Best Student Discounts (2023): Laptops, Streaming Services, Tech, and Software

Going to college is expensive. Between tuition, textbooks, and beer, there isn’t always a lot of wiggle room in the budget. Tack on skyrocketing inflation, and you might be wondering just how you’re supposed to manage your money. One way to stretch those dollars further is by taking advantage of student discounts. A valid .edu email address can help you save on plenty of academic necessities, with a little left over for binge-watching on Netflix or cheap food delivery. We’ve rounded up our favorite student discounts below.

Updated August 2023: We refreshed this guide with updated links and added deals on Peacock Premium, 1Password, Babbel, and more.

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In the good old days, it was easy to cheat your way into student discounts. You could photoshop a student ID or snag a fake email address for $5 after a Google search. But thanks to third-party verification services, it’s now almost impossible (and in some cases, illegal) to obtain and use a fake qualifying email.

We don’t advise attempting to get a student email address if you aren’t actually a student. (Consider signing up for our Deals newsletter instead!) But some educational discounts can also be used by teachers, parents of students, or alumni. Sometimes getting a student discount is as simple as confirming a code sent from the retailer to the email in question. You might also need to sign up for a free third-party service some retailers use to verify your enrollment.

Unidays is one common discount platform. After signing up for an account, you can verify your student status by uploading a photo of your school ID or by entering your student email address. Your school may also have its own portal to verify your account.

Once verified, you can take advantage of student discounts either on the Unidays website or by logging in to your Unidays account when prompted at stores that use it as an authentication method. ID Me, Sheer ID, and Student Beans are other services that act as a verification method and shopping portal. Sign up for an account, then add your card to establish your eligibility. 

Whether you need headphones, a laptop, or yet another USB-C dongle, there are probably a few gadgets on your school shopping list. The stores below offer student discounts on all of the gadgets and gizmos you could need. Check out our buying guides, like the Best Dorm Gear, Best Laptops, Best Cheap Headphones, and Best Keyboards, for WIRED-tested recommendations. 

The Apple education discount generally offers about 10 percent off to students, their parents, and teachers. Usually, deals are sweetened around autumn, with offers like free AirPods with the purchase of a MacBook, or free Apple gift cards with the purchase of an iPad. You can usually save on services like AppleCare+ too.

Student deals are available to students and parents of students. Best Buy changes its exclusive offerings pretty frequently, and extra deals are usually available, like discounted video games, microwaves, and PC peripherals. 

The Dell University store offers various discounts to those with .edu email addresses. Some Dell University coupon codes can be stacked with other deals at Dell to save even more. Most stores don’t allow for coupon stacking, which makes these deals a bit more enticing.

Sign up for HP education discounts by verifying your .edu email address. HP says eligible shoppers may be able to save up to 40 percent off on select products.

Lenovo switches up its discounts on a regular basis, but students and teachers can typically get around 10 percent off. In the past, Lenovo has also offered bonuses, like free Uber vouchers for spending a certain amount. Accounts are free and verified via ID Me.

Snag 25 percent off at Logitech by validating your email via Unidays.

Microsoft offers up to 10 percent off a variety of products, including Surface devices and accessories. Parents, students, and faculty are eligible.

Samsung’s program is for students, parents, and educators, who get up to 30 percent off laptops, tablets, phones (even folding phones!), and other gadgets. Additional deals include discounted accessories with the purchase of select devices and a variety of sales on bundles.

Razer’s education deals vary, but there’s a selection of discounted laptops. Eligible shoppers can also save 15 percent on peripherals and 5 percent on Razer gaming chairs. 

Unlimited plans are discounted by as much as $25 per month for college students, and you can also save on home internet through Verizon. As is typical with cell phone service providers, terms and…