With over 230 million global subscribers, Netflix dominates the streaming landscape. But with plans starting at $6.99 per month, enjoying unlimited on-demand entertainment comes at a cost. For budget-conscious college students, is Netflix‘s standard pricing still too expensive? In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn if Netflix offers a student discount, how students can access Netflix for free, if Netflix may provide discounts in the future, and smart tips to save money on your Netflix subscription as a student.
The Short Answer: No Current Netflix Student Discount
After extensive research into Netflix‘s pricing history and current policy, the short answer is no, Netflix does not provide a unique discount, reduced pricing, or special offer exclusively for students at this time.
The cheapest Netflix monthly plan is $6.99 for Basic with Ads, followed by $9.99 per month for their Basic ad-free plan. Without question, students would appreciate and benefit from a lower cost subscription tier specifically for enrolled college and university students. But Netflix has yet to introduce student discounts, so standard rates apply.
Why No Student Discount? Netflix Prioritizes Revenue Over Expansion
With over 230 million global subscribers as of Q3 2022, Netflix enjoys tremendous demand for its content library and original programming. Compared to key competitors:
- Hulu has ~46 million subscribers in the U.S.
- Amazon Prime Video has ~200 million subscribers worldwide
- Disney+ has ~164 million global subscribers
Given this market-leading position, Netflix has little incentive to offer student discounts and reduce their average revenue per user. While students represent an opportunity to grow their audience long-term, Netflix‘s priority is maximizing near-term profits.
In 2022, Netflix generated over $31 billion in total revenue with an average revenue per subscriber of $14.91. Their subscriber growth has slowed recently, causing their stock price to fall. However, offering student discounts could threaten their margins further.
Unlike companies still building their subscriber base, Netflix appears content with its current demand and prices. Their lack of student deals reinforces that profit goals take priority over potentially expanding their audience through discounts.
How Students Can Access Netflix for Free
The lack of a Netflix student discount does not mean you have to pay full price to enjoy their service. Here are 3 creative ideas to access Netflix for free as a student:
1. Account Sharing
Sharing a Netflix login with roommates, family, or your significant other is a popular way students save money on streaming.
Netflix‘s Terms of Service do not explicitly prohibit account sharing. Each subscription tier allows simultaneous streaming on a limited number of devices:
| Plan | Max Simultaneous Streams |
|---|---|
| Basic with Ads | 1 |
| Basic | 1 |
| Standard | 2 |
| Premium | 4 |
As long as you stay within these limits and contribute to the account holder‘s monthly costs, sharing a Netflix login as a student is a legal gray area.
2. Free Trial Periods
While Netflix ended extended free trials in 2020, all new subscribers can still access a 1-month free trial period:
- Cancel before the month ends to avoid being charged
- Wait a while before signing up again to access another free trial
This approach requires some planning and coordination with roommates to maximize your free viewing months!
3. Third-Party Gift Cards
Survey and rewards sites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and Rakuten let you earn points and gift cards for free. Redeem these to pay for 1-3 months of Netflix at no cost to you!
Will Netflix Ever Offer Student Discounts?
While Netflix currently lacks much incentive to offer student deals, there are scenarios where discounted student pricing could happen:
-
Slowing subscriber growth – If net paid additions flatten or decline, student discounts could attract new long-term subscribers
-
Emergence of major competitor – A streaming service with exclusive, must-have content could pressure Netflix to expand their audience through student deals
-
Changing cultural priorities – Greater pressure on corporations to address affordability for young people could motivate student discounts
However, given Netflix‘s sustained dominance, strong revenue, and subscriber satisfaction, major shifts would likely need to occur before they revisit student discounts.
Tips to Save Money on Netflix
Unless Netflix announces exclusive student pricing, the standard monthly rates apply. But you still have options to reduce your costs:
- Account share with other students – just respect stream limits
- Use free trials strategically to maximize free viewing
- Leverage third-party rewards programs for gift cards
- Consider ad-supported plan to chop ~$3 off the monthly cost
- Access Netflix deals via T-Mobile, Sprint, or other carrier subs
The Verdict? Don‘t Hold Your Breath for Student Discounts
Based on their business model and history, Netflix does not currently offer exclusive discounted rates for students. While students would certainly appreciate a price cut, Netflix prioritizes their revenue and margins.
That said, students can still reduce their costs through account sharing, rewards programs, and other tricks. And you never know – increased competition or slowing growth could someday influence Netflix to rethink student discounts.
For now, the best plan is taking advantage of free trials periods and sharing logins with roommates whenever possible!
