The Ultimate Student Discount Showdown: TOTUM vs. Student Beans vs. UNiDAYS – Which Is Truly the Best?

The Ultimate Student Discount Showdown: TOTUM vs. Student Beans vs. UNiDAYS – Which Is Truly the Best?

Welcome to the definitive guide on navigating the world of student discounts. If you're a student in the UK, your inbox and social media feeds are likely bombarded with offers from various platforms promising to save you money. The big three names you’ll hear over again are TOTUM, Student Beans, and UNiDAYS.

At first glance, they might all seem to do the same thing: get you a code for 10% off your next online fashion haul. And for many students, that’s enough. But if you stop there, you’re leaving a serious amount of money - and lifestyle benefits - on the table.

The truth is, these three platforms are not created equal. While two are excellent free tools for quick discount codes, one is a comprehensive membership platform designed to be a financial and lifestyle companion throughout your studies and beyond.

In this deep-dive blog post, we’re going to answer the questions that really matter: Which one is the best? How are they fundamentally different? What features does each one bring to the party? And ultimately, which one should you be using based on your personal student life?

Strap in. It’s time to upgrade your savings game.

What Are They? A Quick Overview

Before we declare a winner, let's establish who the players are.

Student Beans and UNiDAYS can be grouped together as the undisputed kings of the "free digital discount app." Their model is simple and effective: they verify your student status digitally (usually via your university email address) and give you access to a massive directory of discount codes for thousands of online and high-street brands. They are free to join, easy to use, and live almost entirely on your smartphone. They are fantastic at what they do, which is connecting students with instant discounts for major brands like ASOS, Nike, Apple, and Samsung.

TOTUM, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely. It is the successor to the legendary NUS extra card and is the only discount platform officially endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS). While TOTUM does offer a free digital version with access to many great discounts, its true power lies in its premium membership tier, TOTUM+.

TOTUM+ is not just a discount app; it's a paid annual membership club. For a small yearly fee (starting from £14.99), it unlocks a suite of powerful financial tools, legal identity features, and lifestyle perks that free apps simply cannot provide. Think of Student Beans and UNiDAYS as excellent free samples, and TOTUM+ as the full-course meal.

How Is TOTUM Different? The Core Philosophy

The fundamental difference between TOTUM and its competitors lies in their purpose. Student Beans and UNiDAYS exist primarily as marketing platforms for brands to reach students. Their primary function is to serve you an advertisement in the form of a discount code.

TOTUM’s philosophy is rooted in its history with the student movement. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive utility card that supports every aspect of student life, not just your online shopping cart. This difference in philosophy plays out in three key ways:

1. Physical vs. Digital:

   In an increasingly digital world, TOTUM understands the value of a physical backup. While it has a slick app, every TOTUM+ member also receives a high-quality plastic card. Why does this matter? Because phone batteries die. Screens crack. Wi-Fi signals fail in basement bars or busy shops. A physical card in your wallet is a failsafe that ensures you never miss out on a discount or get turned away at the door because your technology let you down.

2. Financial Utility vs. Just Discounts:

   A 10% off code is great, but it only saves you money if you were going to spend it anyway. TOTUM+ shifts the focus to putting actual money back into your pocket on your everyday essential spending. Through its integrated Cashback card and exclusive supermarket partnerships, TOTUM helps you save on the boring stuff - like your weekly grocery shop - so you have more money for the fun stuff.

3. Legal Identity vs. Retail Verification:

   This is a massive game-changer. Student Beans and UNiDAYS offer a "digital ID" that proves to a shop assistant that you are a student. That's it. It has no legal standing. A TOTUM+ card, however, comes with the added bonus of a government-backed,

   PASS-accredited proof of age document

   . Recognised by the Home Office and the Police, your TOTUM PASS ID transforms your student card from a simple discount tool into a powerful piece of legal identification that can be used for age-restricted purchases as well as voting, getting tattoos and more.

TOTUM for Apprentices

A key differential for TOUM is their focus on Apprentices - TOTUM+ offers a level of professional recognition that is simply absent from the free digital platforms. While Student Beans and UNiDAYS provide "student" verification that can sometimes feel generic or ill-fitted for those in vocational training, TOTUM+ features a dedicated Apprentice membership developed in collaboration with the National Society of Apprentices (NSOA). This isn't just about getting 10% off a pair of jeans; it is an official recognition of your status as a working professional in training. By choosing TOTUM+, apprentices are supporting the wider apprentice movement in the UK, as a portion of the membership fee helps fund the NSOA’s work in advocating for better pay and conditions for learners across all trades.

