16 Best Websites For Cheap Textbooks 2024

We all know how ridiculously expensive textbooks can be while studying in college. Sometimes, you misplace them or might not even have received any. These books are a crucial part of studies in college as they not only help as a reference, but they help us make notes and a lot more! Textbooks are like the water to our college life. With high prices, students resort to buying second-hand books, and we will help you choose from the best! Let us not waste any more time and dive right into it.

10 Best Websites for Cheap Textbooks

Many websites offer these same books at a lower price, and if you are looking for websites for cheap textbooks, we might have an offer you can't refuse. Here's a list of the best sites to buy college textbooks at a lower rate.

1. Chegg

Best Known For:  Ebooks!
Cost: $6.99 per month
First in line is the giant, Chegg. It is a popular cheap textbook website that gives up to 90% off textbook costs during purchase. They also have an extensive rental programme and ebooks, which allow you to buy cheap textbooks. Furthermore, you can ask a question or discover an online tutorial if you need assistance with your studies. In addition to hardback books, students can rent over 400,000 Ebooks. A 14-day money-back guarantee backs all eBooks. If you want to sell your books after class, you can get a quote, which is a terrific opportunity to make money. If Chegg isn't offering a purchase on a particular book, you can do some good by donating it through the site, making it a great website for cheap textbooks.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Provides rental, used, and new textbooks alongside study guides and tutoring.
• Selection may lack some niche titles or older editions.
• Prices are competitive, with frequent discounts and coupons.
• Convenient one-stop shop for all textbook needs.

2. SlugBooks

Best Known For: Price comparison!
Cost:  Free
SlugBooks, while more limited than other cheap textbook websites, is nonetheless worth a look when looking for cheap college textbook websites. Look for the book you want, then compare the list price to bargains from stores like Amazon, Campus Book Rentals, and Chegg. Click on the desired book or rental pricing, then go to that online store and purchase what you require. SlugBooks also allows you to sell your books. Enter your state and school, then list your textbooks for other students to see and possibly buy, making it a great website for cheap textbooks.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Price comparison tool, no extra features.
• Displays lowest prices from different retailers.
• Compares prices across various retailers, not just their own.
• Limited to books from partner retailers.

3. Stuvia

Best known for: summaries of textbooks
Cost: Free
Stuvia is not your average textbook website, but definitely worth a look if you are looking for a faster way of studying your textbooks. Here, you can access study resources created by fellow students to complement your textbooks. Instead of just buying textbooks, you can grab summaries, study guides, and notes customized for your courses. Stuvia also allows you to sell your study notes or textbook summaries! Either way, you're tapping into a community of students who share their knowledge to help each other succeed in their studies.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Online marketplace for buying and selling study resources for textbooks
• No monthly costs or subscriptions: just pay for the docs you need
• A community of students who share their knowledge to help each other succeed
• Study resources customized for your courses

4. ValoreBook

Best Known For: marketplace for selling used books!
Cost: Free
If you're googling where to buy cheap textbooks, ValoreBooks is one of the best cheap textbook websites, and for a good reason! It has reasonable costs for renting or purchasing college textbooks and the ability to sell your books. To begin your search, enter the ISBN, title, or author, and you should get options right beneath the search box. The cost for new and old textbooks will then be displayed. You can also view the pricing for different editions of the same book, including overseas, teacher, or earlier editions. Once you find a book you wish to purchase, add it to your shopping basket. Otherwise, scroll down to discover other marketplace prices, including shipping details and fees. ValoreBooks is a convenient and quick way to acquire cheap college textbooks online. With a little research, you can save up to 90% on most titles.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Online marketplace for buying and selling used textbooks.
• Wide variety, including older editions and international versions.
• Requires searching through individual listings.
• Buyback program, a textbook exchange forum, and price negotiation.
• Best for finding the cheapest used books.

