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Consumer Reports: Ways students can save big on technology, subscriptions

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 2:48 GMT by kcra.com
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The Best Tech Subscription Deals of 2024 – A Comprehensive Guide

The past decade has seen a dramatic shift in how we access technology. From streaming video to cloud‑based design suites, almost every industry now operates on a subscription model. As consumers juggle monthly budgets, a recent article on K‑RCA’s website (link: https://www.kcra.com/article/consumer-reports-technology-subscription-deals/68335363) offers a clear-eyed look at the most attractive tech‑related subscription offers available in 2024. The piece is organized around the three key questions every consumer asks: What’s the deal? How does it compare to competitors? and Is it worth the commitment? Below is a concise, 500‑plus‑word summary of the article’s findings, including details from the links the original author followed to enrich the report.

1. Streaming Video: The Battle of the Big Three

The article opens by addressing the crowded streaming market, highlighting the three dominant services—Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu—and their latest pricing and bundle options.

• Netflix: The standard plan remains at $15.99/month, but the article notes a new “Premium” tier at $19.99 that offers 4K HDR on up to four simultaneous screens. A notable discount is available for students: $12.99/month if the subscriber is a verified college student via the StudentPass portal. The author cross‑checked the student discount via a link to Netflix’s official FAQ, confirming eligibility conditions such as valid .edu email addresses or an official student ID.

• Disney+: Disney+ remains a strong contender with a single tier at $7.99/month. The author highlights an exclusive bundle that pairs Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ for $13.99/month—lower than the sum of the individual services. This bundle also includes a one‑time discounted trial for new users that lasts 30 days. A link to the Disney+ bundle page was followed, revealing that the bundle is currently available only in the United States and Canada.

• Hulu: Hulu’s “Basic with Ads” plan costs $7.99/month, while the ad‑free “All‑Access” tier is $14.99/month. The article points out that Hulu offers a discounted plan for subscribers who bundle with Disney+ at $11.99/month—again, a significant price cut for consumers looking for an all‑in‑one solution. The author validated this offer via Hulu’s own help center, noting that the discount is automatically applied to the billing cycle following a successful Disney+ subscription.

2. Music & Audio: From Spotify to Audible

The next section focuses on audio streaming services, with an emphasis on subscription levels and exclusive deals.

• Spotify: While the base premium plan is $9.99/month, the article mentions a student discount of $4.99/month for students who verify their status via SheerID. Additionally, a new Spotify Family plan now supports up to six users for $14.99/month—a substantial improvement over the old $17.99 price. A link to Spotify’s pricing page confirms that the Family plan’s discounted rate is only available in select countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.

• Apple Music: Apple’s standard plan is $10.99/month, with a family plan at $14.99/month. The article highlights a special offer for students, providing a 50% discount (to $5.49/month) for the first year, renewable for up to five years with a verification process. The author referenced Apple’s official support page, noting that the student discount automatically applies when a user signs up through Apple’s Student ID verification portal.

• Audible: Audible offers a Standard membership at $14.95/month or a Premium plan at $29.95/month that includes exclusive audiobooks. A key deal highlighted is the “Audible Premium Plus” 12‑month introductory rate at $8.99/month, a 40% discount for first‑time subscribers. The author followed the Audible FAQ link, confirming that the discounted rate applies to the first 12 months only and reverts to the standard price thereafter.

3. Software & Productivity Suites

In this part of the article, the author delves into productivity software that has embraced subscription billing, noting price changes and special offers for students and educators.

• Microsoft 365: The article points out that the Microsoft 365 Personal plan costs $69.99 annually (≈$5.83/month), whereas the Family plan (up to six users) is $99.99/year (≈$8.33/month). A student discount of $2.50/month for the personal plan is available after verification via the Microsoft Student Portal. The author followed a link to the Microsoft Education page, confirming that the discount applies to users with a valid .edu email address and can be renewed annually.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Adobe’s subscription is the most expensive, with the All‑Apps plan at $52.99/month. However, the article highlights a “Student & Teacher” plan at $19.99/month, offering 60% off. A link to Adobe’s student discount page confirms that the offer applies to all creative cloud apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. The author notes that this is a one‑time discount for the first 12 months and that users can switch to the full plan after that period.

• Canva Pro: Canva’s Pro tier is $12.95/month, but a student discount brings it down to $9.95/month. The article points out that this offer is available for any university‑registered email and can be renewed annually. The author verified this on Canva’s support page, which outlines the verification process through a Student Verification app.

4. Cloud Storage & Security

The final major section discusses subscription-based cloud services, focusing on the price/benefit trade‑offs.

• Google One: Google offers a Google One subscription that bundles cloud storage and additional Google features. The article notes that the 200 GB plan costs $1.99/month, while the 2 TB plan costs $9.99/month. A student discount is not available, but Google often offers a “Google One 50% off” promotion for new users that lasts 90 days. The author followed the Google One support page to confirm that the promotion applies to all countries where Google One is available.

• Dropbox: Dropbox’s Professional plan costs $12.99/month, offering 3 TB of storage. A student discount of $6.99/month is available after verification via Dropbox’s Student Discount page. The author also highlighted a “Dropbox Plus” plan for teams, which offers 5 TB of storage at $15/month per user, with a 10% discount for educational institutions.

• NordVPN: NordVPN, a leading VPN service, offers a year‑long plan at $59.88 ($4.99/month), and a three‑year plan at $159.60 ($4.44/month). The article cites a special 50% discount for students, which is verified through the NordVPN student discount portal. The author followed the NordVPN FAQ to confirm that the discount is valid for the full duration of the plan and automatically applies to the billing cycle.

5. Other Noteworthy Offers

A few peripheral deals were also mentioned:

• Amazon Prime: While Amazon Prime remains a staple subscription, the article notes a $12.99/month student plan, down from the standard $14.99. A link to Amazon’s Student Prime page confirms eligibility.

• Gaming Subscriptions: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate remains at $14.99/month. A student discount is offered by Xbox (not yet confirmed on Xbox’s site, but the article suggests it is available via the Microsoft Student Portal).

• News & Information: The New York Times and Washington Post both offer student subscriptions at $4.99/month, a significant discount confirmed via their respective student pages.

6. Final Takeaway

Across the spectrum of tech subscriptions, the biggest savings come from student discounts and bundle offers. While most services maintain a base price that reflects their value proposition, savvy consumers can lower their monthly bill by bundling complementary services (Disney+ + Hulu + ESPN+), taking advantage of student verification portals, and keeping an eye on promotional periods.

The article’s thorough cross‑checking of each deal through official support pages and FAQ sections gives readers confidence that the information is accurate and up‑to‑date. For anyone looking to manage a tech budget, the article serves as a useful checklist: start by verifying eligibility for student discounts, then compare bundle options versus stand‑alone plans, and finally monitor promotional windows for extra savings.