How to Get Student Discounts on Premium Apps & Save 50%

Being a student is a phase of life full of challenges, from an endless pile of assignments to stomach matters that often have to compromise with the contents of your wallet. However, behind all that hustle and bustle, there is one major privilege that is often overlooked by many students: the student status itself. Global tech giants know that students are potential loyal users in the future, which is why they offer massive discounts. If you find it heavy to pay full subscription fees to listen to music without ads or edit videos for class assignments, then understanding how to get student discounts on premium apps is the first smart step you can take to save your account balance.

Imagine being able to save up to 50% or even more on your monthly expenses just by showing proof that you are still an active student. The money you successfully save can be allocated to other more pressing matters, such as photocopying costs, internet data, or starting to learn about personal financial management so that your financial future is more organized. In this article, we will thoroughly peel back the secrets behind your student status and how to maximize it to gain access to various top-tier productivity and entertainment tools at very affordable prices.

Why Your Campus Email is the Key to Saving Money?

You might be wondering, why do companies like Spotify, YouTube, or Adobe want to give much cheaper prices to students? The answer is simple: brand loyalty. They want you to get used to using their products during your college years so that when you graduate and have your own income, you will remain loyal to their services. However, to get this special pricing, companies need valid proof that you are indeed an active student. This is where your campus email becomes crucial.

Getting to Know .ac.id or .edu Emails

Official emails from universities, which usually end in .ac.id (for Indonesia) or .edu (globally), are your strongest digital identity. This email is not just a tool to receive announcements from lecturers or the academic department. It is a passport to a world of exclusive discounts. Many international platforms automatically validate your status if you register using a campus email domain. Using this email is the most crucial first step in how to get student discounts on premium apps because their security systems often immediately recognize official educational institutions through those email domains.

If your campus does not provide an official email, don’t lose heart. There are still other ways using your Student ID Card (KTM) or a certificate of active enrollment, though the process might be slightly longer as it requires manual verification by a third party. However, if you have one, make sure the email account is active and accessible, as verification codes or activation links will be sent there.

Third-Party Verification Services (SheerID & UNiDAYS)

Large companies do not perform verifications one by one manually. They work with global identity verification platforms like SheerID and UNiDAYS. These platforms act as a bridge between you (the student) and the service provider (the app). They have a database of thousands of universities worldwide, including hundreds of campuses in Indonesia.

When you try to sign up for a student package, you will usually be redirected to a SheerID or UNiDAYS page. There, you will be asked to upload documents or simply log in with your campus email. Understanding how these two platforms work will greatly help your process go smoothly. They guarantee the security of your data, so you don’t need to worry about providing a photo of your Student ID as long as it is done on their official portal. This is a global standard procedure you must go through in the legal and safe sequence of how to get student discounts on premium apps.

List of Popular Apps with the Biggest Student Discounts

Now we get to the most interesting part: what apps can you get at a bargain? In fact, almost all essential apps that support a student’s lifestyle and productivity have special programs. Shifting your spending from normal prices to student prices is one of the most concrete saving tips for students that can be felt instantly.

Spotify & Apple Music: Ad-Free Music for the Price of a Coffee

For many students, music is a loyal companion while doing assignments at a cafe or while commuting. Spotify Premium provides an ad-free listening experience, better audio quality, and offline download features. In Indonesia, the price difference is quite significant.

With a difference of IDR 20,000 every month, you can save IDR 240,000 in a year. This figure might look small to some, but for a student, that amount can be used to buy several lunches or add to your savings. Apple Music also offers a similar scheme with very competitive pricing, sometimes even giving free access to Apple TV+ as an added bonus.

YouTube Premium: Watch Tutorials Without Distractions

YouTube has become a giant library for college tutorials, ranging from how to use Excel to explanations of quantum physics theories. However, ads appearing in the middle of crucial explanations often break your concentration. YouTube Premium Student comes as a solution. Besides being ad-free, you also get access to YouTube Music Premium for free. The pricing scheme is also much cheaper than individual or family plans, making it a favorite choice for those looking for how to get student discounts on premium apps for both entertainment and educational needs.

Canva & Adobe: Must-Have Tools for Visual College Assignments

In today’s visual era, college assignments are no longer just about text on paper. Engaging presentations, organization event posters, and digital portfolios require powerful design tools.

