{
  "id": 2597443,
  "title": "Heading back to school or college? Here's how to get free and discounted apps to level-up your studies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/heading-back-to-school-or-college-heres-how-to-get-free-and",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-22T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "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"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Heading back to school or college? Discover how to snag free and discounted apps to enhance your studies. As the new academic year approaches, numerous tech-related deals are becoming available, and you don't have to be a student to take advantage of them. In this article, we have compiled some of the best ways to acquire free or heavily discounted software, regardless of your circumstances. Read on to uncover surprising sources of significant savings.\n\nMany companies recognize that students often face financial constraints and aim to attract educational customers by providing substantial discounts or even eliminating costs altogether. For instance, students can access Microsoft 365 apps for free, with options limited to web-based versions. For those who prefer desktop applications, a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 is available with a valid education email address. Additionally, purchasing a qualifying PC desktop or laptop grants a year of Microsoft 365 for free, along with a complimentary Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and an Xbox Wireless Controller.\n\nBeyond Microsoft, Amazon Prime offers discounted rates and sometimes extended free trials to students and young adults, while other apps and services provide student discounts, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Apple Music, Evernote, Headspace, and Spotify. Companies often run student discounts, so it's always beneficial to investigate whether your student status will grant you financial benefits on a specific app. Additionally, if you're employed in journalism, Proton Pass, which includes a VPN, office apps, encrypted cloud storage, and an email service, is free for journalists. Similarly, VPN provider Windscribe offers free access to its services for reporters and those working for charities. Nonprofits can also benefit from various discounts, including office apps, security software, AI tools, and more, through Microsoft's program for nonprofits.\n\nMoreover, operating system bundles often include free or low-cost apps. Microsoft, Google, and Apple each have password managers available, with Apple's being a standalone app and Microsoft's and Google's residing in the Edge and Chrome web browsers, respectively. While these password managers are useful, they may lack advanced features found in third-party options. Before choosing one, ensure it meets your needs.\n\nLastly, don't overlook the abundance of excellent free apps available. DaVinci Resolve, used by professionals in the movie industry, offers a fully functional free version. LibreOffice serves as a powerful Microsoft Office alternative without any payment required. VLC media player can play virtually any video format without charging for its use. However, some free apps may have limitations, such as locked advanced features or higher usage limits behind a paywall or time-limited premium trials. Be cautious when using free apps that handle sensitive data, as certain free VPNs have been known to compromise user privacy. Nonetheless, free software alternatives like DaVinci Resolve and LibreOffice demonstrate that great apps can be obtained without spending money.",
  "summary": "These are the secret ways you can get free and cheap software for all your devices.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}