Student discounts on software and apps range from development environments and office suites to reference managers, but the terms differ widely: some programs are free for students, others only discounted, and others run through your university’s campus licence (Campuslizenz). This overview shows what we could verify on the providers’ own pages. The detail pages are in German.
Short answer: In October 2026, the documented offers for students in Germany include Adobe Creative Cloud Pro at 19.34 euros per month in the first year, Overleaf at 7.25 euros per month, JetBrains, Figma, Autodesk and Miro free of charge, and Zotero free of charge without a time limit. Where prices are not documented, the table says “details on the provider page”. Last updated: October 2026, offers change frequently.
The key points
- Many development and design tools are free for students, for example JetBrains, Figma, Autodesk, Miro and Tableau Public.
- Adobe’s student price is an introductory price for the first year; afterwards it rises to 34.99 euros per month according to the provider page.
- Campus licences for MATLAB, SPSS, Citavi or LinkedIn Learning can be cheaper than any individual offer. Ask your IT service or library.
- The GitHub Student Developer Pack bundles many partner offers whose duration and scope differ by partner.
- Expired promotions such as Apple’s education promotion until 22 October 2026 no longer apply.
Which software is cheaper or free for students?
| Service | Student offer | As of | Detail page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | Education plan free of charge for a workspace with one member, re-verified every year with your university email. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Canva | Canva for Education covers school teachers. University students are not included. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | Creative Cloud Pro: 19.34 euros per month in the first year, then 34.99 euros (standard price 77.99 euros). Proof via university email or student ID. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| GitHub Student Developer Pack | Bundle of partner offers as long as student status lasts. Terms differ by partner. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| JetBrains | Student Pack with all IDEs free of charge, proof via university email, ISIC or GitHub. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Microsoft 365 | Web-based Office apps (A1) free of charge via the institution. The German education page names a 12-month offer for Microsoft 365 Premium with a university email. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Azure for Students | 100 USD credit, usable for 12 months, renewable each year while you are a full-time student. No credit card required. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| AWS Educate | Labs, training and badges free of charge, no credit card needed. No credits mentioned. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Figma | Education plan with the features of the Professional plan free of charge, verified via your student email. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Autodesk | Access to AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion, Inventor, Maya and more free of charge for one year, renewable annually. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| SOLIDWORKS | Design Standard free of charge, Design Premium 60 USD per year. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| MATLAB | Access via your university’s campus licence with a university email, otherwise the Student Suite for purchase. Price: details on the provider page. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Tableau | Tableau Desktop Public Edition free of charge with no time limit, for learning. Publishing only on Tableau Public. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Unity | Unity Student plan free of charge for students at accredited universities. Validity in Germany not expressly stated. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Miro | Student plan free of charge with 10 team members and unlimited boards, 2 years. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Affinity | Apps for Mac and Windows free of charge for individuals, no separate student offer. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Obsidian | App free of charge. 40 percent student discount on Sync and Publish. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Zotero | Reference manager free of charge, unlimited in time. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Citavi | Campus licence via the university, terms only through the university. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Overleaf | Student plan 7.25 euros per month or 87 euros per year (standard 15 euros or 179 euros). | Oct 2026 | Details |
| SPSS | Student access via the university licence, terms through the university. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Codecademy | Pro Student with a 7-day trial, verification via SheerID. Price: details on the provider page. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| DataCamp | 3 months free of charge via the GitHub Student Developer Pack. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| LinkedIn Learning | Access via your university if it holds a licence. Direct offer for students: details on the provider page. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Bitwarden und 1Password | Bitwarden: basic version free of charge, no student discount. 1Password: according to the GitHub pack page, 2 years free of charge via the Student Developer Pack. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Proton | Student discounts on several plans, proof via Student Beans. Amount per plan: details on the provider page. | Oct 2026 | Details |
| Apple Education | Education promotion with a gift card (up to 120 euros) ran from 13 August to 22 October 2026 and has expired. Education prices: details on the provider page. | Oct 2026 | Details |
There are also separate offers for AI tools, summarised in our overview of AI tools for students (in German). Streaming and subscriptions are covered in the guide to Spotify, YouTube, Apple and others (in German).
