Unreal Engine for students is free to use because the license depends on revenue, not on student status. The decisive points are therefore the limits: who the free use applies to, from which revenue a license fee applies, and which rule applies to educational institutions.
Short answer: According to the license page of Epic Games, Unreal Engine is free for individuals and small companies with gross annual revenue below 1 million US dollars. Teachers and schools have an education rule without a revenue limit. For games, a 5 percent license fee applies to gross revenue above 1 million US dollars per product. There is no separate student offer, and students fall under the same rule as all individuals, including in Germany. The fee runs over the lifetime of the product. Last updated: October 2026, the license terms may change.
The most important points in brief
- The engine is free for individuals and small companies with gross annual revenue below 1 million US dollars.
- The limit refers to gross annual revenue, not to profit.
- For games, a 5 percent license fee applies to gross revenue above 1 million US dollars per product.
- According to the license page, revenue through the Epic Games Store is royalty-free.
- There is no separate student offer. The general rule applies.
- Teachers and schools fall under the education rule without a revenue limit.
The offer at a glance
| Benefit | Regular price | Student price | Duration | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unreal Engine for individuals and small companies | Free up to 1 million USD gross annual revenue | Same rule, no separate offer | see provider’s page | see provider’s page |
| Education rule for teachers and schools | Free, no revenue limit | Applies to teachers and schools | see provider’s page | see provider’s page |
| Games with more than 1 million USD revenue per product | 5 % on gross revenue above the threshold | Same rule | lifetime of the product | see provider’s page |
What counts as revenue during your studies?
The limit refers to gross annual revenue. Typical student projects, such as theses, prototypes or portfolio games without sales, stay far below the threshold. Only when you sell games or earn money from products that contain Unreal Engine does a closer look at the figures make sense. Further free tools for games, 3D and CAD are in Free tools for game design, 3D and CAD in your studies.
Typical study situations at a glance
| Situation | Revenue | Consequence under the license |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis or course project without sales | No revenue | No license fee |
| Portfolio game that you do not sell | No revenue | No license fee |
| Sale of a game with revenue below 1 million USD | Below the threshold | No license fee |
| Sale of a game with revenue above 1 million USD | Above the threshold | 5 % on the amount above the threshold |
This overview does not replace the license page. The wording there is decisive, especially for special cases such as licenses for several products.
Worked example: when does the 5 percent fee apply?
Assumption: you sell your game through your own web shop and earn 600,000 US dollars gross in total. The product stays below the threshold of 1 million US dollars, so no fee applies.
Assumption: your game brings in 1,500,000 US dollars gross in total, all through your own web shop. The fee only refers to the amount above 1 million US dollars. 500,000 US dollars times 5 percent gives a license fee of 25,000 US dollars.
Who falls under the education rule?
The education rule is aimed at teachers and schools. If you later teach, for example at a school, check the requirements on the license page again. During your studies, the general rule for individuals is the one that usually matters to you.
How to activate the offer
- Download Unreal Engine from the provider’s official site and install it.
- Read the license page and assign your situation to the matching case in the table.
- Record your revenue per product and per year as soon as you sell anything.
- When you approach 1 million US dollars, plan the license fee early with a tax advisor.
What happens after your studies?
The license depends on revenue, not on student status. The basic rule therefore does not change when you graduate. If you found a company, its gross annual revenue counts. For games, the fee runs over the lifetime of the respective product. The license page has the details. For the transition from student status to other offers, see Subscriptions, licences and deadlines after student status ends.
Which alternatives are there?
Other engines have their own license terms. If you compare Unreal Engine with Unity, read the license pages of both providers before you decide. An overview of Unity for students is available in our guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Unreal Engine free for students?
Usually yes, as long as you remain an individual or small company below 1 million US dollars gross annual revenue. According to the license page, there is no separate student offer.
Do I need a student certificate?
The general rule does not provide for a separate student certificate. The education rule applies to teachers and schools. What counts is the license page at the time you use the engine.
When do I have to pay license fees?
For games, 5 percent applies to gross revenue above 1 million US dollars per product. Below that threshold, no fee applies.
Does the revenue limit apply per year?
For individuals and small companies, the limit refers to gross annual revenue. For games, the threshold applies per product over its lifetime.
What about revenue through the Epic Games Store?
According to the license page, revenue through the Epic Games Store is royalty-free. Sales through other channels fall under the fee rule.
So what should you do now?
- Decide whether you only want to learn Unreal Engine or plan to sell a product.
- Read the license page and assign your case to the table.
- Document your revenue per product from the start.
- Clarify tax and fee questions with a tax advisor before you sell.
Related
- Student discounts for software and apps 2026: the overview
- Free tools for game design, 3D and CAD in your studies
- Unity for students: offer, price and use in your studies
- Autodesk for students: offer, price and use in your studies
- Unlock all student offers: the right order in 5 steps
Sources: Unreal Engine, license page, last updated October 2026
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
