YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, with an astonishing 2.7 billion active users. You can learn almost anything there—whether it’s fashion styling, makeup, advanced math, or computer skills.
That said, over the past few years, YouTube ads have become more frequent. Being interrupted right in the middle of a focused study session or an immersive video experience can be frustrating. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
If you want to learn without distractions, binge-watch shows, or stay on top of trending content—while also enjoying offline downloads, background play, and other YouTube Premium benefits, the YouTube Student Discount might be exactly what you need.
In this article, we’ll break down how cheap the YouTube Student Discount really is, how to apply, and what to watch out for, so you can easily enjoy 50%+ savings.
Plus, through GamsGo, even if you’re no longer a college student, you can still buy YouTube Premium 70% off price, with all the same features and benefits as a full-price subscription. 👇

What Is the YouTube Student Discount?
The YouTube Student Discount (YouTube Premium Student Plan) is a special subscription designed specifically for college and university students. Its goal is to make YouTube Premium more affordable for younger users and encourage long-term engagement on the platform. As long as you pass SheerID’s official student verification, you can subscribe to YouTube Premium at roughly half the regular price.
Once you’re on the student plan, you get exactly the same features as the standard YouTube Premium, including:
- Ad-free viewing
- Background play
- Offline downloads
- Full access to YouTube Music Premium
Since students make up one of YouTube’s most active user groups, this discount is also seen as part of Google’s strategy to retain younger users and strengthen platform loyalty. In practical terms, it’s one of the most cost-effective official ways to subscribe to YouTube Premium.
YouTube Student Discount Pricing (2025)
The YouTube Student Discount is one of the available YouTube Premium subscription plans. To cater to different user needs, YouTube officially offers four subscription options. In addition, there are now more affordable and flexible Premium options on the market. For clarity, I’ve included all of them in the table below.
Subscription Plan | Monthly Price (USD) | Features | Notes |
YouTube Premium Individual | $13.99 / month | All features | For individual use |
YouTube Premium Family | $22.99 / month | All features | Share with up to 6 people |
YouTube Premium Student | $7.99 / month | All features | Requires SheerID student verification |
YouTube Premium Lite | $7.99 / month | Ad-free only | Available in select regions |
GamsGo YouTube Premium | $3.94 / month | All features | Best value, widest eligibility |
As you can see, for college students, the YouTube Premium Student Discount is a very solid deal. Compared with the Individual plan at $13.99 per month, the student plan at $7.99 saves you 43% every month. Over a typical four-year college period, that adds up to more than $288 in total savings—a meaningful amount for most students.
For those who have already graduated or no longer qualify for student verification, GamsGo is a more flexible alternative. You don’t need any student status at all, yet you can still get YouTube Premium for under $4 per month, with the same features as the official plan—making digital subscriptions far more affordable.
YouTube Student Discount Eligibility Requirements (2025)
To apply for the YouTube Student Discount, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Be a currently enrolled student at a college or university approved by SheerID
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of application
- Apply from a region where the YouTube Student Plan is available
- Successfully complete the SheerID student verification process
- Reconfirm your student status every 12 months, for up to a maximum of 4 consecutive years
Even if your school isn’t listed, you may still be able to try manual verification by uploading documents such as a student ID. However, final approval is entirely up to SheerID.
How to Apply for the YouTube Student Discount (Step-by-Step Guide)
Before you can subscribe at the student price, you’ll need to verify your student status first. Like many other services, YouTube uses SheerID to confirm eligibility. Here’s how the process works:

- Go to the YouTube Premium subscription page, scroll down to find the Student Plan, and click “Get Student Plan.”
Alternatively, you can go directly to the YouTube Student Discount page and click “Get Student Plan.” - A SheerID verification pop-up will appear. Click “Continue.”
- On the verification page, follow the instructions to enter your school name, major, and enrollment details. You may also be asked to upload a student ID or proof of enrollment.
- Wait for the verification result. In most cases, this only takes a few minutes, but occasionally it may take 1–2 days.
- Once verified, you’ll be automatically redirected back to the YouTube Premium page, where the student price will be shown. Choose your payment method and complete the subscription.
After completing these steps, you can enjoy YouTube Premium at half price for up to 4 years. Just keep in mind: you’ll need to re-verify your student status every 12 months to keep the discount.
How to Enjoy YouTube Student-Level Pricing Long Term
While the YouTube Student Discount is a great value, it’s limited to four years. Once you graduate, your subscription automatically returns to the full regular price.
With GamsGo’s shared subscription platform, however, you can continue enjoying YouTube Premium for around $4 per month, without any student status required.
GamsGo is a digital subscription marketplace focused on helping users save on everyday online services. Here, you can get most major digital subscriptions at highly affordable prices, including video and music streaming platforms, AI tools, learning apps like Duolingo, and developer tools such as Cursor.
The platform has been running reliably for over 5 years, serving more than 1 million users worldwide, with consistently strong user reviews.
Currently, GamsGo offers three ways to subscribe:
- Family group seats: the lowest price option, but does not include YouTube Music Premium
- Standard top-up: more flexible pricing, though activation may take 1–2 days
- Lightning top-up: the fastest activation, ideal if you need instant access
If you want a YouTube Premium experience identical to the official subscription, the two top-up options are generally recommended, as they match the official service in full—no features missing, no compromises.
GamsGo also provides strong customer protection, with 24/7 customer support. If you run into any issues during the purchase or activation process, help is always available.
