Streaming Services with Student Discounts in 2026

If you're a college student, you can cut your streaming bill by almost 50% with the right student discounts. Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Premium, and Amazon Prime all offer student pricing in 2026, while Netflix and YouTube TV don't. Here's what each deal costs, who qualifies, and how to verify your student status.

The short answer: HBO Max is the cheapest single-service student deal at $5.49/month. For two services on one bill, the Disney+, Hulu Student Bundle costs $6.49/month, and Spotify Premium Student ($6.99/month) includes Hulu (With Ads).

Comparing Streaming Student Discounts

Plans, prices, and bundles are subject to change and may not include taxes and fees. Information is valid as of October 2026.

Hulu Student Discount: Disney+, Hulu Bundle for $6.49/Month (ad-supported)

Hulu no longer offers a standalone Hulu plan. Instead, Hulu's student offer is the Disney+, Hulu bundle (With Ads) for $6.49/month, which is half the regular $12.99 price. You get both libraries in one convenient bill: Hulu's current-season TV and originals, plus Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic titles on Disney+.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• U.S. residents 18 or older enrolled at a U.S. university or post-secondary degree program
• Student status is verified through SheerID and you must re-verify every 12 months
• The student price lasts for your entire enrollment as long as your status stays verified; if verification lapses, you move to the full-price ad-supported bundle
• No free trial; cancel anytime
• Not available to ESPN subscribers or if you bundle through HBO Max

Tip: Spotify Premium Student already includes Hulu (With Ads). If you have it, the Disney+ library is the only new content this bundle adds.

Disney+, Hulu Student Bundle

• Two streaming libraries for $6.49/month
• Most new Hulu episodes the day after they air
• Price holds while you stay enrolled and verified

HBO Max Student Discount: $5.49/Month (ad-supported)

HBO Max's student discount drops the Basic with Ads plan to $5.49/month, a 50% savings, for up to 12 months. It's the lowest-priced single-service student deal in this guide and includes HBO originals, Warner Bros. films, and DC titles.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• Students 18 or older enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university
• Verify with a free UNiDAYS account, claim the promo code, then redeem it at HBOMax.com/redeem
• UNiDAYS asks you to re-verify your student status each year
• The discount applies only to Basic with Ads and will end if you switch to another HBO Max plan
• Current subscribers should cancel or adjust their existing plan first to avoid being billed twice

Peacock Student Discount: $6.99/Month for 12 Months

Peacock's student offer gets you Peacock Premium for $6.99/month for 12 months. After that, the price will adjust to the current regular price. Peacock Premium includes NBC and Bravo shows, Peacock originals, movies, and live sports.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• Students 18 or older in an undergraduate or advanced degree program at a Title IV-accredited U.S. college or university
• Verification runs through SheerID, and you must re-verify every year
• A valid payment method is required, and you may need to cancel an existing subscription to redeem the student discount

Paramount+ Student Discount: 50% Off Any Plan

Paramount+ gives verified students 50% off any plan for the first 12 months. At current Paramount+ prices, $8.99/month for Essential and $13.99/month for Premium, that's about $4.50/month or $7.00/month. Paramount+ streams CBS shows, Paramount+ originals, and live sports such as the NFL on CBS, and Premium adds your live local CBS station and offline downloads.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• U.S. students only; signup routes through SheerID for verification
• Student verification is required every year
• After the first 12 months, your plan auto-renews at the regular price until you cancel

Spotify Premium Student with Hulu: $6.99/Month

Spotify Premium Student costs $6.99/month after a one-month free trial and currently includes Hulu (With Ads). Spotify Premium alone normally costs $12.99/month, so this is the best twofer deal if you want music and TV.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• Students 18 or older at an eligible U.S. Title IV-accredited college or university
• Verified through SheerID
• The plan runs in 12-month periods, and you can re-verify for up to three more, for a maximum of four years
• Hulu (With Ads) is included subject to eligibility

Apple Music Student Plan with Apple TV: $6.99/Month

The Apple Music student plan is $6.99/month, and new subscribers get the first month free. It comes with access to Apple TV (formerly Apple TV+) at no extra cost, so you can stream Apple Originals like Severance, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• Verified college students only; the plan can't be shared through Family Sharing
• Student pricing lasts up to four years, then continues at the Individual price (currently $11.99/month)
• Free Apple TV access ends when you no longer qualify or don't renew your student plan

