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Google AI Plus for Students - Free for 1 Year via Handshake

$7.99/mo FREE
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✓ checked Aug 2

Undergraduate and graduate students in the US and Canada get Google AI Plus free for one year through Handshake: Gemini with higher limits, access to Google's Pro model, and 400 GB of storage. Normally $7.99/month, and the offer only runs through the end of summer.

How to claim it

  1. Log in to Handshake. Go to app.joinhandshake.com/gemini with your student or alumni Handshake account
  2. Unlock the offer. You can also find it on your Handshake homepage while the promotion runs
  3. Activate with your Google account. The offer is applied to the Google account you choose, so pick the one you want the year of AI Plus on
  4. Add a payment method on Google Play. Required to activate, but Handshake states you won't be charged during the one-year trial
  5. Set a reminder for month 11. If you don't want to continue at the standard price after the free year, cancel before it renews

Who's eligible

Who can get the Google AI Plus for Students - Free for 1 Year via Handshake student discount?
Undergraduate and graduate students who are 18 or older in the US and Canada, with a Handshake account. Existing Google AI Plus paid subscribers and Google family plan members are not eligible.
How long does Google AI Plus for Students - Free for 1 Year via Handshake student access last?
One year of Google AI Plus at no charge. A payment method must be on file with Google Play, but Handshake states you won't be charged during the year. Cancel before the year ends if you don't want to continue at the standard price.
Is the Google AI Plus for Students - Free for 1 Year via Handshake student discount available worldwide?
US and Canada only. Handshake's announcement names both countries; the offer isn't available elsewhere, and Google notes the standard AI Plus price after the free year varies by country.

What's included

Google's student offer is back in a new form. After the free year of Google AI Pro for students closed in April 2026, Handshake and Google launched a new deal: undergraduate and graduate students in the US and Canada get Google AI Plus free for one year, redeemed directly through a Handshake account. Google AI Plus normally costs $7.99/month and includes Gemini with twice the usage limits of the free tier, access to Google's Pro model, Daily Brief, AI Inbox in Gmail as it rolls out, 400 GB of storage across Gmail, Drive, and Photos, and family sharing with up to five people. Handshake says the offer runs "now through the end of the summer," so the window to claim it is short.

  • Google AI Plus Free for 12 MonthsA full year of Google's entry AI plan at no charge, normally $7.99/month in the US. Handshake's announcement puts it plainly: "No catch."
  • Gemini With Higher Limits and the Pro ModelTwice the usage limits of free Gemini, plus access to Google's Pro model for tougher questions, Daily Brief, and AI Inbox in Gmail as it rolls out.
  • 400 GB of StorageStorage across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, which alone covers a degree's worth of notes, projects, and photos.
  • Simple Redemption Through HandshakeNo SheerID, no document uploads. If you have a Handshake student account, you unlock the offer from your Handshake homepage and activate it with your Google account.

Fine print & gotchas

  • The offer is time-limited. Handshake says it runs "through the end of the summer" with no exact date published, and it could close early.
  • A payment method on Google Play is required. You won't be charged during the free year, but cancel before it ends if you don't want to continue at the standard price ($7.99/month in the US, varies by country).
  • US and Canada students, 18+. Undergraduate and graduate students; a Handshake student or alumni account is required.
  • Existing subscribers excluded. Current Google AI Plus paid subscribers and Google family plan members can't claim it.
  • Alumni eligibility is unclear. The announcement title mentions recent alumni, but the stated terms name students only.

Common questions

Is this the old Gemini student offer coming back?
No, it's a new program. The old deal gave students Google AI Pro free for a year with SheerID verification, US only, and closed to new redemptions on April 30, 2026. This offer is for the Google AI Plus tier, runs through Handshake instead of SheerID, and covers Canada as well as the US.
What's the difference between Google AI Plus and AI Pro?
AI Plus is Google's entry AI plan: Gemini with twice the free tier's usage limits, access to the Pro model, Daily Brief, AI Inbox in Gmail as it rolls out, 400 GB of storage, and family sharing. AI Pro is the step up with higher limits and 5 TB of storage. This student offer covers AI Plus.
Do I need a credit card?
You need a payment method on file with Google Play to activate the offer. Handshake states you won't be charged during the one-year trial. If you don't want to pay the standard price afterward ($7.99/month in the US), cancel before the year ends.
When does the offer end?
Handshake says it's "available now through the end of the summer" and hasn't published an exact cutoff date. If you're eligible, claim it sooner rather than later.
What is Handshake and do I need an account?
Handshake is the career platform that most US colleges use for job and internship postings, and you redeem this offer through a Handshake student or alumni account. If your school uses Handshake, you likely already have access through your school login.
I already pay for Google AI Plus. Can I get the free year?
No. Handshake's terms exclude existing Google AI Plus paid subscribers and Google family plan members from the offer.
Do recent graduates qualify?
Unclear. Handshake's announcement title mentions "students and recent alumni," but the stated terms in the post name undergraduate and graduate students 18+ in the US and Canada. If you've recently graduated and still have Handshake access, it's worth trying the redemption link.

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