To thank our blog readers, we’ve prepared an exclusive promo code. Simply copy the code below to enjoy an extra discount on top of an already 70%-off price. Limited availability—first come, first served!
We’ve prepared an exclusive promo code for all blog readers:
Enjoy an additional 3% off on your next purchase!
Valid across all categories — streaming accounts, AI tools, game top-ups, software subscriptions, and more.
How to Get the Most Out of the YouTube Student Discount
YouTube Premium is a high-value subscription, especially for students. When used well—together with the massive amount of high-quality content on YouTube—it can significantly improve both your college experience and study efficiency:
- Use Playlists to build your own organized study library.
- Follow well-known educational channels like Crash Course and Khan Academy to supplement your coursework.
- Download videos in advance for offline viewing before trips or daily commutes, so your time on the go is never wasted.
- Use GamsGo top-ups to further reduce your costs, and consider AI subscriptions like Gemini or Claude on the same platform to boost your efficiency when working on research papers and assignments.
With the lowest possible cost, you can turn the internet’s vast resources into real tools for improving your learning, daily life, and personal growth—instead of letting subscription fees become a burden.
YouTube Premium vs Free vs Student Plan: What’s the Difference?
Now that we’ve covered the pricing advantages of the YouTube Premium Student Discount compared with other Premium plans, let’s take a step back and ask the real question:
How different is YouTube Premium from the free version—and is it actually worth paying for?
The table below clearly shows what each plan includes:
Features / Price | Free | Individual | Student | Lite | GamsGo |
Price | $0 | $13.99 / month | $7.99 / month | $7.99 / month | $3.94 / month |
Ad-free viewing | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Background play | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✔️ |
Offline downloads | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✔️ |
YouTube Music | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✔️ |
Verification required | No | No | ✔️ SheerID | No | No |
From the table, it’s clear that the free version of YouTube covers basic viewing needs, but it comes with obvious limitations: frequent ads, no background play, no offline downloads, and an incomplete music experience.
In contrast, all Premium-based options—whether it’s the Individual plan, Student plan, or GamsGo’s shared option—eliminate these pain points in a meaningful way.
- Ad-free viewing lets you stay focused while studying or watching long-form content without constant interruptions.
- Background play means you can keep listening while commuting, working out, or using other apps.
- Offline downloads ensure smooth viewing even when your internet connection is unstable.
- And YouTube Music adds access to exclusive live performances and remixes that simply aren’t available on most other music platforms.
In short, these features quietly but significantly improve the everyday quality of life. With the YouTube Student Discount or GamsGo, you get the full Premium experience at a much lower cost, keeping your subscription spending to an absolute minimum.
What Are the Benefits of the YouTube Premium Student Discount?
For students, the YouTube Premium Student Discount is about more than just “paying a bit less.” At a much lower monthly price, it retains almost the full Premium experience, covering a wide range of use cases—from studying and entertainment to everyday listening.
More specifically, the key advantages of the YouTube Premium Student Plan include:
- Big savings – 43–50% off, adding up to $300+ saved over four years
- All core features included – video + music in one subscription, ad-free viewing, and offline downloads
- Study-friendly – massive educational content library, with background play to boost productivity
- Long-term value – available for up to 4 years, covering your entire college period
Because of these benefits, many students consider the YouTube Premium Student Discount a true “college essential” subscription. And beyond YouTube, plenty of other streaming platforms also offer student discounts—definitely worth taking advantage of while you can.
Besides YouTube Premium, What Other High-Value Subscriptions Are Available for Students?
If you’re looking for student subscription plans that better match your personal habits, the following options are especially worth considering:
- Spotify Premium Student: Focused primarily on music. In some regions, it also includes Hulu and Showtime, making it a good fit for students who mainly listen to music and occasionally watch shows.
- Apple Music Student Plan: More friendly to users in the Apple ecosystem, with a lower monthly fee—ideal if you already use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Amazon Prime Student: One of the most comprehensive options, bundling music, video streaming, and shopping benefits. Best suited for students who shop online frequently and want access to multiple services in one membership.
If pricing flexibility or short-term affordability matters more to you, buying YouTube-related memberships through GamsGo is also a popular way to save—especially for users who find student verification inconvenient or don’t qualify for it.
Maximize the Value of the YouTube Student Discount with GamsGo
If you’re still a college or university student, YouTube’s official Student Discount is without question the best-value option—full features at roughly half the price of the Individual plan.
For users who have already graduated or no longer qualify for student verification, GamsGo offers a practical way to keep paying “student-level prices” long term. For under $4 per month, you can continue enjoying the full YouTube Premium experience, making it a more flexible and cost-effective solution over time.
FAQ
How do I prove I am a student for YouTube Premium?
YouTube uses SheerID to verify your student status. From the Premium subscription page, you can jump to the verification window, enter your school name and basic enrollment details, and activate the student plan once approved. Annual re-verification is required.
How much is the YouTube Premium student discount?
The YouTube Premium student discount costs $7.99 per month in the United States. It includes all Premium features—no ads, background play, offline downloads, and full access to YouTube Music. Eligibility requires annual verification through SheerID to confirm student status.
Is there a cheaper way to get YouTube Premium?
Yes, with GamsGo, you can subscribe to YouTube Premium for less than $4 per month, top it up directly to your own personal account, and enjoy all the same benefits as the official plan. The service is stable and reliable, so you can use it with confidence for the long term.
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