Do Students Get Free YouTube Premium?

YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service from YouTube that offers an enhanced, ad-free viewing experience across all YouTube platforms. For students looking to get more value out of their YouTube experience, a free or discounted YouTube Premium subscription can be very appealing. But do students really get YouTube Premium for free? Let‘s take a closer look.

What is YouTube Premium?

YouTube Premium (formerly known as YouTube Red) is a subscription service from YouTube that provides the following key benefits:

• No ads – Enjoy videos completely ad-free across YouTube
• Background play – Listen to YouTube videos in the background while using other apps or when your screen is locked
• Offline viewing – Download videos to watch offline when you don‘t have an internet connection
• Exclusive content – Get access to Premium Original movies, series, and live events not available to non-paying users

In addition to features for individuals, YouTube Premium also offers a family plan that allows sharing of membership benefits across up to 5 other family members.

YouTube Premium is available via monthly subscription for individuals at $11.99 per month, or $107.99 if paying for the full year upfront. The Family Plan is priced at $17.99 per month, or $179.99 annually.

YouTube Premium Student Plan Overview

The YouTube Premium student plan provides eligible students with a low-cost YouTube Premium subscription. Here are the key details on the YouTube Premium student membership:

• Eligibility – College/university students aged 18+ enrolled at an eligible institution
• Verification – Students must verify enrollment status each year through SheerID
• Free trial – 1 month free trial, auto-renews at $6.99/month after unless canceled
• Features – Same Premium features like no ads, background play, exclusive content etc.

So in summary, full-time students can get a discounted YouTube Premium subscription for just $6.99 per month, with 1 month to try it out for free initially.

Compared to the regular $11.99 individual plan, the student plan offers 42% savings – a great deal for students looking to get the most out of YouTube ad-free and on the go!

Student Status Verification Process

To sign up for the YouTube Premium student offer, students must verify their enrollment status through SheerID – an eligibility verification service.

Here is an overview of the SheerID student verification process:

• Visit the YouTube Premium student plan signup page
• Enter your educational institution email address (must be a verified .edu account)
• SheerID will verify your student status and eligibility
• If approved, you can start 1 month free trial of YouTube Premium

SheerID verifies student status by confirming enrollment at an eligible Title IV accredited college or university. Your institution must partner with SheerID for student discount verification services.

Eligibility check is based on factors like:

• University/college is Title IV accredited
• Part-time vs full-time enrollment status
• International students enrolled at US institutions

YouTube Premium student members must re-verify their eligibility each year to keep the student pricing. You‘ll receive a notification when it‘s time to re-verify.

Tips for Students to Maximize a Free YouTube Premium Trial

If you‘re a student who wants to make the most of a free 1 month YouTube Premium trial, here are some tips:

• Download videos – Use the download feature to save videos for offline viewing during commute or travel
• Try Premium music – Experience ad-free music listening with background play enabled
• Create playlists – Build custom playlists around topics or modules to revisit
• Use PiP mode – Keep tutorials or lectures playing in a small window while multi-tasking
• Share benefits – Add up to 5 family members to test Premium as a family plan
• Set reminders – Schedule a reminder to cancel before the month ends if you don‘t want to be charged

Leveraging YouTube Premium‘s features fully during the free trial period lets you determine if the paid membership is worth it in the long run.

Is a YouTube Premium Student Plan Worth It?

Whether or not the YouTube Premium student plan offers good value depends on your individual YouTube habits and needs as a student.

Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• No ads is less distracting and improves watch experience
• Downloads save mobile data and enable offline access
• Background play allows convenient music listening
• PiP mode lets you multitask while watching videos
• Early and exclusive access to original content

Cons

• Cost still requires a subscription budget
• Free YouTube experience may be sufficient for some
• Limited availability in certain countries
• Features like downloads less crucial with good connectivity

Overall, for frequent YouTube users who want an uninterrupted viewing experience, the student plan can be well worth the discounted price. But more casual users may be fine sticking with the free ad-supported base service.

As a student, reflect on your usage and priorities to decide if premium is right for you. The free trial lets you experience the benefits risk-free before subscribing.

Getting YouTube Premium for Free or Cheap

The YouTube Premium student plan provides the cheapest legitimate way for students to get Premium. But if you are not eligible for the student offer or cannot afford a paid subscription, here are some alternative options:

• Use a modified YouTube client app like YouTube Vanced (Android only) to get Premium features free unofficially
• Leverage tie-ups and free trial promotions on smartphones or telcos
• Switch to annual billing and share a family plan to lower per person costs
• Explore Google Opinion Rewards to earn free Play Store credits for Premium
• Check if your mobile carrier offers bundled media subscriptions
• Consider Premium group plans through universities or student organizations

While free trials or modded apps provide temporary access, a legitimate discounted student Premium plan remains the best way to get YouTube ad-free affordably as a student long-term.

Why the Cost Varies Across Platforms

Observant users may notice that YouTube Premium is priced higher when subscribed on iOS/iPadOS compared to Android or web.

For example, student Premium plan on iOS costs $7.99 vs $6.99 on Android.

