Every music streaming platform has a range of subscription options, but for those on a student budget, $10 or more per month isn’t pocket-friendly.
And in the middle of a big study session, ads popping up as you're listening is a quick way to be distracted. Luckily, Spotify has a great alternative that is ad-free and budget-friendly: the Spotify Premium Student Plan.
As Spotify says: Music, movies, and television. Free for 3 months, just $5.99/month after that.
What is the Spotify Premium Student Plan?
The Spotify Premium Student Plan is a budget-friendly subscription option for students. Spotify offers it for $5.99 per month in the U.S., the same price as the Apple Music Student Plan.
One of the benefits of Spotify's plan is that it includes Hulu (ad-supported) at no extra cost, although this is available only in the U.S.
What is included with the Spotify Student Discount Plan?
When you sign up for the Spotify Student plan, you will get your first month free, and you’ll gain access to podcasts, playlists, personalized curated playlists, and the rest of their extensive music catalog.
Additionally, Spotify Premium Student includes Hulu (ad-supported), where you can watch Hulu Originals and more popular shows. However, this Hulu plan does include ads, and it’s only available to students in the U.S.
This bundled offer provides students with significant savings, considering the separate costs of these services. You can use this subscription for up to 48 months or until you complete your course, whichever comes first.
What are the criteria to get a Spotify Student subscription?
To qualify for a Spotify Premium Student subscription, you must be over 18 years old and enrolled at a Title IV accredited university or college in the U.S. Spotify uses SheerID for student status verification.
If you've previously had a Spotify Premium account, you are still eligible for the student discount as long as you meet the other criteria.
If you already have Hulu, your billing will switch to Spotify. Note that this offer does not apply if you have any add-ons like HBO, or if you're paying for Hulu through a third party.
What is the verification process for a Spotify Premium Subscription?
SheerID takes over the verification process and works in the US and 33 other countries, too.
- Go to the Spotify website.
- Look for all premium plans, and scroll until you see Student Premium.
- Click Get Student Premium.
You will be taken to the following screen:
From there, you need to follow the instructions until your verification is approved.
Once your verification is approved, you will have instant access to your new Spotify Premium Student subscription.
You can also find the offer directly on the SheerID website, but it will take you back to Spotify to complete the first part of the process.
Is Apple Music Student or Spotify Premium Student better?
Both services are priced at $5.99 per month, offering significant savings over the 48 months you can use the account.
Both also provide extra perks—Apple Music includes access to Apple TV+, while Spotify includes Hulu (ad-supported), though Hulu is U.S.-only.
While Apple TV+ offers exclusive shows, Hulu has a wider range of content and is more established, especially in the U.S. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference for content.
How can you renew your Spotify Premium Student subscription?
To keep your Spotify Premium Student subscription, you will get a notification email about four weeks before your subscription hits the year mark (every year). It will ask you to log in and reverify your student credentials with SheerID.
You can also do this through your account page.
To reverify through your account page, here is what you need to do:
- Log in to your Spotify account,
- Head to Account Overview,
- Look for Student Discount, and then Renew Discount,
- Tap or click the button,
- You’ll be taken to SheerID and need to follow their instructions.
What happens to your Student Premium Discount when you graduate or leave your course?
If you fail to reverify, graduate, leave your course, or reach the 48 months, your student discount will come to an end. You will be automatically moved to a Spotify Premium Individual subscription.
What if my credentials can’t be verified?
Spotify has partnered with SheerID, and it is SheerID that runs the verification process - if there are any issues with verification, then you will need to reach out to SheerID customer support.
In some cases, SheerID might ask you to upload supporting documents to help them with the verification process; other times, it will be done without that. Supporting documents may include an enrollment letter, schedule, transcripts, or a tuition receipt.
How do I access Hulu with the Spotify Premium Student subscription?
Once your Spotify student discount is set up, go to your Spotify Premium for Students account, head to your account page, and look for the Activate Hulu button. You’ll need to fill in a short sign-up, and your Hulu account is now ready to use.
Use the Hulu app or website as usual to access TVs and movies, and the Spotify app or web player for podcasts, music and more.
It can be tough to choose between music streaming services, but luckily, you don’t need to leave your playlists, albums and music behind if you decide to switch. Transfer music between streaming platforms with the FreeYourMusic app, and you get the first 100 songs for free - very student-budget-friendly.
