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.
What is Microsoft 365 Education and what do schools get?
The AI Perks catalogue lists $5,000 in Microsoft 365 credits, and Microsoft donates Office 365 A1, including web and AI tools, at no cost to eligible institutions. The card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
Microsoft 365 Education comes in three tiers: A1, A3 and A5. They are designed to scale from a single classroom to a whole school system. The A1 donation covers both educators and students, and Microsoft says the goal is equitable access for learning and building skills for the future.
AI Perks tracks more student offers beyond Microsoft, so the card is a good first stop before you pay for anything.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Microsoft 365 $5,000
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 A1, A3 and A5 differ?
A1 is the free web-first tier. A3 adds desktop apps, security and device management on top of A1. A5 is the top tier and includes everything in A3 plus unified communications, analytics and advanced security.
| Feature | A1 | A3 | A5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word | Online only | Desktop and online | Desktop and online |
| Copilot Chat (enterprise data protection) | Online only | Desktop and online | Desktop and online |
| Power BI Pro | Add-on (desktop only) | Add-on (desktop only) | Desktop and online |
| Mailbox warning quota | 49 GB | 98 GB | 98 GB |
| Phone System and Audio Conferencing | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
A3 also adds Bookings and Live Events beyond A1. Microsoft 365 as a whole builds on the Office 365 apps and adds management, security and compliance tools.
What do students and staff actually get through their school?
Access comes through the institution, not through a personal purchase. Under A1 you get the web versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, plus PC-only versions of Publisher and Access. The Microsoft 365 card is where you check who qualifies and how to claim.
If your school runs A3, each user can install Office desktop apps on up to 5 PCs or Macs, plus up to 5 tablets and 5 phones. That is a big step up from A1, where Word stays online only.
Two smaller points are worth knowing:
- The student use benefit is not part of the donated A1. It can be bought at a discount as a standalone license.
- Education Insights is a free analytics tool for schools that use Teams for Education.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Microsoft 365 $5,000
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
Is Microsoft Education Copilot free, and is it private?
Copilot Chat is free with an A1, A3 or A5 license when you sign in with a school or work account. Microsoft says it is powered by GPT-5 at no additional cost. It is open to faculty, staff and higher education students aged 13 and older, so not every student qualifies.
On privacy, Microsoft says Copilot Chat includes IT controls and enterprise-grade privacy and security. The plan comparison lists it with enterprise data protection in all three plans. It also includes web grounding, file uploads and Copilot Pages.
What does the paid Copilot add?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a separate add-on in A1, A3 and A5 alike. It costs $18 per user per month as an academic offering, so the total depends on how many seats the school buys. The school buys it, not students directly, and it needs a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription.
Adding it upgrades Copilot Chat with Microsoft Graph data, in-app use, agent access and analytics.
What happens when your access ends?
The plan is tied to your institution, and Microsoft says eligibility may be re-verified at any time. When the plan expires, the desktop apps enter a reduced-functionality mode. You can view documents but cannot edit or create new ones.
Online services tied to the school email stop working too. That includes Office 365 for the web and OneDrive. Save copies of anything you need before you leave.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Microsoft 365 $5,000
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
Which free credits can students claim alongside it?
Microsoft is not the only education-linked perk in the catalogue. These amounts come from the AI Perks catalogue, and each card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
| Company | Free credits | How to get |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 | $5,000 | Get this perk |
| Notion (education) | $120 | Get this perk |
| Canva (education) | $144 | Get this perk |
| Google Gemini (students) | $240 | Get this perk |
Total across these four cards: $5,000 + $120 + $144 + $240 = $5,504 in free credits.
For a wider view, see Free AI Credits for Students 2026: Every Program Compared and AI Student Discount 2026: Every Verified Offer Listed.
What if your school has no Microsoft deal?
Start with the card. The Microsoft 365 card shows who qualifies and how to claim, and it is the quickest way to see whether you have a route in. Microsoft has also advertised 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium as a limited-time student offer, so check whether it is still open.
If you are an administrator, Microsoft does not publish A3 and A5 pricing on its plan pages. Schools are told to talk to an expert or sales partner, and a Microsoft Education specialist can help choose between A1, A3 and A5.
Students can also look at the Notion, Canva and Google Gemini cards above. Educators can read AI for Teachers 2026: Free Educator Offers Compared, and anyone with a school address can try Edu Email Discounts: Free AI and Dev Tools for Students.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Microsoft 365 $5,000
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
- Get credits via AI Perks. Open the student and education cards at getaiperks.com and start with the Microsoft 365 card.
- Read the card. It shows who qualifies and how to claim, so you do not need to hunt through vendor pages.
- Sign in with your school account. Copilot Chat needs a school or work sign-in, and it is open to higher education students aged 13 and older.
- Ask your IT team which plan you are on. A1, A3 and A5 differ on desktop apps, installs and security.
- Back up your files. Online services stop working when the plan expires.
FAQ
Is Microsoft 365 Education free for students?
The donated Office 365 A1 is free to eligible institutions, and it covers educators and students. Whether you get it depends on your school. The Microsoft 365 card shows who qualifies and how to claim, and AI Perks lists more student offers.
Does A1 include desktop Word?
No. Under A1, Word is online only. A3 and A5 give both desktop and online versions, and A3 lets each user install desktop apps on up to five PCs or Macs. A1 does include PC-only versions of Publisher and Access.
Is Copilot Chat free for every student?
Not every student. Copilot Chat is free with an A1, A3 or A5 license when signed in with a school or work account, but it is open to faculty, staff and higher education students aged 13 and older. Browse the student cards at getaiperks.com for other free AI options.
How much does paid Microsoft 365 Copilot cost?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is $18 per user per month as an academic offering, so the total depends on how many seats the school buys. The school buys it, not students directly. It is an add-on that needs a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription.
What do A3 and A5 cost?
Microsoft does not publish A3 and A5 pricing on its plan pages. Institutions are told to talk to an expert or sales partner, while A1 is donated at no cost. For student-side offers, see the cards at getaiperks.com.
What happens to my files when I leave school?
When the plan expires, desktop apps drop to view-only mode, so you can open documents but not edit or create new ones. Online services tied to the school email, such as Office 365 for the web and OneDrive, stop working, so save copies first.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Microsoft 365 $5,000
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?
Get free AI credits at getaiperks.com →
Find the Microsoft 365 card and more student offers in the AI Perks catalogue.
