Heading back to school or college? Here's how to get free and discounted apps to level-up your studies

Date:
Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
These are the secret ways you can get free and cheap software for all your devices.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Its back-to-school season , which means there are plenty of great deals to be had on everything tech related. But you dont have to be going to school or college to get in on the action in fact, there all sorts of ways to score a discount, whatever your situation.

Here, weve put together some of the best ways you can get free or heavily discounted software, whether or not youre a student. Read on and youll see there are many ways to score a brilliant bargain that might take you by surprise. Education discounts (Image credit: Apple) Many companies know that students tend to be strapped for cash, and they therefore try to tempt educational customers to make a purchase by steeply discounting the price or waiving it altogether. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:
For example, you can snag free access to Microsoft 365 apps if youre a student, while educational institutions get the same deal. This is limited to web-based versions of the apps, but its a good way to net yourself a solid
set of free office apps with absolutely no cost involved.

If youd rather have the desktop apps, students can get a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 with a valid education email address. You can also get one year of Microsoft 365 for free when you buy a qualifying PC desktop or laptop . Microsoft also throws in a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and an Xbox Wireless Controller for free. You may like Apple's back-to-school offer is live students and teachers get exclusive savings on iPads and MacBooks, plus free gift cards 15 best back-to-school bargains in the Amazon UK tech sale
up to 60% off laptops, appliances, software, and more Laptops from Apple, HP, Lenovo, and more are up to 40% off in the back-to-school sales here are the top 12 deals I'd buy

Looking further afield, Amazon Prime offers discounted rates and sometimes markets extended free trials to students and young adults, while other apps and services with student discounts include Adobe Creative Cloud, Apple
Music, Evernote, Headspace, Spotify and more.

So many companies run student discounts that if theres an app youre
interested in, its always worth investigating whether your student status
will get you money off. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your
inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Check your employer or job description (Image credit: Unsplash / Jason Goodman) Deals dont end the moment you enter the workforce. In fact, some of the best money-off opportunities are reserved for those in full-time employment. The catch is that they often depend on the type of work you do, but there are still plenty of deals to be had.

If you want to look after your logins, you can get free access to both 1Password and Proton Pass if youre a journalist. Protons entire suite of apps
including a VPN , office apps, encrypted cloud storage and an email service are free for journalists , in fact. Similarly, VPN provider Windscribe offers cost-free access if youre a reporter or if you work for a charity .

Microsoft gives a wide range of discounts to nonprofits , including on office apps, security software, AI tools, and more. The Google for Nonprofits
program offers also free and discounted access to Google services for NGOs. What to read next Searching for the perfect cheap laptop for college? Here
are our top recommendations 15 of the best laptop deals in the US and the UK I've found the best offers from Amazon, Best Buy, Currys, Argos, and more How to pick the best Mac accessories for back-to-school season

Even if you dont work in these sectors, you could still be in line for money off. Plenty of companies have partnerships with prominent app developers and get discounts on their software, so be sure to ask your employer if they run
a scheme like this. Apps bundled with your device (Image credit: Foxy burrow
/ Shutterstock / Microsoft) You dont always have to look far for free or
cheap apps theyre often bundled with your devices operating system . Microsoft, Google and Apple all have free password managers , for instance. Apples is a standalone app while Microsofts and Googles live in the Edge and Chrome web browsers , respectively, meaning they work cross-platform and can be used on competing operating systems.

While these password managers are excellent for managing your accounts, they might lack more advanced features compared to third-party options. Be sure to check if they do everything you need before picking one up.

There are other ways your operating system can help you out. Take Apples macOS, which comes with a range of top-class office apps, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Google, too, has its own series of very capable office apps that are based in the cloud.

If you use different devices that run on different operating systems for example, you have a Windows PC but also an iPhone make sure you check
whether the apps that come with one operating system can be used on another. If not, you might need to find an alternative app that runs well cross-platform so that you can access your files on any device. Totally free apps (Image credit: Blackmagic Design) Despite all these ways to get money
off your favorite software, you shouldnt overlook the fact that there are
some excellent free apps out there that are and always have been toll-free. Sometimes, the best way to get free software is to simply take the free option.

Video editor DaVinci Resolve is used by professionals in the movie industry, yet offers a totally free version that is incredibly capable. LibreOffice is
a solid Microsoft Office alternative that requires no payment and can go toe-to-toe with Microsofts best. VLC can play almost any video format under the sun without ever asking for your cash. And there are many more out there.

Just be aware that many free apps are limited in some way compared to
paid-for alternatives. A frequent practice is to lock more advanced features or higher limits behind a paywall, meaning you get a somewhat stunted experience if you dont pay. Or you might get a free trial of a premium app that times out after a certain number of days or weeks.

There are other considerations. Be careful when using free apps that handle sensitive data. Some (but not all) free VPNs have been found to steal user data , for example, which undermines their privacy claims.

But that doesnt mean you should forget about free software entirely. As apps like DaVinci Resolve and LibreOffice show, paying is not a requirement to getting a great app on your device. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add
us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best password manager for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best password manager 1. Best overall: NordPass
2. Best for mobile: RoboForm 3. Best for syncing and sharing: Keeper



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/heading-back-to-school-or-college -heres-how-to-get-free-and-discounted-apps-to-level-up-your-studies


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)