30+ Best Freebies & Discounts (Free Stuff) for College Students

College is expensive, but fortunately there are many student discounts you can take advantage of. There are even many things you can get for free just for being a college student. You should always ask if there is a student discount on anything you are buying, from a new computer and clothes to dinner and movie tickets. These are items you can get for free as a college student.

Free Stuff for College Students

Free Stuff ONLY for College Students in 2021

NOTE: To take advantage of most of these freebies, you often need either a .edu email address and/or a valid student I.D.  If you don’t have either or, then it’s next to impossible to take advantage.

1. Amazon Prime

Students get Amazon Prime free for six months. This includes free two-day shipping on over 100 million items (including textbooks), unlimited streaming of Prime movies and TV shows, unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos, and 20% off pre-order and new release video games. After six months, you will be automatically signed up for Prime membership at 50% off the regular rate.

2. YouTube Premium

Recently, YouTube introduced its YouTube Premium student plan, which is no different than its YouTube Premium for everyone else.

Much like Amazon Prime, you will need to be an “eligible” student, which basically means you have to confirm your .edu email address.  In some cases, you may need to provide additional evidence as well.

YouTube Premium is only free for the first month, but after that, it’s $6.99 a month until you’re no longer defined as a student.

3. Microsoft Office

Students at eligible institutions with a valid college email address can receive Office 365 Education for free – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams.

4. The Washington Post

When you sign up for six months of free Amazon Prime, you will also get access to six months of The Washington Post online.

5. Download the Pocket Points App

Pocket Points is a fantastic app that earns you a variety of fantastic freebies for simply staying off your phone while in class.  Picture it as an incentive to stay focused while at school.

For every minute you’re not using your phone, the app will reward you with points, in which you can then cash out for a variety of freebies from local merchants.  The freebies tend to rotate, but it can range from free food to even exclusive discounts.

If you feel you can stay off your phone while on campus, it’s a great way to earn rewards for doing basically nothing.

This app is 100% free to download.

6. You Need a Budget

Get this budgeting software free for an entire year. Just email them proof you’re a student, such a copy of a student ID card, transcript or tuition statement. It’s software that teaches you how to manage your money and tackle that student loan debt.

7. Spotify

Get one month free of Spotify if you’re a student. After the trial, it’s $4.99 per month.

8. LastPass

LastPass keeps track of your passwords with unlimited sync to unlimited devices, including smartphones and tablets, so you don’t forget your passwords. Students get premium membership free for six months.

9. JetBrains

Get free access to JetBrains for learning or teaching coding. You’ll need to be enrolled in an accredited educational program.

10. Autodesk

Autodesk, used by designers and engineers, has a free version for college students.

Rather than buying the software, simply use your .edu email ID when signing up to take advantage of more than 50+ programs.

11. Github

Github offers a special Student Developer Pack, designed solely for college students.

Looking at the pack, it includes more than 20+ programs, ranging from coding and development tools to cloud hosting options.

Refer to the link below to see what’s included.  Do keep in mind a lot of the options are not free forever, but available for a year or two.

12. Museums

A lot of museums offer student discounts, but there are a few that offers free admission to select college students.

While a lot of the museums I’m about to list only offer free admission to neighboring colleges, it’s best to read the fine print before showing up, expecting to get in for free.

For now, here’s a list of some museums that offer free admission to college students:

There’s probably a lot more than what this list has to offer, so make sure you at least ask and/or even visit the official museum website for more information.

13. Transportation

A lot of colleges offer free rides on public transportation, so instead of taking an Uber or begging a friend, see if you can hop on the bus at no cost.

The University of California, for instance, offers free transportation, whereas Louisiana State University offers a similar program as well.

Some have restrictions, but it doesn’t hurt to check with your college to see what they have to offer.

14. U.S. Bank Basic Checking Account

U.S. Bank offers a student checking account with a $0 monthly fee. You’ll also get your first order of U.S. Bank Student Checks for free, too.

15. Bank of America Checking Account

Bank of America waives monthly fees for some checking accounts for students.

16. Chase Checking Account

College students (17 to 24 years old) can have the monthly service fee waived for 5 years.

17. TD Bank Checking Account

Students aged 17 through 23 pay no monthly fee with no minimum balance requirement. Plus, there is also no monthly fee on a linked Simple Savings account.

18. Free Soda/Pop at Participating Restaurants

For a long time, Chick-Fil-A and even Chipotle will offer you a free drink as long as you show your valid student ID.

And, of course, you need to purchase a meal to take advantage.  Be sure to ask before making your purchase as this deal isn’t 100% confirmed.

19.Memberships

Many professional organizations offer free memberships to college students who are preparing for a particular career.

Most of these memberships offer a variety of perks, including access to job boards, mentoring help and even networking events.

From my research, some of the well-known associations that offer free student members include the following:

If you’re thinking of joining an organization after graduating, see if there’s a student version available right now you can take advantage of.

20. Sporting Events (free college sports tickets)

Many colleges will offer their students free tickets to upcoming sports events.  In some cases, they even bus you to the stadium as well!

For example, the University of Houston offers free tickets to all regular men’s basketball games.

To take advantage, check with your college’s sports department or visit the official website online to see if you find any information as all colleges vary.  A quick Google search can work as well.

21. Gym Memberships

Ditch the $10+ monthly gym membership and start attending the gym on site.

As long as you’re attending a university, there’s a good chance they will have a gym on campus that all of its students can use for free.

