The ultimate guide to educational and student discounts for plugins
There are many brilliant VST plugins available for synths, effects, and utilities. But they don't come cheap, particularly if you are just starting out in music production or beat making as a student. Luckily, many software companies offer discounts on plugins of up to 66% for students and teachers, often times exceeding discounts offered in their sales available to everyone. Yet the rules can be complicated:
Does the plugin company offer an educational discount for students and teachers?
What is the discount offered?
Which products are included? Are bundles and subscriptions available at a discount?
Who is eligible, students only, or also their parents and teachers?
Which educational establishments qualify for educational discounts?
What is the application process?
What documentation is required to obtain the student discount?
Are there limitations to the license, such as limited features, or the ability to upgrade or resell?
So we researched the most popular VST, AU and AAX plugin brands to help you find the cheapest way to get your hands on brilliant instruments, effects and DAWs.
The Best Audio Plugin Deals right now - our ultimate guide to the best sales and deals right now
Overview
Student and educational discounts are offered by the following plugin brands
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The following brands do not offer any individual student or educational discounts
Are you missing your favourite plugin brand in the list, which offers discounts to students? Help others by sending us an email with the details, and we will include them in our next update.
Antares Auto-Tune is available to buy at 50% discount when you are a student
Products
All Antares products with perpetual license, including their popular Auto-Tune range, are included in the program. Subscriptions to Auto-Tune Unlimited are excluded.
Vocal Effects (Aspire, Articulator, Choir, Duo, Harmony Engine, Mic Mod, Mutator, Punch, Sybil, Throat, Warm): $29.50 to $49.50 (50% off $59 to $99)
Biggest Auto-Tune Sale of the year: 50% off Auto-Tune* until 31 July (from $114 + 1 year free Auto-Tune subscription)
Eligibility
Students and teachers in the following educational institutions are eligible to Antares educational discounts:
University/college: University or college that grants degrees that require at least one year of full-time study. Training facilities not offering degrees or diplomas are not eligible.
Secondary Schools: Schools providing full-time instruction for grades K-12.
Elementary/primary school students do not qualify for student discounts/pricing.
Limitations
Students and teachers are limited to one product approval per person.
You simply email AAS support. When I contacted them, they were really uncomplicated and friendly. They offered to send me a discounted invoice to pay via PayPal or credit card, in return for a license for any product at 50% discount.
Acustica Audio products attract a 20% student discount
Products
All single products are eligible for the 20% student discount, including Nebula, Acqua and Modula. Bundles are excluded.
Eligibility
The discount is available to all current students and teachers enrolled in audio engineering courses, telecommunication engineering degrees or related music production studies.
Limitations
Educational products are only available for full and single products.
Educational discounts cannot be used to purchase upgrades, add-on packs, or bundles, and cannot be combined with other promotion, such as Summer Sale, Black Friday, and Christmas promotional campaigns.
Students may purchase each Acustica Audio product only once.
Educational discounts are for personal use and cannot be redistributed or resold.
Application Process
To request an educational discount, submit a ticket to the Acustica support team with the following information:
A copy of your valid student or teacher identification or equivalent document from your educational institution. The document or identification must contain the requester's first name, last name, and expiration date.
List of products you wish to purchase.
Your user-name in Aquarius, the free download manager from Acustica Audio (with [email protected] syntax).
Further Details
Find out more about the Acustica Audio education discount policy in the knowledge base.
Students and teachers in the following educational institutions are eligible to AVID Protools educational discounts:
University/college: Higher education institution is defined as an accredited, government-recognized public or private university or college that grants degrees and/or certificates.
Secondary Schools: An accredited, government-recognized public or private secondary school providing full-time instruction.
Students and teachers are limited to one product approval per individual per year.
Application Process
You can buy an academic license through the AVID website, which then includes submission and verification of your documents, such as a copy of your student ID.
Baby Audio Spaced Out for 45% off - when you are a student
Products
Baby Audio is an innovative software house best known for the free Magic Switch plugin, TAIP*, and Smooth Operator*. The level of student discount isn't published on the website, so I asked the Baby Audio support. They confirmed they offer a 45% discount on all their plugins:
FabFilter Pro Q 3, and all FabFilter plugins, attract a 50% student discount
Products
FabFilter offers a 50% student discount/educational discount on all its products.
Eligibility
Students and music teachers are eligible for the 50% FabFilter discounts
Application Process
Scan your educational proof document (such as a student card or enrolment letter).
Complete the application form attach your document, and submit it
FabFilter will assess your application and, if granted, create a FabFilter account marked Educational.