1. Canva: If you have a campus email, you can try signing up for Canva for Education or take advantage of the GitHub Student Developer Pack, which often includes a free Canva Pro subscription for a certain period.
2. Adobe Creative Cloud: This is the ‘king’ of all design apps. The normal price can reach hundreds of thousands to millions of rupiah per month. However, for students, Adobe gives a massive discount, about 60% for the first year. You can get Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and dozens of other apps at a price that is much more reasonable for a student’s pocket.

App	Normal Price (Est.)	Student Price (Est.)	Potential Savings
Spotify	IDR 59,900	IDR 39,900	33%
YouTube	IDR 59,000	IDR 34,900	40%
Adobe CC	IDR 700,000+	IDR 260,000+	60%+
Notion	$10 (Plus)	Free (Plus Plan)	100%

Complete Guide: How to Get Student Discounts for Premium Apps

After knowing which apps you can get at a low price, now it’s time for the practical steps. This process isn’t actually complicated, but it requires precision so that your verification isn’t rejected by the system.

Step 1: Preparing Your Digital Identity

The first thing you need to do is ensure your identity is ready. What is needed?

• University Email: Make sure your .ac.id email can be used to receive emails from outside. Some campuses restrict email delivery to internal only, so check with your campus IT department if there are issues.
• Clear Photo of Student ID: If you are using your Student ID (KTM) as proof, make sure the photo isn’t blurry. Information like Full Name, University Name, and Validity Period must be very clearly readable. If your ID doesn’t list a validity period, you might need to prepare a digital active enrollment certificate (SKAK).
• Local Internet Connection: Do not use a VPN while performing the verification process. Many verification systems detect your IP location. If you are in Indonesia but using a US IP, there’s a high chance your how to get student discounts on premium apps verification will be rejected as it’s considered fraudulent.

Step 2: Identity Verification Process (ID Card vs Email)

Open the app or website you want, then look for the “Student Plan” or “Education Discount” menu. Usually, this menu is located at the bottom of the page (footer) or within the account settings. After that, follow the verification flow:

1. Email Method: If you enter your campus email, the system will send a verification link. You just need to click that link, and your account status automatically changes to student.
2. Document Method (SheerID/UNiDAYS): If email alone isn’t enough, you will be asked to fill out a form. Fill in your name exactly as it appears on your Student ID (don’t use nicknames). Select your university’s name from the available list. If your name isn’t there, there’s usually an “My institution is not listed” option which will trigger a manual verification process by their team.
3. Upload Document: Upload a photo of your Student ID or your latest transcript. Make sure the file format is correct (usually JPG, PNG, or PDF). Once uploaded, wait about 1-3 business days for the review process. If successful, you will receive a notification via email.

Step 3: Payment Methods Supporting Auto-Debit

Many students fail at this stage because they don’t have a credit card. The good news is, currently most premium apps in Indonesia support payment methods via e-wallets like Dana, GoPay, or OVO. However, for student packages, some platforms still require payment methods that can be done automatically every month (auto-debit).

You can use a debit card from a bank that already has an online debit feature (Visa/Mastercard). Make sure the balance is sufficient before the due date so your subscription isn’t interrupted. Managing finances so your balance is always ready for monthly bills is an important part of managing expense categories so you aren’t surprised when your balance is suddenly deducted in the middle of the month.

Real Scenario: From Spending IDR 200k to IDR 75k per Month

Let’s take a real example of a student named Budi. Before knowing how to get student discounts on premium apps, Budi subscribed to Spotify Individual (IDR 59,900) and YouTube Premium Individual (IDR 59,000). Additionally, he often paid for Canva Pro access through illegal shared accounts that were often banned (IDR 20,000 per month). His total spending reached nearly IDR 140,000 per month, not including other design app needs.

After conducting a small audit, Budi switched to student plans. He registered for Spotify Student and YouTube Student. His total cost is now only around IDR 75,000 per month for official services that are much safer and more stable. Budi managed to save IDR 65,000 every month by optimizing his digital transactions.

What did Budi do with that remaining IDR 65,000? Instead of using it for boba tea, Budi put that money into a savings post in MoneyKu. By seeing the visualization of his savings in MoneyKu, Budi felt more motivated to keep looking for other ways to save. Small, consistent savings like this are the key to financial success for young people struggling in college.