How does a student price compare to the standard price?
Two examples using prices from the provider pages (October 2026). Both calculations are assumptions for illustration.
| Example | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud Pro, assumption: 12 months at the introductory price | 19.34 euros x 12 | 232.08 euros in the first year |
| Adobe Creative Cloud Pro, assumption: second year at the follow-on price | 34.99 euros x 12 | 419.88 euros in the second year |
| Adobe Creative Cloud Pro, assumption: standard price without student status | 77.99 euros x 12 | 935.88 euros per year |
| Overleaf, assumption: annual payment, student plan versus standard plan | 87 euros versus 179 euros | 92 euros difference per year |
These figures show the gap between student and standard price, not whether a subscription is worthwhile for you. What matters is how often you really use the program during your studies.
What is a campus licence and how do I find it?
A campus licence is a contract between the university and the vendor. Students then get access through their university email, often at no cost to them. For MATLAB, MathWorks expressly names access through a campus-wide licence with a university email. For Citavi, SPSS and LinkedIn Learning, terms can only be verified through the university. How to proceed: search your IT service’s website for “software for students” or “licences” and log in with your university account.
How does verification work?
- University email: the provider recognises the domain, for example Notion, Figma or Microsoft.
- Verification service: SheerID for Codecademy, Unity and others.
- GitHub Education: verified student status for the Student Developer Pack and the partner offers issued through it.
- Documents: Adobe names a student ID, timetable or transcript as proof.
- Platforms such as Student Beans: Proton names Student Beans as a proof route.
What happens after your studies or when the offer ends?
Time-limited offers move to the regular price; at Adobe that is 34.99 euros per month after the first year. The Autodesk offer runs for one year and can be renewed from 30 days before expiry while you are enrolled. The Azure credit stays usable for 12 months and is renewed as long as you are a student. For Zotero, Affinity and Tableau Public, the provider pages name no time limit. Back up your data in open formats before access ends.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Office free for students?
Microsoft offers the web-based apps (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote) free of charge via educational institutions, without desktop Office. For a 12-month offer for Microsoft 365 Premium, the German education page names a university email. Which variant your university activates is a question for your IT service.
Is Adobe Creative Cloud worth it for students?
The student price of 19.34 euros per month applies in the first year according to the provider and rises afterwards. Whether it is worthwhile depends on how intensively you use the programs. A 7-day trial exists. Alternatives such as Affinity are free for individuals.
What is in the GitHub Student Developer Pack?
The pack bundles partner offers, for example 3 months of DataCamp, 6 months of Frontend Masters, a .me domain for one year at Namecheap, 50 USD credit at MongoDB Atlas, or Termius Pro. The details come from the pack page, which does not expressly say whether every offer is usable in Germany.
Do I need my own licences for statistics and reference management?
Often not. Zotero is free to use, and universities often provide licences for Citavi, SPSS or MATLAB. Ask your IT service or library before buying.
Do student prices apply in a second degree or a doctorate?
That depends on the provider. Enrolment at an accredited university is usually what counts. Read the terms on the provider page and keep a current certificate of enrolment ready.
What to do now
- List which programs you actually need for your studies and thesis.
- Check your IT service’s page for existing campus licences.
- Only then compare the individual offers in the table and read the terms at the provider.
- Have your university email and certificate of enrolment ready for verification.
- Note expiry and renewal dates in your calendar.
Related guides
- Free Software for Students: Programs at a Glance
- Student Discounts: How to Verify and Save
- Student status benefits, discounts and services
- AI tools for students
- Student discounts for streaming and subscriptions
Sources: GitHub Education, Student Developer Pack (October 2026) · Adobe, Creative Cloud for students (October 2026) · Microsoft Education, Office for institutions (October 2026) · Microsoft Azure for Students (October 2026) · Overleaf, plans (October 2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
