The Athletic Promo Codes & Coupons February 2026

Your student discount code likely isn't working because it requires external verification through Student Beans, and you haven't completed the status check or it's not linked properly during checkout. Common error messages include "Invalid code" or "Verification required—contact external provider," often seen when users skip the Student Beans portal or use an expired/unverified student ID.

The Athletic's student deal is a 50% off first four years via Student Beans, not a direct promo code entry—it's redeemed externally with full terms like one-time use per account.

Step-by-step fix:

1. Go to Student Beans site, verify your .edu email or student ID
2. Grab the unique code/link from there (not generic ones)
3. At The Athletic checkout, paste it in the promo field before payment—avoid new trials as it conflicts

Timing note: Codes refresh monthly but expire if your student status lapses.

Pro tip: Verify via Student Beans app first for instant access—users save 50% reliably without checkout hassles.

No, The Athletic does not allow combining a free trial with promo codes, as trials auto-apply on signup and block additional discounts per their checkout system. You'll see errors like "Promo code not applicable to trial subscriptions" if you try.

This stems from their policy limiting one discount per account to prevent stacking, common in subscription models like theirs—promo codes apply only to paid annual/monthly plans post-trial. Real user experiences note trials (e.g., 30-day guest passes) override codes like 50% student deals.

Step-by-step workaround:

1. Skip trial signup; go straight to paid subscription page
2. Enter code (e.g., student via Student Beans) in promo box before billing
3. Complete payment—discount shows immediately

Restrictions: New accounts only; no retroactive application. Codes like seasonal ones work best on annual plans.

Pro tip: Check for new codes after your trial expires to potentially get up to 30% off your subscription.

To apply a gift subscription promo code at The Athletic:

1. Visit theathletic.com/gift, pick duration (e.g., 1 year)
2. Add recipient email at checkout
3. Input code in "Promo Code" box—discount applies pre-payment

The Athletic treats gifts as separate from personal subscriptions, with codes (e.g., 50% student) applying sitewide but requiring the recipient's new email; no combining with referrals. Users report success with verified codes up to $99 off annual gifts.

Limits: One code per gift, expires if code is single-use.

Pro tip: Use referral links for gift bonuses—senders get credits, making it a win-win for sports fans.

If The Athletic flags your promo code as expired:

1. Check for a fresh code from sources like Student Beans
2. Log out, use incognito mode, paste new code at checkout
3. If it still fails, email support@theathletic.com with code details

The Athletic issues relatively few promo codes, so they expire quickly; email/single-use ones vanish after redemption. Common scenario: Seasonal codes fail post-holiday.

Timing: Codes are typically active for 1-3 months.

Pro tip: Sign up for The Athletic emails—exclusive single-use codes drop frequently, bypassing public expiration issues.

On The Athletic mobile app:

1. Open app, tap "Subscribe" or the referral link
2. Scroll to checkout, find "Have a promo or referral code?" box
3. Paste code, apply, then complete payment

Referrals work app-wide for new users, crediting referrers post-signup—but must be entered before payment. App users hit "Code invalid" if entered post-subscription or on existing accounts.

Restrictions: New app users only; expires if referrer's quota is reached.

Pro tip: Tap referral links directly in-app notifications—this auto-fills codes, saving manual entry errors for instant rewards.

The Athletic may occasionally offer discount codes, but currently, there are none available. However, customers can still save money by taking advantage of other promotional offers or sales available on the website, or by using credit card points to make purchases.

We couldn't find any available data on how often The Athletic releases new discount codes. Based on historical data, the average time between The Athletic coupon releases is approximately 30+ days. However, this is subject to change and may depend on various factors such as seasonal promotions, product launches, or other marketing initiatives. To stay informed about upcoming discounts and promotions, we recommend checking The Athletic website regularly, subscribing to their email newsletter, and following them on social media.

SimplyCodes is the #1 provider of discount codes for your favorite retailers, such as The Athletic. As the only crowdsourced platform for coupon codes, we have all the latest and accurate codes for over 200,000 stores. Save time and avoid expired codes by checking SimplyCodes for the latest The Athletic discount codes.

The Athletic offers coupons occasionally.

As of Feb 21, 2026, it does not appear that The Athletic has discounts for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. We regularly check for The Athletic's Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, so be sure to check back on this page to find the latest cyber week deals.