How To Get Student Discounts on Music Streaming Platforms

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As a new academic year begins, we’re all back at school again, busy with assignments, student organizations, exams, and tests. A new semester also comes with the curation of new music, artists, and Spotify playlists to procrastinate. We’re always looking to kill the hours bent over our books in the library, recharge, and enjoy our free time during a tiring and grueling school year.

Yet, we can become quite overwhelmed with so much choice among music streaming platforms and sites with monthly subscriptions. And if you’re on a tight budget like I was in college, you’re also probably worried about subscription costs. When you realize you’re a subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, ad-ons, and other subscriptions, costs can really start adding up. If you need help remembering what you have, Rocket Money can help you find the subscriptions you’re still paying for but might have forgotten about, and cancel them for you – easy as pie!

Personally, I always keep tabs on the student discounts and promotions I’m paying for, subscribe to platforms in a timely manner, and remember to cancel subscriptions that become more expensive, or that I stop using as much. I also choose platforms that offer me multiple perks and access to other services too.

All these student discounts are dependent on your student status. Ensure you have a copy of your student ID and .edu email address. Some streaming sites require students to re-verify their eligibility and student annually through third-party services such as Sheer ID and UNiDAYS. This requires first and last name, school name, email, and at times, proof of enrollment. The platform will usually send you an email notification to re-verify each year in order to maintain your discount. Let’s take a look at how you can save money on several music streaming platforms that offer student discounts for 12 months or more.

Apple Music

While I will always admit I’m on the Team Spotify camp, Apple Music Student offers cash-strapped students unlimited access to Apple TV too, saving you an extra $9 per month. Students can get both Apple TV+ and Apple Music free for the first month when they sign up for a student subscription.

The discounted rate for students following this is currently $5.99 per month, which is valid for up to 48 months. Apart from access to over 90 million songs and exclusive radio channels on Apple Music, you can also watch Apple TV originals such as Dickinson, The Morning Show, and For All Mankind. Apple Music is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

Spotify

As someone who used Spotify throughout my angsty teenage phase in high school and throughout my four years in college, I’ve been an avid Spotify user to this day. Spotify boasts the most diverse collection of music, artists, podcasts, and albums, and is also available across many devices, worldwide.

While the cheapest Hulu subscription currently costs $6.99 per month (or $69.99 per year) and a SHOWTIME subscription currently costs $10.99 per month (after a one month free trial), Spotify Premium Student now also gives you access to Hulu and SHOWTIME too for a grand total of only $4.99 per month. This is a stellar deal! Spotify uses Sheer ID to verify student identity. So, with this bundle, you’ll save up to $22.98 per month when compared with paying for each subscription separately at the regular price.

In addition, you also have the option to cancel your subscription at any point. Apart from this option, Spotify is available both on the App Store and Google Play.

Amazon Music

While it’s a bit newer to the music streaming game, Amazon Music Unlimited also creates some buzz. For just $0.99 per month, students can now access Amazon Music Unlimited, which includes access to over 90 million songs and 10 million podcast episodes, including on-demand ad-free music with the option of offline listening.

If you sign up for Prime Student, you can access a 6-month free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited and then the current cost is just $7.49 per month, which is half the cost of a regular Prime subscription. You can receive additional benefits such as six months of Linkedin Premium for free and get a free 1 year membership of Grubhub+ to boot. Amazon Music is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

YouTube Music

YouTube Music now offers an ad-free experience and a free 1-month trial at the current cost of only 6.99 per month for ad-free and offline music streaming. YouTube Music requires eligible students to verify their status via Sheer ID. YouTube Music is availabled on both the App Store and Google Play.

Pandora Premium

While this platform isn’t as common as its other streaming competitors, Pandora Premium Student is currently $4.99 per month or $59.98 billed annually and can be renewed for up to 4 years. The first 60 days are free! If you have an existing Pandora Plus subscription, a student discount will charge you a prorated amount, taking full effect only at the beginning of a new billing cycle. You should ensure that you stop your auto-renewal in a timely manner if you want to place a pause on your subscription. Pandora Premium is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

Tidal Music

Tidal Music Student offers a 50% discount on the Tidal HiFi and HiFi Plus plans to eligible college and high school students over the age of 16. You’ll have to verify your student status annually via Sheer ID. For only $4.99 per month, Tidal gives you access to over 90 million songs, as well as livestreams. What’s more? Each new sign-up also receives a free 30-day trial before being billed the discounted rate. Tidal users usually verify their eligibility annually, including an official enrollment letter, class schedule, registration proof, and a copy of a transcript. Tidal Music is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

The Bottom Line

Music streaming services are here to stay since they’re an integral part of our lives. From our daily commutes to work and school, down time with friends, or to focus on crunch time atwork, music is always streaming. Music platforms such as Spotify continue to be vital platforms for both listeners and small and medium up-and-coming artists alike, allowing us to discover local artists and live performances in our areas.

Most importantly, many streaming platforms today also offer students package deals and promotions on other equally useful and essential services, be it online shopping or access to other streaming platforms.

If you’re already savvy with how you subscribe to other streaming platforms, it can’t hurt to also take advantage of these student promotions and subscriptions to maximize value. You’ll save hundreds of dollars annually (literally), while staying up to date with the latest music!