Do colleges and universities still use print textbooks, or are they mostly digital?

You'll probably find a mixture of both. At some schools, you can choose whichever format you prefer (and, according to The New York Times, 50% of students prefer a print textbook!).

How much do textbooks cost?

You won't be surprised to hear that books can be free, like certain open source online textbooks, but some can cost as much as $1,000 or more! The College Board recommends that students plan on setting aside $1,200 each year for textbooks and course materials.

Why would I buy my textbooks online instead of my campus bookstore?

Your campus bookstore will likely be selling the textbooks at full retail value, or maybe even with a bit of a markup. And, even if they offer used books, you'll be competing with everyone else at your school to get a copy. Shopping online lets you get the exact same books for the best available price.

Can I buy good used textbooks online?

Absolutely. Most online textbook stores make it easy to determine the condition of any title you need, and you can even get them in new or like-new condition - at a fraction of the price you'd pay for a brand-new text at your college bookstore.

How much will I pay for shipping?

That depends on the textbook store you use and how quickly you need the book. Many providers offer free shipping for economy shipping, with options to upgrade if you want to get it faster.

Is it true that I can rent my textbooks instead of buying them?

Yes! Both print and digital textbooks can be rented through many textbook stores. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before choosing the rental option: you'll want to know if you're allowed to mark up the book or save any of your digital notes, when your rental period will end, and any instructions you'll need to follow to return the textbook when the class finishes.

What if the textbook comes and isn't what I needed? Can I exchange it or get a refund?

Most textbook stores know that students may buy a textbook they wind up not needing: classes get cancelled or dropped, the wrong edition is ordered, and so on. You typically have a risk-free return period of anywhere from 14-21 days from the purchase date, so you'll need to time your purchase carefully (ordering enough in advance that the title is available, but not so far ahead that you can't return it once the class starts).

Are online textbook stores legitimate?

Without a doubt. Some textbook stores have been in business for a decade or more, with excellent customer ratings and a strong reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Buying your textbooks online can save you a significant amount of money and hassle!

Best College Textbook Stores for December 2025

Item: The Best College Textbook Stores - Summary Reviews
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Friday, December 12th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2025 College Textbook Store Reviews

Where can you find the cheapest college textbooks online? With education costs on the rise, college students are seeking ways to save money wherever possible. However, a person can only eat so much ramen soup or mac and cheese. Enter the online textbook marketplace.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Textbooks

Shipping is free for orders over $25
Offers 30-day returns
Some books have guaranteed cash back offers when you re-sell to them

Read Full Review

EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Textbooks website

For nearly 20 years, Textbooks has existed as a place to find college textbooks at low prices. Listing more used, new, and eTextbooks than any other retailers, they also offer a marketplace of third-party sellers to help you get the book you need. Free standard shipping is available for most orders, and hassle-free returns are permitted for 30 days without a restock fee. When you add on the guaranteed buy-back option for select books, Textbooks ranks at the top of our list of recommended online retailers for college texts.

4.5

GREAT

Great

eCampus

Standard shipping free for orders over $35
Return label provided for rentals
Rental options offered

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.5

On the eCampus website

Since 1999, eCampus has been at the forefront of online textbook sales, providing multiple ways for college students to get the texts they need at a good price. Offering a price match guarantee with one competitor and a rewards program that benefits repeat customers, eCampus is one of our favorite options for getting required textbooks. Thousands of happy customers rank them highly, and we do too.

4.0

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Amazon

Very competitive prices
Excellent selection
Most qualify for free shipping

Read Full Review

VERY GOOD

4.0

On the Amazon website

Mega online retailer Amazon started selling books over thirty years ago and continues to be a competitive place to purchase textbooks online. With some of the lowest prices around for purchasing used college-level books, they provide free shipping on most orders. With an even larger selection as a result of their marketplace offerings, and easy returns for purchases directly from Amazon, we recommend them as a great place to check out for your new, used, and eTextbook needs.

3.5

GOOD

Good

Better World Books

Free standard shipping with $15 order
Mostly used books
576,000 5-star reviews

Read Full Review

GOOD

3.5

On the Better World Books website

A Certified B Corporation started in 2002, Better World Books has an excellent reputation and an impressive collection of new and used books. Prices and condition of books vary, though their textbook selection can be limited. While you can easily get free shipping and additional discounts and rewards, you may not find all of your classes' textbooks at Better World Books, earning this store a slightly above average rating from us.

3.4

GOOD

Good

Knetbooks

Standard shipping is free
Return label provided for rentals
Rent for short-term, quarterly, or semester

Read Full Review

GOOD

3.4

On the Knetbooks website

Started in 2009, Knetbooks is a bookstore that also rents textbooks. We appreciate their flexible rental program and money-saving measures, but it's important to note that this once-favorite online retailer of college textbooks has had some customers crying foul in recent months. That feedback has brought Knetbooks down to just an above-average option.

3.0

AVERAGE

Average

Valore Books

Free standard shipping
Books may be purchased new or used, or rented in hard copy or eTextbook
Return shipping labels included for rentals

Read Full Review

AVERAGE

3.0

On the Valore Books website

For nearly 25 years, Valore has provided one of the largest online college textbook marketplaces. Offering new and used print books, as well as digital texts, Valore not only sells books but also rents them to students. Shipping time isn't guaranteed, and their stock seems limited. Also of concern is the high number of negative reviews they have received, leading us to rank Valore as just average.

