mindfulness with resources like guided meditations, focus music, and expert advice on topics like managing anxiety and improving personal relationships.

Headspace’s student plan costs just $9.99/year, an 83% discount from its usual price of $69.99/year. As with other offers, this is verified through SheerID and verified annually. What makes this deal even better is that the savings don’t stop right after you finish school. If your registration cannot be re-verified and you do not cancel, you will receive a special alumni membership discount of 40% off one year of regular priced membership.

The subscriptions listed here have been selected based on the discount offered and their suitability for the average student. For example, there are great deals at retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club, as well as meal kit boxes like HelloFresh, but many students have limited access to transportation and kitchens. Finally, we only considered offers without age restrictions and focused on those that last as long as you are a student rather than free trials or short-term discounts, making an exception for Squarespace as explained in its entry.