As an educator and former teacher, I have had my fair share of experiences with textbooks. The search for affordable options, lugging around heavy books, and the inevitable clutter after the semester is over—we’ve all been there. That’s why I’m delighted to shed some light on a modern solution that addresses these challenges: online textbook rental.
This innovative approach has transformed the way students access their course materials, offering a more cost-effective, convenient, and green alternative to traditional textbook purchases. Over the years, I have had the privilege of exploring various platforms that offer this service and have seen firsthand how this trend is revolutionizing education.
There are many online textbook rental providers and the list below features some of the best out there. These services allow you to rent or purchase print and electronic textbooks. I personally prefer the digital version because they are much more convenient.
Online Textbook Rental
Here are our top picks for online textbook rentals:
1. Amazon
Amazon is one of my favorite online textbooks and book rental services. It allows you to rent books for one semester at a time. Certain titles are available to rent on a monthly basis (for example, 30, 60, 0, or 90 days). You can always extend the rental period, and in case you are late in returning the rented textbooks, the rental period is automatically extended and you are charged for it.
As of April 2023, Amazon has discontinued its print textbook rental service and is maintaining it for digital textbook rentals only.
2. Wiley
Wiley offers an equally important textbook rental service that saves you up to 50% or more. You can keep your print textbook rental for 130 days and for eBook rental you can keep them for 150 days.
One nice feature provided by Wiley is that when you rent a print textbook, you get free access to the eBook for 14 days while your rental ships. Standard shipping and returned textbook rentals are completely free. Use Wiley’s search box to find your textbooks. You can search for titles by ISBN, title, or author name.
3. vital source
VitalSource offers access to an extensive catalog of academic digital content available for both rental and purchase. You can rent e-textbooks for a specific period of time that differs from title to title, or you can purchase lifetime access. My favorite thing about Vital Source is Bookshelf.
This is a built-in e-reader that is packed with comprehensive features, including read aloud, allowing you to listen and follow along as Bookshelf reads to you, a workbook where you can add and edit notes and bookmarks, marginal notes to take online annotations while reading, and many more.
4. ValueBooks
ValorBooks allows you to buy or rent textbooks online from over 18,000 verified sellers and rental providers. The site also offers the ability to sell your textbooks and earn some money from your used course materials. ValoreBooks offers all textbook rentals with free return shipping.
It also offers flexible rental terms including quarter-length (90 days) and semester-long (125 days) rentals. The process to rent a book in ValoreBooks is simple: search for your book by ISBN, author or title; select the rental provider you want to rent your book from; choose how long you want your rental to last; add your rental to your shopping cart; select a shipping method, then enter your payment details.
5.Chegg
Chegg is another popular online textbook rental provider. It offers competitive rental prices that can be as low as $4.99. Some print textbooks also include the option to access their electronic textbook version while waiting for the physical version.
If you need to extend your lease, you can email Chegg before the expiration date for a free extension. “Students can also take advantage of the 21-Day Money-Back Guarantee that allows for free returns within three weeks of ordering should you drop out or change classes.”