5. AbeBooks

Best Known For: Guaranteed Savings!
Cost: Free
AbeBooks is one of the eBay discount textbook sites. It is a famous website for cheap textbooks from thousands of independent merchants since 1996. Buyers can order new or used books, including older versions that may be hard to find elsewhere. You can also look for textbooks with free shipping. They guarantee 50-90% savings. Their explanation of an ISBN is very beneficial for first-time online book buyers. If, for example, you are dissatisfied with the state of your book, you have one month from the date of delivery to return it, making it one of the best websites for cheap textbooks.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Marketplace for used and rare books, including textbooks.
• Vast selection, especially for older editions niche titles.
• Prices set by individual sellers are often the cheapest.
• Requires searching through individual listings.
• Buyback program, advanced search filters.
• Best for finding hard-to-find books at potentially the lowest price, but it requires effort.

6. Rakuten

Best Known For: Cost-effective and convenient!
Cost: Free
Rakuten has everything, so it's another great cheap textbook website for college textbooks. You can filter the huge amount of cheap college textbooks they offer by searching by free delivery, price range, genre, subject, and publisher. Its simplicity makes it a great cheap textbook website.

By purchasing from these sites, you are managing your money properly while saving on textbooks. Other money management methods exist, and our blog on money management hacks will show you how to use them.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• A large selection includes older editions or niche titles.
• Prices set by sellers are often lower due to competition.
• Requires searching through individual listings.
• Features like coupons, cashback rewards, and price negotiation.
• Great for finding the cheapest used books, but it requires effort and may have condition variability.

7. Textbooks.com

Best Known For: Compare prices while viewing the book's condition!
Cost: Free
Textbooks.com is one cheap textbook website. As with the others, begin by entering the ISBN, title, or author. Then, look through your search results for both new and old books. The wonderful thing about Textbooks.com is that you can compare pricing while viewing the book's condition. You may readily locate cheap college textbooks, whether new, like new, or in acceptable condition. Today, the marketplace offers over ten million titles and free shipping on orders of $25 or more. It can save up to 70% or more on your desired book. Consider purchasing digital textbooks to save even more money. This way, you can have them immediately without paying for delivery, making it a great website for cheap textbooks.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Compares prices from different retailers for new, used, and rental books.
• Limited to partner retailers, not as extensive as specialized sites.
• Shows the lowest prices but might not always be the cheapest.
• Requires visiting multiple websites to buy.
• Primarily a price comparison tool with basic features.

8. Knetbooks

Best Known For: Sending reminders and discounts for more convenience!
Cost: Free
Knetbook is a cheap textbook website that only provides rentals and claims up to 85% off standard pricing. Shipping is free in both directions, and you can sign up for text message updates to track your order and receive due date reminders. They also allow you to extend your due date. They will also periodically text you discount codes, making Knetbooks a great website for cheap textbooks. You can easily find cheap college textbooks here.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Only rents textbooks, no options for buying new or used books.
• Competitive rental prices with discounts available.
• Mainly, stocks of popular textbooks lack niche titles or older editions.
• Focuses solely on renting and lacks additional educational resources.

9. Amazon

Best Known For: Most reliable website for cheap textbooks!
Cost: Free
Regarding cheap textbook websites, Amazon has long been regarded as one of the best places to purchase college textbooks. It has thousands of titles in every subject imaginable, from science and maths to business. Search for new or used textbooks by author, title, or topic, then compare prices on Amazon. Some books are free to download on Kindle, while others can be rented. Remember that if you have Amazon Prime, you can save money on shipping and get your book soon. Alternatively, look into Amazon Prime Student for additional advantages and education bargains tailored specifically to students.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Offers new, used, and rental textbooks with a wide product range.
• Huge selection, including new releases and older editions.
• Competitive prices with frequent discounts.
• A one-stop shop with Prime benefits.
• Features like textbook buyback, reviews, and rental return labels.
• Convenient option with a good selection and prices, but not always the cheapest.

10. eBay

Best Known For: More vendors, more options!
Cost:  Free
eBay is one of the greatest cheap textbook websites because it has many vendors. You can get new and second-hand textbooks, especially older editions if you can use them. If you bid, you will also experience the excitement of an auction. The downsides are the time commitment required for auctions and the potential for lengthy shipment waits. The seller's pricing determines the amount you save. You can easily find cheap used textbooks and even new ones.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• General online marketplace with various sellers.
• Wide variety of products from individuals and businesses.
• Prices vary, potentially cheaper than specialized sites.
• Different conditions, relying on seller descriptions.
• Requires searching through individual listings.
• Includes bidding system and seller reviews.

