If you do not qualify for the credit, don't enter your Form 1098-T or any education expenses. Then you will not have to upgrade TurboTax. You do not have to report your 1098-T if you are not claiming the education credit.
If you got a scholarship, and the scholarship in box 5 of your 1098-T is more than the tuition in box 1, then you do have to report the 1098-T. The difference between the scholarship and the tuition is taxable income. If you have taxable scholarship income you cannot use TurboTax Free Edition.