Student Discount Platforms: Understanding the Ecosystem
UniStart, UNiDAYS, StudentBeans, and Totum all serve students differently. Here's an honest breakdown of what each platform offers and when to use them.
ISIC card for global discounts (42,000+ in 130 countries)
UniStartComplete Platform
MyUniDays
StudentBeans
Totum
Free 1-year ISIC included
Pricing
Additional Premium Perks
Extra benefits beyond standard discounts
UniStartComplete Platform
MyUniDays
StudentBeans
Totum
TOTUM+: Cashback VISA (up to 14%), free tastecard (£74.98 value), Coffee Club
Showing 27 features
Note: Data accurate as of December 2025. Platform features may change.
All competitor information sourced from official websites and public documentation.
Platform Profiles
What Makes Each Platform Different
UniStart
Complete Student Journey Platform
New Platform 2024
100% Free
What Makes UniStart Different
UniStart is the only UK platform that combines student discounts (like UNiDAYS/StudentBeans),
university application support, student finance guidance, AND a student marketplace where you can list your own business.
Student Discounts + Marketplace
Student discounts like other platforms
PLUS list your own business for free
Peer-to-peer student economy
University Support (Unique)
Free university application support
Student finance guidance (£18k for EU citizens)
Personal education advisor
Best For:
•
Students applying to UK universities who need support
•
EU citizens needing funding guidance (up to £18k available)
•
Student entrepreneurs wanting to list their business
•
Anyone wanting discounts PLUS peer-to-peer marketplace
Largest verified student network - 29M+ users worldwide
Best-in-class user experience (highly rated mobile apps)
800+ premium brand partnerships including Apple, Nike, Amazon
Industry-leading conversion rates (~50% vs typical 10-20%)
What They Don't Offer
Students only - not accessible to general public or non-students
No university application support or admissions guidance
No student finance advice or funding guidance
Cannot list student businesses - corporate brands only
Best For:
Students who shop regularly at major international brands (Apple, Nike, ASOS, Amazon, Sephora)
Use with UniStart: Get university support and marketplace access on UniStart,
then activate UNiDAYS with your .ac.uk email for additional brand discounts.
UniStart: University support + student finance + discounts + marketplace
UNiDAYS: More brand discount codes
Use UniStart for university applications and marketplace, then add UNiDAYS once enrolled for extra brand discounts.
Why can't I list my business on UNiDAYS or StudentBeans?
UNiDAYS and StudentBeans operate on a B2B model - they only work with established brands through formal partnership agreements. Individual students or small businesses can't list themselves.
UniStart is different - we built a marketplace specifically so student entrepreneurs can offer their services and products. It's free to list and you control your own pricing and discounts.
Does UniStart have brand discounts like the other platforms?
Yes! UniStart has student discounts like UNiDAYS and StudentBeans.
The difference: UniStart ALSO adds:
• Student marketplace (list your own business)
• University application support
• Student finance guidance
So you get discounts PLUS these extra features that other platforms don't offer.
Is Totum worth paying for if the others are free?
Only if you regularly shop at Co-op or need a physical student ID card.
Totum's 10% Co-op discount can pay for the £14.99 annual fee in 2-3 months if you spend approximately £40/month there. But if you don't use Co-op, stick with the free platforms (UniStart, UNiDAYS, StudentBeans).
Why should I use UniStart if UNiDAYS has more brand partnerships?
UniStart is designed as a complete student platform with three core pillars:
University application support: Get free personal advisor support and comprehensive student finance guidance throughout your entire application journey
Student marketplace: Connect with fellow students offering services like photography, tutoring, design, and more - a unique community-driven marketplace
Business opportunities: Launch and promote your student side hustle to reach customers within the student community
While UNiDAYS excels at brand partnerships, UniStart combines discounts with the tools you need to get into university and thrive as a student. You can use both platforms together - UniStart for your complete student journey, UNiDAYS for additional brand coverage.
Ready to Start Your University Journey?
Begin with the complete platform: UniStart's free application support,
student finance guidance, discounts, and student marketplace.