If you log in to that account, your prices in the FabFilter shop will show the 50% discount.
Limitations
The discount will apply for one year, but you can extend this by submitting a new document.
There are no restrictions on the number of plugins you can buy at a discount - there is nothing stopping you from buying the Total bundle of all FabFilter plugins at half price.
Licenses will be Not For Resale (NFR), preventing you from selling the plugins by license transfer.
The FL Studio Signature Bundle is only $199 for students - 50% the regular price of $399
Products
The top of the range FL Studio Signature Bundle* is available as a special Academic Bundle, matching all its features. You can only buy the Academic Bundle from 3rd party sellers, not directly from Image Line. Discounts seem to vary by country, with best discounts offered in the US, at the time of writing:
USA: $199 (33% off $299)
UK:£159 (31% off £230)
Europe: €189 (32% off €269)
You can buy the Academic Bundle from the following retailers:
Student, staff and students are eligible for the academic discount.
Application Process
Verification of academic status is conducted by emailing the Education Support at Plugin Boutique your proof of education. The easiest way to get verified is using a .edu email address, but you can also submit student or staff ID documents.
Limitations
There are no feature limitations. Discounts do not apply to upgrades or add-on packs.
Reaktor 6 is the only Native Instruments plugin eligible for a student discount.
Products
The only product with an educational discount is Reaktor 6. With 50% discount, the Reaktor 6 $199 full price is reduced to $99.
None of the Komplete range, Traktor, Komplete hardware, or Maschine hardware is offered at a student discount.
Eligibility and Application Process
You can simply purchase the education version of Reaktor 6 at 50% discount in the Native Instruments shop. As part of the purchase process, you will need to register for student status.
Do you fancy owning high class Output plugins for up to 69% off? How about trying Output Arcade for free for 100 days? Then read our brand new guide on cheapest ways to buy Output.
Hans Zimmer Strings, one of many Spitfire Audio plugins available for 40% student discount
Products
All libraries are eligible for a 30% student discount, but only in September and October. Multiple products can be bought once you have been granted student status. Collections however are not included.
Student or teachers at any accredited institution.
Supporting documentation is required, such as student ID cards and acceptance letters for students, and redacted contracts of employment or staff ID cards for teachers.
Supporting documentation must be dated within 30 days of the application, or in the case of ID cards, have an expiry date in the future.
Application Process
Scan your supporting documents (such as ID card).
Log in to your account or register for an account.
Go to the application form and select up to 5 products (you can make further applications if you want to buy more).
Attach your supporting documents and submit.
Limitations
There are no limitations to the products or license granted. You can purchase as many libraries as you like, and can use the libraries for commercial purposes.
Full-time student at a qualifying institution of higher learning (university or an approved audio production program)
Educator in the audio production field
Application Process
The Soundtoys 5 Academic bundle is available for purchase exclusively via Sweetwater Sound. To purchase, please provide Sweetwater with the following:
Proof of eligibility document (either a signed and dated letter from a teacher or program administrator confirming your enrollment, or a copy of your current course schedule).
Valid government issued photo identification (like a driver’s license, passport, or an official identity card).
Limitations
There are no limitations in terms of features, and the license does not expire when you finish studying. There are no restrictions on commercial use, so you can make millions writing the next track for Ed Sheeran with your academic license you want.
Further Details
Soundtoys have a dedicated page in their Q&A answering questions.
The Waves Schoeps Omni Channel is included in the Waves student discount offer
Products
All individual plugins and bundles, apart from Abbey Road Studio 3, are eligible for a 35% discount off MRSP (Manufacturer Recommended Selling Price).
⚠️ CAUTION: Based on Waves discount policy, which sees them offer 75% to 90% discount off an inflated MRSP pretty much all the time, musicmanta recommends you buy Waves plugins in a regular sale instead, or save even more during Black Friday.
Eligibility
Students and faculty members are eligible for the Waves student discount.
Application Process
Scan your student/faculty ID from a recognized educational institution or a Waves-certified institution. School ID must contain expiration or enrolment dates. Faculty members can submit a letter from HR confirming their employment or a recent payment document (with all personal information blacked out).
Scan an additional official identification (i.e. driver’s license or passport).
Trained in classical and jazz piano, Christof has over 30 years of experience in songwriting and music production. In 2021, he founded musicmanta and is now its Editor-in-Chief. Christof has worked in marketing for 25 years in Unilever and Kimberly-Clark. He is now the Head of Performance Marketing UK for Andrex, Kleenex, and Huggies, leading a team of 10 to create award-winning marketing campaigns, writing effective content, reaching millions of people.
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