Fatal Mistakes That Get Student Discounts Rejected

Not everyone succeeds in getting these discounts on the first try. There are some common mistakes that often occur and cause your application to be flatly rejected by the verification system.

Student ID Data Doesn’t Match Account Identity

This is the most classic mistake. For example, your name on your Spotify account is “CoolBoy99”, while your Student ID says “Ahmad Zulkarnain”. Automatic or manual verification systems might doubt if the account truly belongs to you. Make sure your account profile at least reflects your real name according to your identity card. Data consistency is non-negotiable in the how to get student discounts on premium apps process so that the verifier does not suspect identity misuse.

Using a VPN During the Verification Process

As mentioned earlier, using a VPN is a red flag for service providers. They want to ensure that you are indeed a student in the country where you are registering. If you register for an Indonesian student package but are detected to be in London, the system will automatically cancel your request. Turn off all location-changing apps before hitting the submit button.

Expired Student ID Card

The verification system will usually check the validity date on your student card. If the card is past its expiry date or looks very old, they will ask for additional proof. Final-year students or those on leave often face this issue. The solution is to request the latest active enrollment certificate from your campus administration in digital format or a clean scan.

Monitor Your Savings with MoneyKu

After you have successfully practiced how to get student discounts on premium apps and started enjoying the lower prices, the next step is to ensure the money you save doesn’t just disappear without a trace. This is where MoneyKu comes in to help you manage these small wins into great financial habits.

Use the ‘Subscriptions’ Category for Tracking

In MoneyKu, you can create a specific category for subscriptions. Every time your Spotify or YouTube bill is deducted, record it in the app quickly. With the quick actions feature, recording an expense won’t take more than 10 seconds. You will see in the monthly graph how small your subscription cost portion is now compared to before. Seeing these numbers visually will provide a sense of peace and control over your own money.

Allocate the Discount Savings to a Saving Plan

The Saving Plan feature in MoneyKu is perfect for holding the money saved from those student discounts. You can create savings targets, for example, “Buy a New Laptop” or “Post-Graduation Vacation.” Put the difference you save each month into this plan. With a cute cat mascot and fun UX, MoneyKu will accompany you in building a saving habit without feeling burdened. Finding the best financial management app that fits your lifestyle is a big step toward financial freedom.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions by students regarding premium app discounts.

Can an old account be changed to a student plan?

Yes, absolutely. Most services like Spotify and YouTube allow you to change your subscription plan at any time. You don’t need to create a new account. Simply go to account settings, select ‘Manage Subscription’, and choose ‘Change Plan’ to the Student version. You will be asked to re-verify, but your play history and playlists will remain safe.

What if my campus is not listed on SheerID?

Don’t panic. If your campus name doesn’t appear in the search list, there is usually an option to upload documents manually. The verification team will review your documents manually. Make sure the document you upload is official, has the university letterhead, and clearly states your name. This process might take longer (up to 5 business days), but it is usually still approved as long as your campus is a legitimate government-recognized educational institution.

Can one student card be used for multiple accounts?

Technically, one student identity (ID Card/Email) can only be used for one account per service. You cannot use one campus email to register 10 Spotify accounts for your friends. Verification systems have databases to prevent data duplication. So, make sure you use your identity only for your own personal account to avoid permanent banning.

Does this discount apply forever after graduation?

Unfortunately, no. Most services will ask for re-verification every 12 months. As long as you can still prove your student status (for example, with a recent transcript), you can continue to enjoy the discount. Usually, the maximum limit for using a student discount is 4 years. Once you graduate and can no longer provide proof of active status, your subscription will automatically revert to the normal price in the next billing period.

Why does the student price still feel expensive to me?

If even after getting the discount the app price still feels heavy, you might need to review your spending priorities. You don’t have to have every premium app. Choose one or two that most support your college activities. Managing priorities is a core part of how to manage finances healthily so you don’t get trapped in a lifestyle beyond your means.

Understanding how to get student discounts on premium apps is a smart strategy to stay productive and entertained without breaking the bank. With the help of your campus identity and a bit of precision in the verification process, you can save hundreds of thousands of rupiah per year. Don’t forget to always monitor every rupiah you spend with MoneyKu so that those savings truly become valuable assets in the future. Good luck and enjoy a more economical and efficient student life!