Most colleges simply ask that you’re a current student enrolled in classes to take advantage.

22. New York Times subscription

The New York Time’s student basic plan gives college students unlimited access to the publication’s content on any device for just $1 a week. That’s a small price to pay to be informed.

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23. Prezi

Prezi’s software gives you the resources you need to create and share impressive data visualizations, be it making your own charts and graphs or adding animations to slide decks.

For students that can verify their student status, you can get a Prezi basic student plan for free (usually $7 a month), or a premium plan for just $3 a month with a free trial!

24. SiriusXM Premium

The Sirius Streaming service is normally $13 a month but as a student, you can get it for just $4 a month. You get over 300 SiriusXM channels and you don’t need a satellite equipped car.

Sirius has partnered with SheerID to verify that you are a current student. You just have to provide your University or College’s name, your name, your birthday (for verification), and your email address. FYI, a student is defined as currently enrolled in a United States-based, degree-granting, Title IV-accredited school of higher education.

25. Free Software

Companies love to give free software to students because it introduces you to their software at a time when you’re least able to pay and most likely to form your usage habits.

Start by going to your school’s IT department to see what software they have available (for example, here’s the free software page of the University of Pittsburgh students). Many universities have a large number of seat licenses that enable you to use the software like you would borrow a book from the library. It’ll cost you nothing and you can get access to a lot of great (and expensive) software packages.

Here are a few companies that give out free software specifically to students:

26. Clothing

  • Adidas – Up to 15% off (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • ASOS – 10% off
  • boohoo – up to 80% off (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Champion – up to 20% off online as an actively enrolled college student
  • Club Monaco – 15% off online and in-store
  • Dockers – 20% off (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Dr. Martens – 15% off online (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Hanes – Up to 20% off online
  • J. Crew – a 15% discount for teachers and college students in-store
  • Journeys – $10 off of a $75+ online order (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Goodwill – Check your local store for the promotion day (ours have 30% off on Wednesdays for students, teachers, and seniors)
  • Levi’s – Up to 25% off full-price items (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Madewell – 15% off for teachers & college students
  • ModCloth – 25% off online
  • Nike – Up to 20% off on most items
  • PacSun – 10% off online (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Rue21 – 15% off online orders
  • Sunglass Hut – 15% off online (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • The North Face – 10% off online or in-store
  • Topshop – 10% discount (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Toms – 10% off to students and teachers
  • Vineyard Vines – 15% off in-store (military too) and online

27. Furniture

  • Club O Gold – It’s a rewards program for students and teachers, using ID.me verification.
  • Pottery Barn – 15% off when you use your .edu address or show a valid student ID
  • West Elm – 15% off your next purchase, sign up with an .edu address

28. Cell Phone Plans

Most cell phone carriers offer business, educator, and military discounts. Your university or insurance provider might offer a special discount. Prepaid cell phone plans might offer a lower price even without a college student discount.

29. Electronics

Unlike clothing retailers with 10% or 20% off, electronics usually offer special educational models or pricing:

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31. Health and Cosmetics

  • AAptiv – 50% off monthly and annual plans. This is a fitness app that can help you lose weight or improve your health with audio guided programs (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • BH Cosmetics – 10% off online (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • bioClarity – 15% off skincare products when using the discount code STUDENT15
  • Bobbi Brown – 20% off online (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • MAC Cosmetics – 10% off online (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Objective Wellness – 25% off health and wellness supplements by emailing [email protected]. You can get anything from Vitamin C supplements to “chocolate-y sleep squares” to help you rest well
  • Sally Beauty – Get a free Beauty Student Savings card for exclusive monthly discounts. Cosmetology students can upgrade to a Pro card for extra savings.
  • Sigma – 10% off online

32. Travel

  • Amtrak – Up to 25% discount on train travel for students ager 13-25
  • CheapTickets – 18% off hotel reservations and discounted plane tickets
  • CLEAR – $50 annual cost for up to four years (standard price is $180).
  • Greyhound – 10% off Greyhound fares and 15% off shipping
  • Hotels.com – 10% off sitewide (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • IKON Pass – Discount on Rocky Mountain SuperPass for Colorado ski resorts (nurses and military qualify too)
  • Lonely Planet – Up to 20% off online
  • Megabus – $3 off your next trip (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Sixt – 5% off for students at least 21 years old
  • StudentUniverse – Discounts on flights, hotels and tours

33. Miscellaneous

  • Ableton – 40% off music creation software
  • Costco – $20 Costco shop Card with a new annual membership
  • Evernote – 50% off one year of Evernote Premium note-taking app
  • FedEx – 20-30% off with a student ID card!
  • Norton – Up to $55 off an annual plan for antivirus and anti-spyware software
  • Pandora Premium – 60 days free and then 50% off to only pay $4.99 per month
  • Rosetta Stone – 10% off sitewide in addition to other sales (UNiDAYS confirmation)
  • Spotify – 50% discount (Spotify Premium now includes Hulu and Showtime)
  • Sam’s Club – You get a $10 gift card when you join or renew with your student ID.
  • TickTick – 25% off task management app
  • Budget Truck Rental – Up to 20% off moving truck rentals. Use discount code TRUKU.
  • Penske – 10% off rental trucks and a few other perks (unlimited miles and no underage surcharge are huge)
  • SMARTBOX – Moving and storage discounts
  • Zipcar – Discounts for car rentals at participating universities. There can be big savings if you’re renting under age 25 – some rental agencies won’t rent, period.