OpenAI
Student Benefits
ChatGPT Plus: 4 Months Free for Students
OpenAI's 2026 Back to School offer gives eligible US college and graduate students four free monthly billing periods of ChatGPT Plus, an $80 value, including ChatGPT Work. The claim window closed October 31, 2026: no extension was announced (checked November 1, 2026). Students who claimed in time keep their four free months; new claims are no longer accepted. The closest live student alternatives are Google AI Pro (free year, redeem by December 31, 2026) and Krater.ai (15% off). A payment method is required but you are not charged during the free months.
This offer has expired — ended Oct 31, 2026
The promotion period for this deal has ended and the page is kept for reference. Try the closest live alternative: ChatGPT, $96. You can also browse the expired deals archive.
What this offer actually gives you
The ChatGPT student offer for 2026 is OpenAI's Back to School promotion: four free monthly billing periods of ChatGPT Plus for eligible students. At $20 a month, that is $80 of value, and it includes the full Plus feature set plus ChatGPT Work, which connects your email, files, and calendar so study material flows straight into your chats. You also get docs, presentations, Sites, voice, and quiz generation.
Eligibility covers current full-time and part-time college and graduate students at eligible US degree-granting institutions, and SheerID decides whether your school and enrollment qualify. Verification can run through trusted school records, your school's single sign-on, or uploaded documents such as a student ID or transcript. Your ChatGPT account does not need to use your school email, but the offer lands on whichever account is signed in during the claim flow, so double check before you start.
The billing details are straightforward but worth reading. A valid payment method is required to activate the offer, and you will not be charged during the four free months. After the promotional period the subscription renews at $20 a month unless you cancel. Existing monthly Plus subscribers billed directly by ChatGPT can claim the offer too, while subscriptions billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play are not supported. Each student can redeem it once, and having used a previous student promotion does not disqualify you.
Two warnings from the official terms. If you cancel before the four months are up, your Plus access continues through the end of the current billing period, but the remaining free months are forfeited. And there is no standing student rate afterwards: once the free period ends, students pay the same $20 a month as everyone else. Treat this as four free months to decide whether Plus is worth it, not as a discount you have locked in.
How to claim this offer
4 Free Monthly Billing Periods of ChatGPT Plus for Students
Eligible US college and graduate students receive four free monthly billing periods of ChatGPT Plus, worth $80, including ChatGPT Work and other Plus features. Verify enrollment through SheerID and claim by October 31, 2026.
- Four free monthly billing periods of ChatGPT Plus
- Includes ChatGPT Work: connect email, files, and calendar
- Full-time and part-time students both qualify
- Existing direct-billed Plus subscribers can claim it too
How to claim this deal
- 1
Open the Back to School offer page in a web or mobile web browser.
- 2
Sign in to the ChatGPT account where you want the offer applied, and confirm it is the right account.
- 3
Follow the SheerID prompts to verify your current enrollment through school records, school single sign-on, or uploaded documents.
- 4
Return to the offer flow after verification and complete activation.
- 5
Add a valid payment method when prompted. You will not be charged during the four free months.
- 6
Set a reminder before the fifth month starts: the subscription renews at $20 a month unless you cancel.
The offer is applied to the ChatGPT account signed in during the claim flow and cannot be moved to another account afterwards.
Key benefits
- Four months of ChatGPT Plus free, an $80 value
- ChatGPT Work included: connect Gmail, files, and calendar
- Premium models, faster responses, and advanced analysis
- Docs, presentations, Sites, voice, and quiz generation
- Earlier student promotion participation does not disqualify you
Eligibility and requirements
- Current enrollment at a US degree-granting college or university
- SheerID verification (school email, school SSO, or documents)
- A valid payment method to activate the offer
- Full-time or part-time college or graduate students at eligible US institutions
- SheerID determines whether your institution and enrollment are eligible
- Your ChatGPT login email does not have to match your school email
- New users and existing monthly Plus subscribers billed directly by ChatGPT qualify
- Apple App Store or Google Play billed subscriptions are not supported
- One redemption per student
- Must claim by October 31, 2026
Pro tip
This offer has ended: if you claimed, the four free months stay on the exact ChatGPT account you claimed from (it cannot be moved), and the $20 a month renewal is automatic — set a reminder for the end of the fourth month.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility requirements
Current full-time or part-time college or graduate students enrolled at eligible US degree-granting institutions, verified through SheerID. One redemption per student. New users and existing monthly Plus subscribers billed directly by ChatGPT can both claim.
ChatGPT Plus offer FAQs
How do I get ChatGPT Plus free as a student?
New claims are closed: the offer ended October 31, 2026. Students who claimed in time verified enrollment through SheerID on OpenAI's official Back to School offer page and keep their four free months.
Do I need a school email for the ChatGPT student offer?
Not on your ChatGPT account. Your ChatGPT login can use any email, but SheerID still needs a school email or enrollment documents to verify your student status.
Can I claim the ChatGPT student offer if I already pay for Plus?
Yes, if your monthly Plus subscription is billed directly by ChatGPT. Subscriptions billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play are not supported for this promotion.
Does the student offer renew at a discount?
No. After the four free months, the subscription renews at the standard $20 a month. OpenAI does not offer a standing student rate on ChatGPT Plus.
Has the ChatGPT student offer been extended past October 31, 2026?
No. The offer ended October 31, 2026, with no extension or renewal announced (checked November 1, 2026; OpenAI's help page was last updated October 28 with no extension). Students who claimed in time keep their four free months; everyone else should compare the live student alternatives in our ChatGPT alternatives guide.
What happens if I cancel during the free months?
Your Plus access continues through the end of the current monthly billing period, but any remaining promotional months are forfeited once the cancellation takes effect.
Can I claim the offer twice or move it to another account?
No. The offer can be redeemed once per student, and OpenAI cannot change the account the promotion was applied to after the fact.
About OpenAI
OpenAI builds ChatGPT, the AI assistant used for writing, study help, coding, and research. ChatGPT Plus is its paid tier with premium models, faster responses, and advanced tools including ChatGPT Work integrations.