11. Perlego

Best Known For: Unrestricted access to millions of books!
Cost: £12 monthly
Perlego provides unrestricted access to its ebook catalogue. They provide a 14-day free trial for students, after which you pay £12 monthly (they are situated in the United Kingdom). You can also get a perlego student discount and save some bucks on the subscription. The software allows you to highlight, bookmark, and annotate.  You cannot, however, read anything offline. When the semester is finished, return your rentals and sell your books on any of the sites listed above. You might also try selling used college textbooks here, which makes it one of the best websites to get textbooks for cheap.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Subscription service for e-textbooks from different publishers.
• Fixed monthly fee for unlimited access.
• Read on any device with the internet.
• No ownership access during subscription.
• Features like offline reading and note-taking.
• Suitable for heavy readers needing multiple e-textbooks.

12. DiscoverBooks

Best Known For: All kinds of books!
Cost: Free
DiscoverBooks is another cheap textbook website that offers a collection of books, from popular fiction to nonfiction, crafts, and hobbies. This platform also offers great discounts if you buy books in bulk! DiscoverBooks also offers a buyback concept, where you can get money for books you no longer need!
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Offers new, used, and international textbooks.
• Wide variety, including new releases.
• Buyback program for selling textbooks.
• Free shipping over $45.
• Rewards program for frequent buyers.

Best Platforms For EBooks

13. Project Gutenberg

Best Known For: Fiction Content
Cost: Free
Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to create and distribute ebooks free of cost. If you're looking for text in the public domain, this website will certainly give you that. It primarily offers fiction content from the Western culture and is one of the best platforms for Humanities students in particular.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Provides free ebooks from the public domain.
• Completely free downloads.
• Easy to browse and download.
• Limited features, mainly for ebooks.
• Ideal for free classic literature, not textbooks.

14. Mobilism

Best Known For: Full access to a variety of topics and fields!
Cost: Free
If you're looking for content regarding literature and biology, then Mobilism is the best platform to consider. Mobilism offers a range of textbooks, from introductory courses to advanced studies. It is one of the most preferred digital libraries, as students can post specific requests according to their requirements. It's also a great platform to read novels!

15. Archive.org

Best Known For: Finding deleted content!
Cost: Free
Archive.org, as the name suggests, is a platform where people can access all deleted content. For instance, if you're looking for deleted YouTube videos or deleted documents, you can find them here. Mostly, students use this platform to back up their digital textbooks. The best part is that this website lets you download content in different formats.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Non-profit library with free textbooks online
• Offers scanned textbooks, mainly older editions
• Completely free access
• Download or borrow online
• Needs internet and a compatible device
• Provides books in PDF or other digital formats
• Also offers music, movies, and software

16. BookBoon

Best Known For: Paradise for engineers!
Cost: $6-$7
Bookboon is an online publishing platform focusing primarily on engineering-related content, so it may not benefit a larger audience. However, for engineering students, this website is an actual boon. With this website, you can find content related to engineering, law, mathematics, natural sciences, and many more. One of the drawbacks, however, is that eventually, you will have to pay a subscription fee of around $6-$7.
Why is this cheap textbook site different?

• Provides free digital textbooks for higher education.
• Emphasizes Open Educational Resources (OERs).
• No fees, fully free.
• Only available in digital format.
• Limited additional features.
• Ideal for niche subjects or self-improvement.

Best Ways to Find Cheap Textbooks for College

1. Utilise Textbook Borrowing: Ask your friends and classmates, or use your school's library to borrow textbooks for free. You can also check if there are any textbook rental programs at your school.
2. Utilise Price Comparison Aggregators: Use websites like "BookFinder" or "BigWords" to compare prices from different online stores. This way, you can find the cheapest options for buying or renting textbooks.
3. Enroll in a Membership Program: Consider signing up for Amazon Prime Student or a similar program. These memberships offer discounts and free shipping on textbooks and other items. It can save you money in the long run.
We hope this list of cheap textbook websites helps you with your education going forward. If you are saving on textbooks, how about saving money on groceries, too? Our blog on how to save money on groceries will teach you exactly that.