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Is There a Netflix Student Discount?

Hey there! As a fellow student, I know how tight money can be and how much a Netflix subscription costs per month. You‘re probably wondering: is there really no way to get a Netflix student discount?

I‘ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is that unfortunately, no – Netflix does not currently offer special student pricing or deals. Trust me, I wish they did too!

But don‘t worry, the good news is there are still plenty of legit ways for students like us to reduce costs or even get Netflix 100% free. In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through everything I‘ve learned about maximizing savings on Netflix as a broke college kid.

Get ready for over 25 money-saving tips and tricks!

Let‘s start with the question that‘s probably on your mind: does Netflix offer a student subscription discount?

The short answer is no. Unlike other subscription services like Spotify, Netflix does not have reduced student pricing. I know, it stinks!

Netflix‘s reasoning comes down to two key factors:

With over 230 million paid memberships worldwide, Netflix is by far the most subscribed to streaming platform. In fact, Netflix captures about [insert stat] of the global streaming market!

With this massive subscriber base, Netflix has little incentive to offer student deals to attract more signups. Their variety of pricing tiers from $6.99 to $19.99 per month already appeal to a wide range of budgets.

2. Netflix is Battling Account Sharing

Lately, Netflix has been trying to crack down on account sharing between households. Offering a cheap student subscription could potentially enable more users to share logins.

According to Netflix, over [XX] million households use shared accounts. That‘s lost revenue!

So while a student discount could be great for us, it doesn‘t really benefit Netflix‘s bottom line. Don‘t expect student deals anytime soon.

But don‘t be bummed. The good news is Netflix‘s lowest priced plan is only $6.99 per month. And there are lots of ways we can reduce our costs or even get Netflix 100% free as students!

First, let‘s compare Netflix‘s current pricing tiers:

Plan Monthly Price Perks Downsides
Basic with Ads $6.99 Netflix‘s full library
1 concurrent stream
720p resolution
5-7 minutes of ads per hour
Basic $9.99 Netflix‘s full library
1 concurrent stream
720p resolution
No ads
Standard $15.49 Netflix‘s full library
2 concurrent streams
1080p resolution
No ads
Premium $19.99 Netflix‘s full library
4 concurrent streams
4K+HDR resolution
No ads

For most students, the Basic with Ads plan for $6.99 per month is our best bet. While ads are annoying, we still get unlimited access to all of Netflix‘s shows and movies.

Now let‘s go over all the ways students like you and me can get Netflix for free or cheap! I‘ll also share some bonus money-saving tips for existing Netflix members.

Check out these options for scoring a Netflix subscription without spending a dime:

1. Take Surveys and Get Rewarded

One of the easiest ways to earn free Netflix is by taking surveys in your spare time. Tons of websites will give you gift cards in exchange for providing your opinions on brands, products, ads, and more.

Here are 3 legit survey sites I recommend:

SurveyJunkie

With over 40,000 positive TrustPilot reviews and an average rating of 4.3/5 stars, SurveyJunkie is a favourite for earning cash online.

To get started, simply:

  • Sign up for a free account
  • Confirm your email address
  • Fill out your user profile

You‘ll then start receiving survey invites via email. I like to browse the available surveys while I‘m riding the bus, waiting for class, or during other downtime.

Each survey takes just 5-25 minutes and typically pays between $0.50 – $5.00. With consistent participation, you can easily earn a free 1-month Netflix gift card in a short time.

For example, if you spent 30 minutes a day taking surveys that paid $1 each, you‘d have enough for a 1-month Netflix gift card in just 10 days!

SurveyJunkie is definitely one of the easiest ways for students like us to earn extra cash for Netflix. Sign up here to get started.

Toluna

Another reputable survey community is Toluna. They have over 21 million users across 50 countries, so lots of opportunity to share your opinions and make an impact!

With Toluna, you can:

  • Earn points by taking surveys tailored to your demographics and interests
  • Get rewarded instantly with virtual gift cards and cash prizes
  • Influence major brands by providing your feedback

Toluna also offers a 500 points sign-up bonus when you join, so you‘ll get a nice head start.

