Student discounts on streaming and music in 2026: prices and who qualifies

These are US student and young-adult prices from each provider’s own pages, read on October 18, 2026. They’re “if you qualify” prices. You have to pass the provider’s check, usually through SheerID or UNiDAYS, and most checks repeat every year. That’s why this site lists them apart from the main rank on its cheapest pages. If you don’t qualify, the cheapest music plans anyone can buy are Apple Music Individual at $11.99/mo and YouTube Music Individual at $11.99/mo on cheapest music subscriptions.

Student plans you keep while you stay verified

Each of these is a standing plan, not an introductory rate. The price holds as long as you keep passing the provider’s check, up to any limit in the terms below. Free first months aren’t included.

The difference compares monthly prices only. Where a service also sells a yearly plan, the yearly price is in the price columns. Add a student plan to the calculator. The calculator won’t count a student price as a saving unless you mark yourself as a student.

Who qualifies, and what happens after

Spotify Premium Student and the Disney+, Hulu student bundle both include Hulu (With Ads). If you have both, you get Hulu twice. YouTube Premium Student already includes YouTube Music, so you don’t need YouTube Music Student as well. The video plan costs $3 a month more.

Time-limited student promos

These three are promotions with an end date or a yearly term. They aren’t plans in this catalog and don’t appear in its tables or rankings. The terms are quoted from each provider.

• HBO Max, promo: Basic with Ads for $5.49 a month, for up to 12 months. HBO Max Help says verified students get “the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan for $5.49/month (a 50% savings) for up to 12 months.” You verify through UNiDAYS. The student page says the offer is for direct-billed subscribers aged 18+ at a U.S. accredited college or university, and that the discounted subscription “will automatically renew each month for up to 12 months, unless you cancel.” Neither page states the price after month 12. For reference, the catalog lists HBO Max Basic with ads at $10.99/mo · $109.99/yr. Source: HBO Max Help: student discount.
• Peacock, promo: Premium for $6.99 a month, for 12 months. Peacock says: “After 12 months, you will be charged $12.99 or the then-current retail price (+tax) each month until you cancel.” It requires annual verification through SheerID. You must be 18 or older, live in the US, and be enrolled at a Title IV-accredited college or university. Peacock adds that eligible students “may renew offer at the then-current rate,” and that current paid subscribers may have to cancel before redeeming. Source: Peacock student discount.
• Paramount+, promo: 50% off any plan, for one year at a time. Paramount+ Help says verified students “can get 50% off ANY Paramount+ plan.” It’s for students at an accredited, Title IV college or university, and “High school students are not eligible.” Verification is through SheerID, and you sign up on the web. The discount “is valid for 1 year.” You can re-verify each year you remain a student. If you don’t, the plan “will auto-renew at the then-current regular price.” The help page gives a percentage, not a discounted price, so no dollar figure is shown here. Source: Paramount+ Help: student discount.

Not included: a $1.99 Hulu student plan

Hulu’s student page showed only the $6.49 bundle on October 18, 2026. Some 2026 roundups still list a $1.99 Hulu-only price, and no official Hulu page we checked offered it.

If you don’t qualify

Cheapest music subscriptions ranks plans anyone can buy and lists student plans separately. Cheapest streaming services does the same for video. The music plans are side by side, student rows included, on Spotify vs Apple Music vs YouTube Music. Price changes for each service are on its price history page, for example Spotify and Apple Music. To drop or change a plan, see how to cancel or downgrade the most common subscriptions.