2.5

FAIR

Fair

BiggerBooks

Free standard shipping on orders over $59
Return label for rentals provided
Rentals may be extended or purchased

Read Full Review

FAIR

2.5

On the BiggerBooks website

If you're looking for cheap textbooks, BiggerBooks says they have the books for your purchasing or rental needs. In business since 2001, the online retailer offers free shipping for some orders and allows returns with a restock fee. However, their website could use a serious update and customers are unhappy with the service received, placing them below average on our list of online textbook retailers.

2.0

SUBPAR

Subpar

TextbookX

Free economy shipping on orders over $79
Purchase new, used, or eTextbooks from them or the marketplace
Rentals may be available

Read Full Review

SUBPAR

2.0

On the TextbookX website

Selling millions of new and used books at a discounted price, TextbookX claims to save you up to 90%, which was not our experience. The website is extremely difficult to navigate, and shipping is only free on larger orders. Returns incur a fee and customer reviews have declined since we last reviewed this company. As a result, we recommend looking at other options before using TextbookX.

1.5

WEAK

Weak

Pearson

Rental terms of digital eTextbooks are 6 months in length
eTextbooks may be purchased
Digital texts allow users to search, highlight, and take notes plus use digital flashcards and audiobook options

Read Full Review

WEAK

1.5

On the Pearson website

If you need a college text from established education publisher Pearson, it may be available as one of the 2000 eTextbooks on their digital platform (no print options here). While you can choose to rent or purchase the eTextbooks, users complain of difficulties interacting on the company's website and app, leaving students frustrated and even locked out of their study materials. While Pearson may provide significant savings compared to others when renting their eTextbooks, the rants from reviewers lead us to tell you to avoid this technical headache and look elsewhere.

1.0

POOR

Poor

eFollett

Standard shipping starts at $7.99 and some permit on-campus pick-up
Free return label for rentals
Permitted to use financial aid to rent textbooks

Read Full Review

POOR

1.0

On the eFollett website

Follett has been a name in education since 1873. However, limited offerings at campus bookstore prices put their eFollett stores at the bottom of our list. They simply don't offer all of the books used across the country, and their return policy is stingy. While we like their free on-campus pickup option, it's not enough to compel us to shop here for our required college textbooks.

Continued from above...

Where Can You Find the Cheapest College Textbooks Online?

With education costs on the rise, college students are seeking ways to save money wherever possible. However, a person can only eat so much ramen soup or mac and cheese. Enter the online textbook marketplace.

Instead of visiting the school's bookstore where books will cost the most, countless students are turning to online options to purchase their required textbooks prior to the start of class. These retailers provide unique money-saving options, such as rental titles, eTextbooks, and used books, often at significant savings for students across the country.

Not only can you save money by purchasing a used textbook, but you may even be able to slash costs with a rental text. When deciding between purchasing and renting textbooks, keep your end goal in mind: what will you be doing with the text while you have it and after you are finished using it? Those who don't need to reference a text for a future class may find that renting suits them just fine.

Some companies will even offer multiple rental time periods to meet students' needs. However, if you like to highlight, you should purchase a book, as many companies do not want you to write in their books (though some do permit a limited amount - be sure to read the rental agreement). However, if a book comes with CDs or access codes, your rental (or used textbook) likely won't include them.

Another option many textbook companies have started to offer is digital books or online access to materials. This can keep costs down and reduce landfill waste. But, some people read better from hard copies of books and would like a chance to recoup some of their textbook costs by reselling a used textbook, which isn't possible with digital options.

There are many factors to consider when comparing online retailers for college textbooks. Here are the top ones on our list:

Cost. Why spend more than necessary on your textbooks? When two books are identical and only the price differs, it's a no-brainer: go with the less expensive option. However, some online retailers have bulk discounts or rewards programs, making it a little trickier to decide which copy to purchase - and be aware of any "service fees" or "digital access fees" added at checkout at some vendors. Keep in mind the condition of the book you're buying as well, if you want to try to resell it to recoup some of your book budget.
Selection. Many online retailers we reviewed only sell textbooks and thus have a larger selection. If you want one-stop shopping, you'll have to choose one of those options. To save some money, you may be willing to look at multiple retailers, and that's a valid choice as well, especially when free shipping is offered.
Shipping. When you're spending this kind of money, you want to cut costs where you can. Some retailers offer free shipping options with minimum purchases while others have a per-item add-on charge. Make sure you know what you're paying regarding shipping when you compare textbook prices. Speed of shipping can also come into play if you're shopping close to the first day of class.
Return policy. Buying the wrong edition, dropping a class, or having the instructor change course materials on the first day of class - all of these can be costly mistakes if you buy from a retailer without a return policy you feel comfortable with. Some charge restock fees while others are more lenient. Similarly, the return window that retailers offer will vary.
Access codes and bonus materials. If you need a textbook with an online access code, a DVD, or other learning materials, you may need to focus on purchasing a new copy. Most rentals and used books do not include these features.

To help save you time and money, we at Top Consumer Reviews have sifted through the most popular online textbook retailers. Check out our top choices, order your class materials, and get back to the business of learning.