Furthermore, the practical utility of TOTUM+ is uniquely suited to the daily life of an apprentice. Unlike a traditional student who may spend most of their time on a single campus, apprentices are often split between college, home, and diverse workplace environments—from construction sites to corporate offices. The integrated PASS-accredited ID is a game-changer here, providing a durable, physical, and legally recognized proof of age that apprentices can carry to work sites or use for age-restricted purchases without risking their passport. Additionally, the TOTUM Cashback card provides tangible financial relief on work-related essentials; while free apps focus on fashion and tech, TOTUM+ allows apprentices to earn real money back on tools and equipment from retailers like B&Q, as well as their weekly food shop, putting hundreds of pounds back into the pockets of those starting their careers on an apprentice wage.

Deep Dive into Features: The Battleground

Now, let's break down the specific features and see how they stack up against each other. This is where the "you get what you pay for" maxim really starts to show.

1. The Discounts: The Bread and Butter

Let’s be clear: if your only goal is to find a discount code for a major online fashion retailer, you will likely find what you need on any of the three platforms.

• Student Beans & UNiDAYS:

  Their strength is in the sheer volume of brand partnerships, particularly in fashion, tech, and beauty. They are incredibly quick at serving up codes for the likes of PrettyLittleThing, Gymshark, and Charlotte Tilbury. If a brand wants to reach students, they are almost certainly on one or both of these platforms.

• TOTUM:

  TOTUM also has hundreds of top-brand discounts, including many of the same big names. However, where TOTUM shines is with its "Plus-only" exclusives. These are boosted discounts or special offers reserved specifically for paid members. For example, you might find an exclusive 20% off at a beauty brand on TOTUM+ while the free sites are offering 15%. TOTUM also leverages its NUS roots to secure unique on-campus deals and partnerships with local independent businesses that you won't find on the national apps.

2. Identity & Security: The TOTUM+ Ace Card

This is arguably the single biggest advantage of a TOTUM+ membership.

As a student, you need to prove your age constantly, at clubs, bars, cinemas, and when buying age-restricted products. Carrying your passport or driving license everywhere is a huge risk. They are expensive to replace and a nightmare to lose on a night out.

• Student Beans & UNiDAYS:

  Their in-app digital IDs are not legal proof of age. A bouncer or shopkeeper is under no obligation to accept them, and many won't. They only prove you are a student for the purpose of getting a retail discount.

• TOTUM+:

  Your physical TOTUM+ card bears the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) hologram. This is the UK’s national guarantee scheme for proof-of-age cards, endorsed by the Home Office, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). This means your TOTUM card is as legally valid for proving your age as a driving license or passport in almost all domestic situations. You can leave your valuable documents safely at home and just take your TOTUM+ card on a night out. That peace of mind alone is worth the membership fee for many.

3. Financial Tools: Cashback is King

This is another area where TOTUM+ offers a tangible financial benefit that the free apps do not.

• Student Beans & UNiDAYS:

  They operate on a discount code model. You enter a code at checkout, and the price drops. It's simple and immediate.

• TOTUM+:

  • When you pay with your TOTUM Cashback card, you automatically earn a percentage of your spend back - up to 14% depending on the retailer.

  • This cashback accumulates in your TOTUM Cashback account before being loaded back onto the card to spend again. It’s real money!

  • For an average student, earning cashback on weekly groceries at Asda or Sainsbury's, plus essentials from Boots and homeware from IKEA, can easily amount to over £200 a year in earned cash. That's a huge return on a £14.99 investment. TOTUM+ introduces a powerful Cashback mechanism. Members get access to a pre-paid Visa cashback card. You load money onto this card and use it for your everyday shopping at over 80 huge retailers, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Primark, IKEA, B&Q, Boots, and John Lewis.

4. The "Double Dip": Stacking Your Savings

This is the ultimate money-saving hack, and it’s only possible with TOTUM+. Because TOTUM provides both discount codes and a payment method that earns cashback, you can often stack them.

Here’s how it works:

1. You find a 10% discount code for Boots on the TOTUM app (or even on UNiDAYS!).

2. You apply that code at the Boots online checkout to reduce the price.

3. You then pay the remaining balance using your TOTUM Cashback card.

4. You earn cashback on that final payment amount.

You’ve effectively saved twice on a single purchase. This "double-dipping" capability is a powerful way to maximise your student status that isn't possible with Student Beans or UNiDAYS alone.

5. International Reach: The Gold Standard

Are you planning on travelling during your holidays, taking a gap year, or doing a semester abroad?

• TOTUM+:

  For students, every TOTUM+ membership includes a free 1-year International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The only globally recognised proof of full-time student status, ISIC is accepted in over 90 countries worldwide, unlocking tens of thousands of international discounts. It’s the "gold standard" for getting student admission rates at world-famous museums, galleries, and heritage sites, as well as discounts on international rail and bus travel.

