There are tons of legit ways for college students to get free food, fun, software, and subscriptions — but the rules and prices have changed.
Most of the offers here require one (or more) of three things:
- a valid student ID
- a verified school email
- proof of low income (like SNAP/EBT or Medicaid)
Our favorite tip is to start with the basics that stretch your grocery budget and lower your monthly bills, then layer on the fun extras so you can enjoy campus life without blowing your budget.
But be careful, because many “free” student trials quietly turn into full‑price subscriptions after a few months. AlwaysT check how long the trial lasts, what the regular price will be, and whether you’ll be charged automatically. Set a reminder in your phone to cancel a few days before the trial ends if you don’t want to keep it.
Free Subscriptions for College Students
Recurring subscriptions can break the bank but there are some ways to save money! Some of my favorite free stuff for college students can be found in this section.
Amazon Prime offers an amazing discount for students between the ages of 18 and 24. You can get six months for FREE followed by a 50% discount. This deal also unlocks $0 food delivery fees through Grubhub+, unlimited video streaming, unlimited free shipping, and so much more. Sign up for Amazon Student.
Walmart+ offers 50% off for college and grad students. This even includes access to a streaming service – either Peacock Premium or Paramount+, and it looks like you can switch every 90 days. Sign up here.
Apple Music provides a student discount for 48 months if you’re pursuing an associates, bachelors, post-graduate degree or equivalent at a college or unviersity. You may even be able to get Apple TV at no extra cost! Get your Apple student discount here.
HBO Max offers a 50% discount through their Student Plan. The service does have ads, though.
Headspace offers a generous 85% off discount for students. You have to be attending a post-secondary program or university to qualify. Get the Headspace Student Plan for roughly 83 cents per month.
Hulu offers their service for just $1.99 per month for as long as you’re a college student! You need to sign up on their Student Deals page.
NBA League Pass offers a 40% discount for verified college, university or post-secondary students. You’ll need to veirfy your continued eligibility every year. Sign up here.
Paramount+ has a 50% off deal for any of their subscriptions. It’s valid for 12 months and you can renew it. Annual verification is required to keep the discount. Sign up here.
Peacock Premium provides almost 50% off for students on their Student Discount page. You will be echarged the full price after 12 months, so be careful.
Peloton App offers a discount for students as well. You have to claim it on their offers page.
Spotify gives you a free trial month and then a sweet discount after that. Right now, the offer even includes Hulu access. Sign up for Spotify Premium Student.
YouTube Premium offers a free trial and then a monthly student discount on their ad-free service. Sign up on the Student page.
Washington Post has an academic rate for college students so that you can save money on your subscriptions.
Professional Organization Memberships offer free or cheap memberships too. Some of the participating associations include the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Planning Association, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Free Checking Accounts for college students are often available from banks like US Bank, Bank of America and Chase. Local credit unions may have similar offers.
Free Software for College Students
Many companies offer free (or discounted) software to college students. After all, if you learn on one suite of software, you’re more likely to buy it after graduation. Giving you free access in college helps the company and it helps you, too!
Adobe Creative Cloud offers a 71% discount on Creative Cloud Pro when you’re a student or a teacher. Sign up on the Students & Teachers page.
Autodesk offers a free annual access for students. The access includes all sorts of different tools, including AutoCAD, 3DS MAx, AutoDesk, Forma, and more. You can renew your annual access every year you remain eligible. Get started on their Education page.
JetBrains offers a free all-in-one dev toolkit for students. You just need to request one with your .edu email address. You can’t use it commerically, though.
Microsoft gives students a free Office 365 Education suite at no cost, through their educational institution.
YNAB, also called You Need a Budget, offers free access for college students. You just need to provide proof of enrollment.
Free Food & Groceries
Food is non-negotiable, so let’s look at some great ways that you can save.
Chipotle U Rewards provide exclusive savings for college students. You can earn 1,000 points just by joining. You also get extra point boosts for your purchases and occassional free food drops. Sign up here.
DashPass for Students offers a discount for students. It looks like you have to cancel your current DashPass (if you have one) and wait for that to end before you sign up for the student one. DoorDash has instructions here.
GitHub Student Developer Pack provides affordable access to a suite of tools that you may need. Check it out.
GrubHub+ offers free delivery fees through graduation. You can sign up for the special membership on their Campus Dining page.
HelloFresh offers 50% off your first box and 10% off the next 8 boxes. You can also get a free add-on item for life. You just need to use UNiDAYS to verify your enrollment.
HomeChef offers $116 off across your first four boxes. You will need to register for HomeChef through Student Beans.
Ask for discounts. Rumor has it that you can score student discounts from Arby’s, Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Dairy Queen, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, Qdoba, Sonic, Subway and Waffle House. These deals tend to vary by location and more common in college towns.
Check for an app. In some areas, there may be an app like the Starving Student App to get coupons for local restaurants and retailers! Coupons can include free drinks, copies from the local UPS store, and even veterinary services.
Campus food resources may also be available. These can include campus food pantries, meal-sharing or swipe-sharing programs, or free-food events.
Free Fun
College students don’t usually have big budgets for recreation but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun things in your neighborhood!
Admission discounts are available from many museums, zoos, arenas, concert halls and events. If there’s a place you’ve been wanting to go, look into student pricing. You might be surprised!
Movie theaters often offer great discounts a well. For example, Marcus Theaters in the Midwest offer discounted movies to students on Thursdays. Cinemark often has discounts that vary by location. Call your local theater or cinema and ask about their student pricing or promotions.
Unlock More Freebies for Students
One of the easiest ways to save money in 2026 is by signing up for student discount platforms like:
- UNiDAYS
- Student Beans
- SheerID
- ID.me
These services verify your student status and unlock exclusive discounts, freebies, and promo codes from hundreds of brands. You’ll need a .edu email address or proof of enrollment to sign up.
Relief Recap
College is expensive, but your student ID can unlock hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings every year. From free software and streaming discounts to restaurant deals and travel perks, students have access to a huge number of programs designed to make life more affordable.
