AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Is Autodesk free for students in 2026?
Yes. Eligible students get one year of free, single-user Autodesk access, and the $10,000 in Autodesk Fusion credits card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
The Education plan covers Autodesk software and services for educational purposes. The software has the same features and functionality as paid subscriptions, so you learn on the tools professionals use. AI Perks also tracks more student offers in the same catalogue, so you can compare them before you choose.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Autodesk Fusion $10,000
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
What does the Education plan include?
The plan is a one-year, single-user subscription that renews annually while you stay eligible. Since August 2020, individual education access has been a named-user subscription that requires eligibility confirmation, not a serial number. Access starts once eligibility is confirmed, and the Autodesk Fusion card explains how to claim.
| Feature | What the plan gives |
|---|---|
| Duration | One year, renewable annually |
| Users | Single user |
| Features | Same as paid subscriptions |
| Versions | Current version plus up to three prior versions, where available |
| Devices | Install on up to three devices |
| Use | Learning and research only |
Which software can students use?
The plan is not limited to one product. It covers Autodesk software and services broadly, and the catalogue card is the place to see what applies to you.
Fusion
Fusion is free for eligible students and educators and runs on Mac, PC and Chromebook. The Chromebook version is a cloud-based web app. The student plan has 1 named-user seat, and Autodesk describes it as full features and functionality for qualifying students.
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is free to eligible students as a one-year, single-user license for educational use. There is no separate student version of AutoCAD, so you get the same product everyone else uses. AutoCAD for Mac has the full range of 2D and 3D drafting features found in the Windows version.
Other products
The education range also includes Fusion with FeatureCAM, which bundles FeatureCAM Ultimate, PartMaker, Fusion and Fusion Team. Tinkercad is listed as a simple 3D design and 3D printing app. Revit and similar tools fall under the same Autodesk Education access, and the perk card shows what is available to you.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Autodesk Fusion $10,000
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
How do educators and schools fit in?
Fusion is also free for educators, with larger seat counts. Educators can invite an entire class or individual students.
| Plan | Named-user seats |
|---|---|
| Student | 1 |
| Educator | 250 |
| IT Administrator | 3,000 |
If you teach, the same Autodesk Fusion card is the starting point for the details.
What free credits sit next to Autodesk in the catalogue?
CAD and engineering students rarely use one tool. These are the related perks in the catalogue, each with its own card showing who qualifies and how to claim.
| Company | Free credits | How to get |
|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Fusion | $10,000 | Get this perk |
| Onshape (PTC) | 5 free Professional seats | Get this perk |
| Ansys | $15,000 | Get this perk |
Total: $10,000 in Fusion credits + $15,000 in Ansys credits, plus 5 free Professional seats.
Fusion handles design and manufacturing work, Onshape adds a second CAD option, and Ansys covers simulation. Opening all three cards takes a few minutes, and you only claim what fits your coursework.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Autodesk Fusion $10,000
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
How does the Education plan compare with the free plan?
Not everyone qualifies for education access. Autodesk offers a free trial or a limited, free version of Fusion for personal use. That is the fallback if you do not qualify, or if you stop qualifying later.
| Education plan | Trial or personal version | |
|---|---|---|
| Fusion features | Full features | Trial or limited, depending on the option |
| Cost | Free for eligible users | Free |
| Use | Learning and research only | Personal use for the free version |
| Duration | One year, renewable | Not stated for the free version |
The practical rule is simple. If you are eligible, the education route gives you more. The Autodesk Fusion card shows whether you are.
What happens when the free year ends?
Access is renewable annually while you stay eligible, so the end of a year is a renewal, not a cliff. If you no longer qualify for the Fusion educational license, you can sign up for a free trial instead. The limited, free personal version is the other route.
Plan around the usage limits too. Education use is limited to learning and research, and commercial, professional or other for-profit use is not allowed. Heavy cloud service users may face additional restrictions, and those restrictions can change without notice. Do not build a paid freelance workflow on a student license.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Autodesk Fusion $10,000
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
How do you get started? Step by step
Step 1: Get credits via AI Perks. Open the catalogue at getaiperks.com and browse the student and education cards.
Step 2: Open the Autodesk Fusion card. The Autodesk Fusion card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
Step 3: Pick your software. Fusion and AutoCAD are the main starting points. Check the card for other Autodesk products you may need.
Step 4: Plan your devices. You can install the software on up to three devices, so decide which machines you will use.
Step 5: Keep use educational. Stay within learning and research, since commercial use is not allowed.
Step 6: Compare the other cards. Look at the Onshape card and the Ansys card before you pick your toolset.
FAQ
Is AutoCAD free for students?
Yes. AutoCAD is free to eligible students as a one-year, single-user license for educational use. There is no separate student version, so you get the standard product. The Autodesk Fusion card shows who qualifies and how to claim, and you can browse more at getaiperks.com.
Does Fusion work on a Chromebook?
Yes. Fusion is free for eligible students and educators and runs on Mac, PC and Chromebook. On Chromebooks it is available as a cloud-based web app. You get the same full-feature education access, so a low-cost laptop is enough to start learning CAD.
Is the student version limited compared with paid Autodesk software?
No. Software accessed through the Education plan has the same features and functionality as paid subscriptions. The limits are about use, not features: it is for learning and research only. Heavy cloud service users may also face extra restrictions that can change without notice.
Can I use student software for paid client work?
No. Education plan use is limited to purposes directly related to learning and research. Commercial, professional or other for-profit use is not allowed. If you start earning from your designs, move to a paid plan or check the other options listed at getaiperks.com.
How many devices can I install it on?
You can install Autodesk software on up to three devices. Access also covers the current version plus up to three prior versions, where available. That helps if your course or lab uses an older release than the newest one.
What if I stop qualifying?
If you no longer qualify for the Fusion educational license, you can sign up for a free trial. A limited, free personal version of Fusion is also available. Meanwhile, getaiperks.com lists other CAD and engineering perks, such as 5 free Onshape Professional seats.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Autodesk Fusion $10,000
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
Ready to claim your student perks?
Start with the Autodesk Fusion card, then check Onshape and Ansys while you are there. Each card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
Get free AI credits at getaiperks.com →
Browse every student and education perk, plus many more, at getaiperks.com.
