Cursor's student offering has changed in 2026. The 1-year free Pro program that many students relied on has ended. However, Cursor's free Hobby tier remains available to everyone — no .edu email required — and Cursor has announced paid upgrade opportunities through event promotions starting fall 2026.
Quick answer
Download Cursor for free at cursor.com and start using the Hobby tier — no verification needed. The 1-year Pro student program has ended. For Pro upgrades ($20/month+), watch for event promotions starting fall 2026 at cursor.com/students.
What changed: the 1-year Pro program ended
Cursor previously offered eligible university students one free year of Cursor Pro ($240 value) through cursor.com/students with .edu email verification. As of 2026, that program has ended. Cursor's student page now states:
"Anyone can get started with Cursor for free. To upgrade your access, look out for promotions at our on-campus and online events starting this fall."
Source: cursor.com/students (verified July 14, 2026).
What's still available: Cursor Hobby (free tier)
The Cursor Hobby tier is free and always available — no student verification, no .edu email, no credit card required. It includes:
- Tab completions — AI-powered inline code suggestions
- AI Chat — ask questions about your code, get explanations, and generate snippets
- Agent mode — limited multi-file editing with AI assistance
- Full VS Code fork — all standard editor features, extensions, and themes
For most student coding work — class assignments, personal projects, hackathons — the Hobby tier covers the essentials. You get a capable AI coding editor at $0 without jumping through any verification hoops.
How to get Cursor Pro now
If you need more than the Hobby tier offers, you have two options:
- Standard Pro subscription ($20/month): Available to everyone. Includes $20 in monthly AI credits, unlimited Auto mode, and extended Agent mode limits. Sign up in Cursor account settings at any time.
- Event promotions (fall 2026): Cursor says it will offer promotions at on-campus and online events starting this fall. Watch cursor.com/students for announcements. These may include discounted or free Pro access — details are not yet public.
Is Cursor still worth using as a student?
Yes. Even without the 1-year Pro discount, Cursor's free Hobby tier is one of the best free AI coding editors available. It is a full VS Code fork, so you lose nothing by trying it. If you need more AI capacity, Pro at $20/month is in line with other AI coding tools, and the event promotions (fall 2026) may offer a path to discounted access.
For students who code regularly, Cursor Hobby + a free general AI tool (ChatGPT Free, Claude Free, or Gemini Free) covers the vast majority of student workflows at $0 total.
How Cursor compares to other student coding options
GitHub Copilot: Copilot Student is listed as a free plan in GitHub docs, but the Student Developer Pack says new sign-ups are temporarily paused. Copilot Free (limited completions) is available without student verification. Copilot Pro is $10/month and works in JetBrains, Neovim, and VS Code.
Which should you use? If you use VS Code, start with Cursor Hobby (free). If you need JetBrains or Neovim support, check Copilot Free or Copilot Pro ($10/month). Both have free tiers — test them before paying for anything.
Recommendation
Download Cursor Hobby for free — it costs nothing and requires no verification. It is a capable AI coding editor for student work. If you need more power, either subscribe to Pro at $20/month or wait for event promotions starting fall 2026. Pair Cursor with a free general AI tool (ChatGPT Free, Claude Free, or Gemini Free) for non-coding tasks like essay feedback and research.
Sources checked
- Cursor Students: current status — free tier available, event promotions coming fall 2026 (verified July 14, 2026).
- GitHub Copilot plans: Copilot Student plan and model access notes.
- GitHub Student Developer Pack: current Copilot offer status.
For the broader list of student AI offers, see our AI student discounts guide.