Disclosure: LabFin is reader-supported. If you sign up for a tool through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions vary between providers and our ratings do not — here’s our full disclosure.
AI tools student discounts in 2026 come in three forms: free periods, lower student prices, and access through your university. The best deal on this list, for example, is a free year of Google AI Pro for eligible US college students.
Most offers, however, need verified enrollment, many cover only some countries, and some renew at full price. This guide lists each offer we have checked, with the catch.
AI Tools Student Discounts: The Short Answer
Eligible US college students can get a free year of Google AI Pro, or Google AI Plus in more than 140 other countries. They can also claim four free months of ChatGPT Plus until October 31, 2026.
Perplexity’s Education Pro costs $10 a month, GitHub Copilot Student is free, and Elicit sells academic plans from $11. Claude, by contrast, has no individual student price, only university plans.
Student Offers at a Glance
| Tool | Student offer | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Google AI Pro | Free for a year (US); AI Plus elsewhere | Eligible college students; 18 and older |
| ChatGPT Plus | Four free months | US only; claim by Oct 31, 2026; renews at $20 |
| Perplexity | Education Pro $10/mo | Verified students and educators |
| GitHub Copilot | Copilot Student, $0 | Verified students; auto model only |
| Elicit | Academic Plus from $11/mo yearly | Against industry Pro at $49 |
| Consensus | Student discount reported | Amount not confirmed |
Free Periods
Google, for example, offers eligible college students a free year of Google AI Pro in the US. In more than 140 other countries, the free year covers Google AI Plus, its plan page says. Our guide to Gemini for students covers the details. Our guide on whether Google’s paid Gemini plan is worth it covers prices plan by plan.
OpenAI’s Back to School offer, meanwhile, gives eligible US students four free months of Plus. Students verify through SheerID and must claim it by October 31, 2026. Our guide to ChatGPT for students explains it.
GitHub Copilot Student, in addition, is free for verified students, with automatic model selection only, as our GitHub Copilot review covers.
Student Prices
Perplexity’s Education Pro costs $10 a month for verified students and educators, half the price of Pro. Our guide to Perplexity for students covers Learn Mode and limits.
Elicit, moreover, sells academic plans: Plus at $11 a month, Pro at $39 and Scale at $89, billed yearly, as our Elicit review lists. Consensus also offers student discounts, one guide reports, though we could not confirm the amount, as our Consensus review notes.
Through Your University
Anthropic offers no individual student discount and requires users to be 18 or older. Universities, however, can buy Claude for Education, as our guide to Claude for students explains.
OpenAI, similarly, sells ChatGPT Edu to universities, which skips training by default. So check your school’s IT pages before paying for anything. Our list of the cheapest useful AI tools also covers low-cost plans for everyone.
Checks Before You Claim
First, confirm eligibility and country, and note when the free period ends and what it renews at. Then set a reminder, as our guide to AI free trials worth using recommends.
In addition, check age rules: Claude and Google AI plans require users 18 and older, while ChatGPT allows 13 to 17 with a parent’s consent. Finally, turn off training on personal plans, as our guide to which AI tools train on your data explains.
Which Offer for Which Student
Among AI tools student discounts, US college students get the most from Google’s free year of AI Pro and ChatGPT’s four months. Research-heavy students, by contrast, may prefer Perplexity at $10 or Elicit’s academic plans.
Our list of the best AI for students ranks the main assistants for study, and our guide to using AI for learning covers study techniques.
How We Research
This guide on AI tools student discounts draws on each company’s plan and help pages, as read for our reviews and student guides between October 1 and 3, 2026. One example source is OpenAI’s Help Center.
Offers change often, so check the company’s page before signing up. Our about page explains how we research.
AI Tools Student Discounts FAQ
Eligible US college students get a free year of Google AI Pro and four free months of ChatGPT Plus; GitHub Copilot Student is free for verified students.
No individual discount. Universities can buy Claude for Education, and users must be 18 or older.
Education Pro costs $10 a month for verified students and educators.
Eligible US students must claim it by October 31, 2026; Plus then renews at $20 a month.
Some are: Google offers AI Plus free for a year in more than 140 countries, and Perplexity’s and GitHub’s offers depend on verification.
The Verdict
AI tools student discounts are generous in 2026, but most need verification and some end soon. Google’s free year and ChatGPT’s four months, however, lead for US college students.
So check your university first, claim what fits, and set a reminder before any renewal.