Notion for Students: How to Get the Free Education Plan

There are two free education plans, and the difference matters if you run a society or club. There's also a yearly check that moves you back to the standard free plan if you miss it. Here's who qualifies, how to switch the plan on, and what to do when you graduate.

The two free Education Plans

	Individual students and teachers	Student organisations
Members per workspace	One	Multiple
Guests	Up to 100 per workspace	Shared with the workspace
Uploads	Included	Included
Page history	Edits going back 30 days	Edits going back 30 days
How you get it	Upgrade with your school email	Apply as a verified student organisation

The table follows Notion's own help page for the Education Plan.

Who qualifies

• You're signed in with your school email, and it's the main email on your Notion account. Notion says an extra address added to your account won't count.
• Your school is accredited and listed in the World Higher Education Database.
• Your school email hasn't already claimed the plan.
• You're on the Free Plan with only one member in the workspace.
• You're upgrading on Notion for desktop or the web, not the mobile app.

Notion says it doesn't accept student IDs or other documents, so a valid school email is the only way in.

How to switch on the free Education Plan

1. Open Notion on desktop or the web.
2. Go to Settings in your sidebar.
3. Select Upgrade plan.
4. Select Get free education plan.
5. If your school is recognised, Notion upgrades you automatically.

If you meet every requirement but don't see the option, Notion's help page says to contact its support team. If you're already on Plus, switch the workspace back to the Free Plan in Settings first, then upgrade to Education.

The catch: the yearly check

This is the rule to put in your calendar. Notion says you need to verify your student status once a year with your school email to stay on the Education Plan, and it'll remind you before your anniversary date. If you can't verify with a valid school email, your workspace and all your content move to the Free Plan.

That usually happens when you graduate and your university email is switched off. Your notes don't disappear, but the workspace drops to the standard free limits. So before you leave, check the main email on your Notion account and move it to a personal address if you'll want to keep using it.

Two more rules people miss

• One claim per email: each school email can claim the Education Plan once, for one workspace.
• Upgrading ends it: Notion says moving that workspace to Plus, Business or Enterprise permanently ends its Education eligibility.

How students use Notion

The plan suits lecture notes, reading lists, coursework trackers and group project pages you share with guests. If you're new to it, my guide on how to use Notion covers the basics, and my walkthrough on how to make a template in Notion helps you set up a page you can reuse for every module.

What about student clubs and societies?

If your society wants one shared workspace with several members, the individual plan won't work because it allows only one member. Notion offers a separate free Education Plan for student organisations. Notion says it's for verified student groups that submit an application, so apply for that one instead.

What the Education Plan gives you

Notion's FAQ describes the individual Education Plan as covering pages and blocks, file uploads, more options to customise and publish your site, and 30 day version history. You can also work with up to 100 guests in your workspace, which is handy for group projects. Notion's education page shows students using it for study planners, habit trackers, club websites and job application tracking.

The catch for school pupils

This is the rule that trips up younger students. Notion's help page says K-12 students and K-12 educators aren't eligible for the Education Plan. They can still use Notion's standard Free Plan. Accounts tied to a personal address like a Gmail account don't qualify either, so the school email has to be the main one.

Notion also points students to its template gallery. Browse Notion's templates, filter by the School category, pick one and select Get template to add it to your workspace.

Quick checklist before you upgrade

• Change the main email on your Notion account to your school email if it isn't already.
• Remove any extra members from the workspace.
• Open Notion on desktop or the web, not the mobile app.
• Note your anniversary date once you're upgraded, for the yearly check.

Notion also says there's no limit to how many times you can re-verify, so you can keep the plan for your whole degree.

My verdict: Notion for students is free and easy to switch on if you've got a university email. Do it on desktop, put the yearly verification in your calendar, and change your main email before you graduate so your workspace stays easy to reach.

Frequently asked questions

Is Notion free for students?

Yes. Notion's Education Plan for individual students and teachers is free for a one-member workspace if you sign in with your school email from an accredited institution.

How do I get Notion's Education Plan?

On desktop or the web, go to Settings, select Upgrade plan, then Get free education plan. If your school is recognised, Notion upgrades you automatically.

What happens to Notion when I graduate?

Notion says you need to verify your school email once a year. If you can't, your workspace and all your content move to the Free Plan.

Can I use a student ID to get Notion free?

No. Notion says you must have a valid educational email address and it doesn't accept student IDs or other documents.

Is there a free Notion plan for student clubs?

Yes. Notion has a separate free Education Plan for student organisations with multiple members, for verified groups that apply.

Can high school students get Notion's Education Plan?

No. Notion says K-12 students and K-12 educators aren't eligible for the Education Plan, but they can still use Notion's standard Free Plan.