Based on my experience, Toluna surveys typically pay out $0.50 – $2 each. With regular participation, you can quickly save up for gift cards to cover 1-2 months of Netflix!

Give Toluna a try if you‘re looking to earn rewards points for Netflix.

LifePoints

LifePoints is another free survey site that‘s open to everyone. I like LifePoints because they have a simple signup process:

  • Create your free account
  • Verify your email
  • Fill out your member profile

You‘ll then start receiving online survey invites by email. Each survey credits your account with LifePoints, which can be exchanged for gift cards from Netflix, Amazon, Starbucks, and more.

LifePoints also gives new members a 10 points sign-up bonus. Then most surveys award anywhere from 20 to 200+ points. So with just a little time each day, you‘ll be redeeming LifePoints for Netflix gift cards in no time!

2. Ask Friends and Family for Gift Cards

Don‘t feel shy to ask close friends or family members if they‘d be willing to buy you a Netflix e-gift card. Since every dollar counts as a student, I‘m sure they‘d appreciate helping you out with the cost of streaming entertainment.

Of course, only ask people close to you who you‘d feel comfortable reaching out to. You could say something like:

"Hey [insert name], as a student trying to save money, a 1 or 3 month Netflix gift card would honestly mean the world to me right now. It‘d help me afford streaming without having to sacrifice other expenses. Would you be willing to help me out with a gift card? I‘d really appreciate it!"

If possible, offer to chip in a few dollars yourself as well. The key is being polite and sincere. Some friends or family may happily cover the full cost of a Netflix gift card for you as a gift.

3. Keep an Eye Out for Free Trial Offers

While Netflix no longer has an extended free trial period, you can sometimes find special deals from third-parties. For example:

  • Cell phone carriers like Verizon occasionally offer free Netflix subscriptions when you sign up for certain plans.

  • Your university or college may have negotiated a student deal with Netflix, so ask an academic advisor.

  • Review sites like Slickdeals spotlight free trial offers when they pop up.

  • Retailers like Best Buy sometimes include free Netflix gift cards with purchases.

It‘s always smart to hunt around for potential Netflix free trials or bundle deals. Just be sure to read the fine print so you understand any terms and don‘t get caught with surprise fees.

4. Borrow Logins from Friends

If you have a friend, roommate, or partner willing to let you use their Netflix account, that‘s an easy way to gain free access. Lots of kind souls don‘t mind sharing their login, especially if you offer to pay towards the monthly bill.

Just keep in mind Netflix has been trying to crackdown on account sharing outside of households. So don‘t share the login info too widely, as the primary account holder could get locked out.

As long as you keep the sharing circle small, plenty of people still find account borrowing a convenient way to access Netflix for free. Every little bit of savings helps us students!

I know what you‘re probably thinking next: since Netflix doesn‘t currently offer student deals, will they ever in the future?

Unfortunately, the chances seem pretty low based on Netflix‘s history. Here‘s why I‘m skeptical:

  • No discounts historically – Unlike competitors, Netflix rarely offers discounts for any subscribers. For example, they‘ve provided almost no deals around major holidays like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

  • High satisfaction – Netflix enjoys high satisfaction among subscribers. Their current pricing tiers seem to meet most consumers‘ budgets.

  • Simple branding – Netflix likes to keep its branding clean and pricing straightforward. Adding student discounts could complicate their model.

However, I can envision a few scenarios where Netflix might one day test student discounts:

  • If they notice significant account sharing eating into revenue
  • If competitors like Hulu or Amazon Prime Video offer student plans
  • If they want to incentivize long-term loyalty among younger subscribers

Realistically though, I wouldn‘t get my hopes up. Netflix seems unlikely to ever add student pricing.

The good news is there are still plenty of ways we can get Netflix for free or cheap as students by being savvy! Keep reading for even more tips.

If you can‘t get Netflix for free, another great way to cut costs is sharing an account with others.

Netflix‘s Standard plan allows 2 simultaneous streams for $15.49 per month, while their Premium plan permits 4 streams for $19.99 per month.

So if you split the cost with just one other person, you‘re looking at $7.75 – $10 per month. Not bad!

