Spotify's student plan costs less than half the regular price

Spotify offers a Student Plan that costs $5.99 per month in the United States, compared to $11.99 for a standard individual subscription. The student plan includes the same features as the regular plan: ad-free listening, offline downloads, and higher audio quality. You need to be enrolled at an accredited college or university and verify your student status through Spotify's partner verification service, SheerID.

The student discount is available in most countries where Spotify operates, though the price varies by region. In Canada it costs CAD $5.99, in the UK £4.99, and in Australia AUD $6.99. The discount lasts for four years from the date you first sign up, after which your plan converts to the standard price unless you cancel.

Key Takeaways

  • You must verify your student status through SheerID, Spotify's verification partner, which checks your enrollment directly with your school's records.
  • The student plan works on all devices and includes all the same features as the regular plan, including offline downloads and ad-free listening.
  • Your discount lasts four years from signup, then your plan automatically converts to the standard monthly price unless you cancel or downgrade.
  • If you are not enrolled at an accredited school, you cannot use the student plan, but Spotify offers a free tier with ads and a family plan that splits the cost among up to six people.

How to sign up for the student plan

Start by going to spotify.com/student on your web browser. Click the button to start the student plan signup. You will be asked to enter your email address and create a password, or sign in with an existing Spotify account if you already have one.

After you log in, Spotify will redirect you to SheerID's verification page. Enter your school name, your date of birth, and your email address. SheerID will then check your school's enrollment records to confirm you are currently a student. This usually takes less than a minute. If SheerID cannot verify you automatically, you may be asked to upload a photo of your student ID or a current class schedule.

Once SheerID confirms your status, you will be returned to Spotify and your student plan will activate immediately. You can start listening right away. Your first month is the discounted price, and you will be charged the same amount on the same date each month going forward.

What happens when your student status expires

Spotify's system does not continuously check whether you remain enrolled. Your student plan will continue at the discounted rate for four years from your signup date, regardless of whether you graduate or leave school before then. After four years, Spotify will automatically convert your account to the standard individual plan at the full monthly price.

If you graduate or leave school before the four-year mark, you can downgrade to the free tier or switch to a different plan type at any time. You do not have to wait for the automatic conversion. If you want to cancel before the conversion happens, you can do so through your account settings under "Subscription" without penalty.

Verification issues and what to do if SheerID cannot confirm your status

SheerID connects directly to your school's student information system, so verification usually works instantly if your school participates in the program. However, some smaller schools or international institutions may not be in SheerID's database. If automatic verification fails, SheerID will ask you to upload documents instead.

Acceptable documents include a current student ID card, a class schedule or course registration showing the current term, a tuition bill or enrollment letter dated within the last 90 days, or a screenshot from your school's student portal showing your enrollment status. Take a clear photo or scan of the document and upload it through SheerID's portal. A human reviewer will check it within a few business days.

If your school is not in SheerID's system at all, you may not be able to use the student plan. Contact Spotify Support through the help section of your account to ask whether your school can be added, though there is no may provide it will be. In the meantime, you can use the free tier or explore other options like the family plan.

Using the student plan across devices

Once your student plan is active, you can use it on any device where you install Spotify: phones, tablets, computers, smart speakers, and gaming consoles. Log in with the same email address and password you used to sign up. The student plan does not limit the number of devices you can use, but you can only play music on one device at a time. If you try to play on a second device, the first will pause automatically.

Offline downloads — the ability to save songs to your phone or tablet to listen without an internet connection — work the same way on the student plan as on the paid plan. You can download up to 10,000 songs per device, and they stay available for 30 days as long as you open Spotify at least once during that period.

Alternatives if you do not have student status

If you are not currently enrolled at an accredited school, the student plan is not available to you. Spotify's free tier lets you listen to any song, but you hear ads between tracks and cannot skip as many songs. You can use it on phones, tablets, and computers.

The family plan costs $16.99 per month and covers up to six people in the same household. Each person gets their own account, offline downloads, and ad-free listening. If you share a home with roommates or family members, splitting the cost makes it cheaper per person than the individual plan. A third option is the duo plan at $13.99 per month for two people in the same household.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the student plan 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 use the student plan. SheerID checks your enrollment status, not how you attend classes.

What if I graduate mid-month? Do I lose the discount immediately?

No. Your student plan continues until the four-year mark from your signup date. Graduation does not trigger an immediate conversion. You can cancel or downgrade whenever you want, but you are not forced to.

Can I use the student plan if I attend a trade school or community college?

Yes, as long as the school is accredited. SheerID verifies enrollment at most accredited institutions, including community colleges, trade schools, and universities. If your school is not in the system, you can upload documents to verify instead.

Does the student plan include Spotify Premium features like higher audio quality?

Yes. The student plan includes everything in the standard Premium plan: ad-free listening, offline downloads, and the ability to play any song on demand. Audio quality is the same across all paid plans.

What happens if I cancel the student plan and want to rejoin later?

You can sign up again if you are still a student, but the four-year countdown restarts from your new signup date. There is no penalty for canceling and rejoining.