Spotify's student plan costs less than the standard subscription

Spotify offers a discounted monthly rate for students through a program called Spotify Student. The price is roughly half the cost of a regular Premium subscription, though the exact amount depends on your country. In the United States, Spotify Student is $5.99 per month, compared to $11.99 for a standard Premium account.

The student plan includes the same features as regular Premium: ad-free listening, offline downloads, higher audio quality, and the ability to skip songs without limits. You get access to the full Spotify catalog and can use the service on multiple devices at once.

To use this discount, you need to prove you are currently enrolled as a student at an accredited college or university. Spotify verifies this through a third-party service called SheerID, which checks your school's records. The verification process takes a few minutes and happens online.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify Student costs $5.99 per month in the US and includes all the same features as a full Premium subscription.
  • You must be enrolled at an accredited college or university and verify your student status through SheerID before you can sign up.
  • The discount is available for up to four years, after which you lose access unless you remain enrolled.
  • If you share a Spotify account with family members, the student plan does not include the Family Plan's multi-user features.

How to verify your student status

Start by going to spotify.com/student on a web browser. Click the button to begin verification. You will be taken to SheerID's verification page, where you enter your email address and select your school from a dropdown list.

SheerID will ask for your school's student ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, depending on what your school's system allows. It checks this information against your school's enrollment records in real time. Most verifications complete within seconds, though some schools take a few minutes.

If SheerID cannot verify you automatically, you can upload a photo of your student ID card or a current class schedule with your name and school visible. This manual review usually takes 24 to 48 hours. Once verified, you can when ready create or upgrade your Spotify account to the student plan.

What happens when you graduate or leave school

Spotify allows the student discount for up to four years from the date you first sign up. After four years, your account automatically reverts to a regular Premium subscription at the full monthly price unless you cancel before that happens.

If you leave school before four years have passed, your student status may be revoked sooner. SheerID periodically re-checks enrollment, and if you are no longer listed as a student, Spotify will notify you that your discount is ending. You typically get a warning email before the change takes effect, giving you time to decide whether to keep the full-price subscription or cancel.

Some students lose access when ready after graduation if their school removes them from the enrollment system right away. Others have a grace period of a few weeks. The timing depends on how quickly your school updates its records.

Student plan limitations and what you cannot do

The Spotify Student plan is for individual use only. You cannot add family members or roommates to a student account the way you can with the Family Plan, which costs more but covers up to six people. If you want to share your subscription with others, you would need to switch to the Family Plan at the regular price.

You also cannot combine the student discount with other Spotify offers. If you have already used a free trial or a promotional code, you may not be able to sign up for Student pricing right away. Spotify sometimes requires you to wait a certain period before switching to a discounted plan.

The student plan works on all devices — phones, tablets, computers, and smart speakers — just like the regular Premium subscription. There are no restrictions on where you listen or how many devices you use at once.

What to do if verification fails

If SheerID cannot find your enrollment record automatically, the most common reason is a mismatch between the name or ID number you entered and what your school has on file. Check that you used the exact legal name your school has for you, including middle names or initials if your school includes them.

If your school is very new or very small, it may not be in SheerID's database yet. In that case, upload a photo of your student ID or class schedule as proof. Make sure the document clearly shows your name, your school's name, and the current term or year. A photo of your student ID card works best because it is official and straightforward to read.

If you have already tried uploading documents and were still denied, contact Spotify Support through the app or website. Explain that you are a current student and provide details about your school. Spotify's support team can sometimes override a failed verification or escalate your case to SheerID for manual review.

Comparing student plans across music services

Spotify Student is not the only discounted music plan for students. Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music all offer student pricing as well. Apple Music Student costs $5.99 per month in the US and includes access to Apple Music Classical at no extra cost. Amazon Music Student is $0.99 per month for the first four months, then $5.99 per month after that, and it includes Prime Video and Prime Reading benefits.

YouTube Music Student is $5.99 per month and comes bundled with YouTube Premium, which removes ads from YouTube videos. Each service uses a different verification method — some use SheerID, while others verify through your school email address or a student ID upload.

The choice between them often comes down to which service you already use, which devices you listen on most, and whether you want the bundled benefits like Prime Video or YouTube Premium. All of them offer the same core feature: ad-free, unlimited music at a reduced price for students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a student discount if I am taking online classes?

Yes. As long as you are enrolled at an accredited school — whether classes are in person, online, or hybrid — you can verify through SheerID. Your enrollment status is what matters, not how you attend classes.

What if my school is not in SheerID's system?

Upload a photo of your student ID card or current class schedule showing your name, school name, and the current term. SheerID's team will review it manually, usually within 24 to 48 hours. If your school is very new or very small, contact Spotify Support after your upload is denied.

Do I have to pay for the full month if I cancel mid-month?

No. Spotify charges you monthly on the date you signed up. If you cancel before that date next month, you keep access until the end of your current billing cycle and are not charged again.

Can I switch from a free trial to the student plan?

It depends on how long ago your free trial ended. Spotify usually requires a waiting period between a free trial and a discounted plan. If you try to sign up for Student and are blocked, wait a few weeks and try again, or contact Spotify Support to ask when you become may be able to access.

What happens if I graduate mid-year?

Your account will continue at the student price until your school removes you from its enrollment system. Once SheerID detects you are no longer enrolled, Spotify will send you a notice that your discount is ending. You then have the choice to switch to a regular Premium subscription or cancel.