• Student Beans & UNiDAYS: Both have a presence in multiple countries, and your app may work to get you retail discounts in other regions. However, they do not have the universal recognition of ISIC, especially for cultural and travel-related discounts. A ticket booth at the Louvre in Paris or a train station in Tokyo is far more likely to recognise an official ISIC card than a UNiDAYS app screen.

7. Eligibility: Not Just for Undergrads

Finally, let's look at who can actually join.

• Student Beans & UNiDAYS:

  Their eligibility is generally stricter, focusing on current university and college students (aged 16+) and sometimes recent graduates.

• TOTUM:

  • TOTUM for Students:

    For all higher and further education students (16+).

  • TOTUM for Professionals (formerly TOTUM PRO):

    This is a massive differentiator. It’s for part-time learners, members of professional bodies, royal societies, trade unions and public sector employees. It allows millions of people who are studying for professional qualifications to access student-style benefits. It’s also available for staff working in the education sector including teachers and lecturers, support staff and campus workers TOTUM has a much broader and more inclusive approach.

TOTUM recognises that learning is a lifelong pursuit and that the people who make student life possible deserve perks too.

Which One Should I Use?

This is the million-dollar question. And the honest answer is... use all of them.

There is absolutely no reason to delete Student Beans or UNiDAYS from your phone. They are excellent free resources. Keep them installed. When you're about to buy a new pair of trainers online, take 30 seconds to check both apps to see if one has a better code than the other. They are fantastic tools to have in your digital arsenal.

However, rely on them only for what they are: quick, free access to discount codes.

You should use TOTUM+ as your primary, foundational student membership.

Think of it this way: Student Beans and UNiDAYS are great for saving £5 on a t-shirt. TOTUM+ is designed to save you £500 a year on your life.

You should invest in a TOTUM+ membership because it fills all the massive gaps that the free apps leave behind. It’s the only one that provides:

• Legal, government-backed Proof of Age, keeping your passport safe.

• A reliable physical card that never runs out of battery.

• Cashback on weekly essentials at major supermarkets and retailers.

• A globally recognized ISIC card for travel.

• The ability to "double dip" and stack savings.

For the price of a few coffees a year (£14.99), the return on investment is undeniable. It pays for itself almost immediately.

Which One Would Suit Me?

Let’s look at a few common student personas to see where the value lies for you.

1. The Savvy Saver & Supermarket Shopper

You are living away from home, managing your own budget, and doing a weekly food shop. You are conscious of every pound you spend on essentials.

• Suitability:

  TOTUM+ is essential for you. The ability to earn cashback at Asda and Sainsbury's will save you a significant amount of money on your biggest weekly expense - food. The cashback on household items from IKEA, B&Q, and Boots is another massive bonus. The free apps offer virtually nothing to help with this essential spending.

2. The Night Owl & Socialite

Your student life revolves around societies, nights out, clubbing, and eating out with friends.

• Suitability:

  TOTUM+ is your best friend. The PASS-accredited ID is a game-changer for getting into clubs and buying drinks without risking your passport, while the great selection of dining out deals will save you a fortune on pre-drinks meals, hangover pizzas, and coffee meetups.

3. The World Traveler

You’re planning a summer interrailing trip through Europe, a gap year in Southeast Asia, or a semester abroad in the US.

• Suitability:

  TOTUM+ is a no-brainer. The included free ISIC card is the most valuable travel document a student can have after their passport. It will pay for itself ten times over with discounts on museums, hostels, and transport globally.

4. The Casual Fashion Shopper

You live at home or in catered halls and don't have many bills. You mostly use your student discount for the odd clothes order or tech purchase.

• Suitability:

  You could probably get by with just the free versions of Student Beans, UNiDAYS, and TOTUM. However, even for you, the low cost of TOTUM+ will probably be worth it just for the legal ID and the international discount optons.

• 5. The Professional or Staff Member

You are studying for a professional qualification while working, or you work at a university.

• Suitability:

  TOTUM+ is your only option. Student Beans and UNiDAYS do not cater to you. A TOTUM Professionals or Staff membership is the only way to unlock these kinds of benefits.

The Final Verdict

In the battle for your student wallet, there is no need to choose just one side. The smartest students use every tool available to them.

Keep Student Beans and UNiDAYS on your phone for those quick-fire fashion codes. They are excellent at what they do.

But don't mistake them for a complete solution. To truly maximise your student status, safeguard your identity, and save serious money on the cost of living - from your weekly shop to your nights out and your travels abroad - a TOTUM+ membership is an essential investment. It’s not just another discount app; it’s the ultimate student lifestyle membership that pays for itself many times over.