Here are 3 account sharing strategies:

1. Split with Family

Lots of college students stay on a family Netflix plan to save money. See if you can hop on your parents‘, siblings‘ or relatives‘ account.

Offer to cover or contribute your portion of the monthly fee so you‘re not completely freeloading.

2. Split with Roommates

If you live with roommates, splitting a Netflix subscription can make streaming more affordable. You‘ll likely use it frequently anyway.

You can either trade off months paying for the account or venmo your portion of the bill to the primary account holder.

3. Split with Your Partner

Sharing a Netflix account with a significant other is super common. Even if you don‘t live together, you can still split the cost and share the login.

Just be careful not to give the password out too widely, or Netflix may crack down for account sharing abuse.

As long as you keep the sharing circle small, this is a proven way to majorly reduce the cost of Netflix. Gotta save money as a student!

Another easy way to pay less for Netflix is downgrading to a cheaper subscription tier. Here are two options:

Switch to the Basic with Ads Plan

Netflix‘s most affordable plan is their Basic with Ads tier. For just $6.99 per month, you get access to Netflix‘s full content library. The only catch is 5-7 minutes of ads per hour.

For a lot of students, the Extra $3 per month for the ad-free Basic plan just isn‘t worth it. As long as you don‘t mind the occasional commercial break, the Basic with Ads plan saves.

If you‘re currently on Netflix‘s fancy Premium plan, dropping down to the mid-range Standard plan saves $4 per month. Or you can really slash costs by switching to the Basic plan to save $9 monthly.

Most students can live without Premium‘s 4K resolution and 4 concurrent streams. The 1080p resolution on the Standard or Basic plans is still stellar.

Downgrading your Netflix plan takes just a few clicks and starts saving you cash immediately. Every dollar counts when you‘re a student!

To make the most of your Netflix subscription, it also helps to limit unnecessary streaming that could drive up costs.

Try these tips:

  • Only stream over Wi-Fi – This prevents unused cellular data charges on your phone plan if you exceed limits. Streaming HD video can eat up data fast!

  • Limit yourself to 1-2 hours daily – Set a reasonable cap on your daily Netflix viewing rather than binging for 6+ hours. Moderation is key.

  • Download to watch offline – For your favorite shows, remember you can download them to watch later offline when you don‘t have Wi-Fi. This also saves cellular data.

  • Avoid falling asleep to Netflix – It‘s tempting to doze off watching shows, but this burns through hours of streaming. Set an alarm if needed.

Staying disciplined about when, where, and how much you stream will help maximize the value you get from your Netflix subscription!

Beyond getting Netflix for free or sharing an account, a few other money-saving options exist:

  • Look for Netflix bundles or promotions when signing up for services like internet or cell phone plans.Companies like Verizon sometimes offer free Netflix with certain packages.

  • Follow deal sites like Slickdeals that highlight occasional Netflix gift card discounts or limited-time free trials. You never know what deals you might find!

  • Consider splitting costs for other streaming services too. Platforms like Hulu and Disney+ all offer ad-supported plans under $10 per month.

Hopefully this guide provided you with plenty of savings tips and tricks for accessing Netflix affordably as a student. Here are the key takeaways:

  • Unfortunately no Netflix student discount exists – but the Basic with Ads plan is only $6.99 per month

  • Take surveys with sites like SurveyJunkie and Toluna to earn rewards towards Netflix gift cards

  • Ask friends or family if they can gift you a subscription

  • Keep an eye out for rare free trial offers and bundles

  • Split an account with roommates or your significant other to cut costs

  • Downgrade your Netflix plan and restrict your streaming to save

While paying full price for a Netflix subscription isn‘t ideal as a student, with some savvy strategies you can reduce your bill substantially or even score Netflix for free.

What money-saving tips do you recommend? Let me know in the comments! I hope this guide helps you afford unlimited streaming. Now go binge watch to your heart‘s content!

AlexisKestler

Written by Alexis Kestler

A female web designer and programmer - Now is a 36-year IT professional with over 15 years of experience living in NorCal. I enjoy keeping my feet wet in the world of technology through reading, working, and researching topics that pique my interest.