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✓ checked Oct 20
Google's student offer is back: US college students 18+ get a free year of Google AI Pro, normally $19.99/month, with higher Gemini limits and 5 TB of storage. Verification runs through SheerID, and the offer must be claimed by December 31, 2026. After the free year, AI Pro renews at $19.99/month unless you cancel.
How to claim it
- Check you qualify. You need to be 18 or older and a college student at an eligible US institution. The offer must be claimed by December 31, 2026
- Use a personal Google account. The offer doesn't work on school-issued Google Workspace for Education accounts, so sign in with your own account
- Open Google's student page. Go to
Google's Gemini for Students pageand click "Claim Free Student Plan" - Verify with SheerID and add a payment method. Google confirms your enrollment through SheerID. A payment method is required, but the first 12 months are free
- Set a reminder for month 11. After the free year, AI Pro renews at $19.99/month. Cancel before then if you don't want to pay
- Not in the US. Students in over 140 other markets get a free year of Google AI Plus from Google's student page for their country. Canada is excluded, and our
Google AI Plus pageexplains what changed
Who's eligible
Who can get the Google student discount?
College students 18+ enrolled at an eligible US higher education institution, verified through SheerID, with a personal Google account. Students whose 2025 AI Pro trial has expired can claim it again. Not available on school-issued Google Workspace for Education accounts, to family group members, or to anyone who has Google One through a third party such as Google Fi. Claim by December 31, 2026.
How long does Google student access last?
Twelve months of Google AI Pro at no charge from the day you redeem. A payment method is required at sign-up, and after the free year AI Pro renews at $19.99/month unless you cancel before the 12 months end.
Is the Google student discount available worldwide?
Google AI Pro is for US students only. Students in over 140 other markets get a free year of Google AI Plus instead, claimed the same way through Google. Canada, Bolivia, Albania, Hong Kong, Macau, and Tunisia are excluded from both.
What's included
The Gemini student offer is back. Google's earlier free year of Google AI Pro had to be redeemed by April 30, 2026, and on August 19, 2026 Google launched a new one. Eligible US college students 18+ get 12 months of Google AI Pro free, a plan that normally costs $19.99/month, with 4x higher usage limits in Gemini, 5 TB of storage, Gemini Spark and Gemini Omni. You verify through SheerID on Google's student page and add a payment method, and the offer must be claimed by December 31, 2026. Students whose 2025 trial already expired can claim it again. Outside the US, Google offers a free year of the smaller Google AI Plus plan instead.
- Google AI Pro Free for 12 MonthsThe full AI Pro plan that normally costs $19.99/month, free for a year from the day you redeem it.
- Higher Gemini LimitsGoogle lists 4x higher usage limits in Gemini for the student plan, plus Gemini Spark and Gemini Omni.
- 5 TB of StorageGoogle One storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos for the length of the free year.
- Expired 2025 Trial? You Can Claim AgainGoogle says both new users and students whose 2025 AI Pro trial has expired qualify.
- SheerID VerificationYou confirm enrollment through SheerID with a personal Google account. School-issued Workspace accounts are not eligible.
Fine print & gotchas
- US college students 18+, claim by December 31, 2026. Students outside the US get Google AI Plus instead.
- Renews at $19.99/month. A payment method is required at sign-up; cancel before the 12 months end to avoid the charge.
- Personal Google accounts only. Not available on school-issued Workspace accounts or to family group members.
- No Google One through a third party. Accounts that get Google One through a partner such as Google Fi don't qualify.
Common questions
Is Gemini free for students?
Yes, in the US: eligible college students 18+ get Google AI Pro, Google's plan with higher Gemini limits, free for 12 months. The offer must be claimed by December 31, 2026. Gemini's free tier stays open to everyone.
Didn't the Google student offer end?
The earlier one did: that free year of Google AI Pro had to be redeemed by April 30, 2026. Google launched this new offer on August 19, 2026, with a new claim deadline of December 31, 2026.
When does the offer end?
You must claim it by December 31, 2026. The free year then runs for 12 months from the day you redeem it.
I had the free trial in 2025. Can I claim it again?
Yes. Google says students whose 2025 AI Pro trial has expired can qualify, as well as new users.
How much does Google AI Pro cost after the free year?
$19.99/month in the US. It renews automatically unless you cancel before the 12 months end.
Can students outside the US get it?
Not the AI Pro version. Students in over 140 markets outside the US get a free year of Google AI Plus instead, which has lower limits and less storage. Canada, Bolivia, Albania, Hong Kong, Macau, and Tunisia are excluded.
Can I use my school Google account?
No. Google's terms say the offer is not available on school-issued Workspace for Education accounts. Use a personal Google account.
What about the Handshake Google AI Plus offer?
That was a separate offer for US and Canada students, and it ended on August 21, 2026. Google's own offer replaced it, and US students now get the higher AI Pro tier.
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