This pricing discrepancy is due to the Apple commissions charged on in-app purchases:

• Google passes commission fee to users on iOS by charging higher price
• Commission rate is believed to be around 30% for first year, 15% thereafter
• Android & web subscriptions can avoid commission fees

So in a nutshell, YouTube Premium costs more on iPhone/iPad because Apple takes a cut on the in-app subscription revenue.

Recent and Upcoming YouTube Premium Price Hikes

In October 2022, Google announced the first ever price increase for YouTube Premium plans in the US – both for individual and family tiers.

Here is a summary of the YouTube Premium US price changes:

While legacy subscribers are temporarily shielded from these hikes, all members will eventually pay the higher rates. New subscribers are charged the new prices immediately.

So students signing up for Premium in 2024 will now pay $7.99 instead of $6.99 as the student plan pricing also increased in line with the broader price changes.

Google cited rising content costs and infrastructure investments as reasons for the first ever price hike in Premium‘s history. So further price rises can be expected moving forward as well.

Why Pay for YouTube Premium Anyway?

With the wealth of content available for free on YouTube, why should students pay for a Premium subscription?

Here are some of the benefits that make the video platform‘s paid tier worthwhile:

• No disruptive ads – Enjoy uninterrupted viewing and music listening
• Time savings – No wasted time on 20-30s unskippable ads
• Convenience – Download videos to watch offline when traveling or without WiFi
• Multitasking – Background play and PiP mode enable videos while working
• Exclusive content – Original series and films not available to free users
• Higher quality – HD streaming with less compression artifacts

For frequent YouTube users, the time, convenience and experience gains can justify the costs of a paid membership.

Premium vs Free YouTube Experience

To help summarize the differences, here is a comparison of using YouTube with Premium vs the free, ad-supported version:

The ad-free experience and additional features clearly add a lot of value for regular YouTube users. While casual viewers may be fine with the free tier, power users stand to benefit greatly from upgrading to Premium.

Common YouTube Premium Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about YouTube Premium and student plans:

Can I share my student Premium plan with family?

Yes, the student Premium tier can be shared just like the regular family plan. So you can add up to 5 additional family members and split the cost.

How many devices can I use with Premium?

YouTube Premium can be used across unlimited devices, but only 1 stream at a time is allowed per member. Up to 5 simultaneous streams available with a family plan.

Can I download videos on mobile data?

Yes, Premium members can download videos using mobile data or WiFi connectivity. Useful for offline viewing.

What happens when the free trial ends?

Your paid subscription will automatically start at the student plan rate of your region. You can cancel online anytime before the trial ends.

Is the student plan cheaper forever?

No, you have to re-verify eligibility each year to keep getting the student pricing. Pricing will change to full price after graduating.

Are adblockers better than Premium?

Premium is better since adblockers only remove ads on the web player. But Premium gives additional benefits like downloads, background play etc. across all platforms.

Tips for Students to Save on YouTube Premium

Here are some money saving tips for students looking to get YouTube Premium on the cheap:

• Verify student status each year for lowest pricing
• Pay annually rather than monthly to save 17%
• Split a family plan with roommates or partners and share costs
• Use free Premium trials from telcos before subscribing directly
• Check for student discounts from brands like Best Buy, Samsung etc.
• Consider downgrade to YouTube Music Premium if only need music

Saving on Premium maximizes the value students can get out of the paid YouTube experience on a budget.

How Do Annual Student Verifications Work?

Once enrolled for the YouTube Premium student plan, members have to complete an annual verification process each year to keep getting the student pricing.

Here is how the annual eligibility verification works:

• Around 1 month before expiry, you‘ll get notified to re-verify
• Follow prompt to complete student authentication via SheerID again
• If you pass, membership renews at student plan rates automatically
• Failing to re-verify in time will result in standard pricing

So regular re-verification before each yearly renewal is required to keep getting discounted student access to YouTube Premium.

Which Countries Offer Student Plans?

The YouTube Premium student membership is available in a wide range of countries worldwide. Some key regions where students can get discounted Premium access include:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• India
• Philippines
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Mexico
• Brazil
• Chile
• Argentina

Availability varies across some parts of Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Refer to YouTube Premium support page for full country-wise eligibility details.

How Creators Get Paid from Premium Views

One common question is whether creators make money from YouTube Premium views, since there are no ads involved.

Yes, YouTube pays creators a cut of the revenue earned from Premium memberships and views. Reportedly, 55% of total YouTube Premium revenue is directed to video creators.

Premium helps top creators earn substantially more by:

• Paying based on watch time vs ad views
• Premium views monetized higher than ad views
• Added revenue on top of regular ad earnings

So for creators, YouTube Premium provides an additional source of income beyond just relying on ad revenue.

Final Thoughts

The YouTube Premium student plan makes it possible for eligible college students to access Premium‘s many benefits at significant savings. While not free, the discounted price point combined with the 1 month trial makes it easy to test the waters first.

For students who regularly use YouTube for entertainment, music, tutorials, lectures and more, the uninterrupted ad-free experience can be well worth the price. But casual viewers will manage just fine sticking with the free tier.

Ultimately, it comes down to each student‘s individual needs and preferences. The good news is you aren‘t locked in – so try out the Premium trial for yourself and then decide if you‘d like to continue as a paid subscriber.