If you're a broke college student who can't afford AI subscriptions like ChatGPT, you're in luck. A lot of companies offer completely free plans for students that most people don't know about.
Here's my current list.
1. Google Gemini Advanced (Google AI Pro)
This one is genuinely wild. You get Gemini Advanced, NotebookLM Plus, and 2TB of Google storage — all free for a year.
- Free for: 1 year
- Includes: Gemini Advanced, NotebookLM Plus, 2TB storage
- How: Verify with SheerID using your personal Gmail. Sign up before April 30, 2026.
- gemini.google/students
2. Cursor (AI Code Editor)
Cursor is the AI code editor I use every day. The Pro plan is $240/year — and students get it completely free. It gives you access to the latest models like Claude and GPT with no usage limits.
Even if you're not a CS student, it's worth grabbing. You can use it to automate spreadsheets, write scripts, or build side projects.
- Free for: 1 year
- cursor.com/students
3. Perplexity
Perplexity is like a ChatGPT optimized for research. It cites its sources and is much better than a standard LLM when you actually need accurate, up-to-date information. Free for a year.
- Free for: 1 year
- perplexity.ai/backtoschool
4. WisprFlow (Voice-to-Text)
WisprFlow lets you dictate to any text field on your computer — in any app. Instead of typing prompts into ChatGPT or Cursor, you just talk. I use it constantly.
They give students 3 months free. Cancel before it renews if you don't want to pay.
- Free for: 3 months
- wisprflow.ai/students
5. Lovable (No-Code App Builder)
Lovable lets you build full-stack web apps by describing what you want in plain English. It's not fully free, but students get 50% off.
- Discount: 50% off
- lovable.dev/students
6. Figma (Free for 2 Years)
If you do any design work — UI, presentations, wireframes — Figma is free for students for two full years. No catch.
- Free for: 2 years
- figma.com/education
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