YouTube Premium Student: $8.99/Month

YouTube Premium Student removes ads from YouTube and adds background play, downloads, and YouTube Music Premium. After YouTube's April 2026 price increase, the student plan runs $8.99/month, compared to $15.99/month for an individual plan. YouTube Premium doesn't include YouTube TV's live channels.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• Students enrolled at a higher-education institution that SheerID recognizes, in a country where YouTube offers student memberships (the U.S. is one)
• Sign up at youtube.com/premium/student and verify through SheerID. If you aren’t verified right away, you upload enrollment documents for manual review.
• Re-verify every year, for up to four consecutive years of student pricing
• If you already pay for a YouTube membership such as standard Premium, you may need to cancel it before switching to the student plan. YouTube TV and NFL Sunday Ticket don’t count.

Amazon Prime Student: 6 Months Free, Then $7.49/Month

Prime for Young Adults (ages 18-24) starts with a six-month free trial, then costs $7.49/month or $69/year, about half the regular Prime price of $14.99/month or $139/year. Membership includes Prime Video along with the other Prime benefits, like free shipping. Prime Video streams with ads by default; ad-free viewing costs more.

Who qualifies and how it works:

• Amazon offers the same pricing to adults ages 18 to 24 through Prime for Young Adults, whether they're enrolled in school or not
• Membership converts to regular Prime when you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment, or don't re-verify

Popular Streaming Services Without Student Discounts

Some of the most popular streaming services don't offer student pricing. Here's what you need to know about them and how much they cost.

Does Netflix have a student discount?

No. Netflix doesn't offer a student discount in the U.S. The most affordable option is Standard with ads at $8.99/month. Standard is $19.99/month and Premium is $26.99/month.

Does YouTube TV have a student discount?

No. YouTube TV costs $82.99/month and doesn't offer reduced pricing or discounts to students. New members may see a limited-time introductory rate, and NFL Sunday Ticket is a separate add-on at extra cost. If you mainly want live sports, you can get more for less with Peacock or Paramount+ student pricing.

Which Student Streaming Deal Is the Best Value?

It depends on what you watch, but the lowest overall student price is currently $5.49/month for HBO Max. Here are other low-cost options:

• Most content for the money: Disney+, Hulu Student Bundle at $6.49/month for two services
• Music and TV together: Spotify Premium Student is $6.99/month, with Hulu (With Ads) included
• Live sports: Peacock Premium at $6.99/month or Paramount+ at 50% off
• More than streaming: Prime Student ($7.49/month), which adds free shipping and other Prime perks to Prime Video
• Apple users: Apple Music Student at $6.99/month, with Apple TV included

Stack example: Spotify Premium Student ($6.99) + HBO Max ($5.49) + Peacock ($6.99) costs $19.47/month for Spotify, Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock Premium.

How Student Verification Works

Most streaming services confirm your enrollment through a third-party verification service instead of collecting documents:

• SheerID: Disney+, Hulu Student Bundle; Spotify Premium Student; Peacock; Paramount+
• UNiDAYS: HBO Max
• In-house verification: Apple Music, YouTube Premium, and Amazon Prime Student verify through their own signup flows

Verification usually takes a few minutes with your school email or enrollment details. If automatic verification fails, you may be asked to upload a document showing current enrollment, such as your class schedule or tuition statement. Most discounts require annual re-verification, and prices revert to the standard rate if you miss it, so set a reminder for each renewal date.

Get the Right Internet for Streaming

A student discount doesn't help much if your connection can't keep up. Netflix recommends at least 5 Mbps for Full HD and 15 Mbps for 4K per stream, and that adds up fast if your roommates stream, game, and attend online classes, too. Our guide to what internet speed you need for streaming breaks down how much bandwidth a busy household needs.

Students in dorms usually can't choose their internet provider, but plugging in with Ethernet when possible provides the fastest and most reliable connection (see wired vs. Wi-Fi internet), and these tips can help fix slow streaming. If you live off campus, enter your ZIP code to compare plans and providers in your area, then look for ways to lower your internet bill.