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.
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Amazon started in founder Jeff Bezos' garage back in 1994 as an online bookstore before evolving into the everything megamart they are today. In the Amazon Textbooks Store, they claim you can save up to 90% on used textbooks, up to 49% on new ones, and up to 60% off eTextbooks. Of course, there are frequent sales on Amazon, so you can keep an eye out or put a book on a wishlist so they'll notify you should the price drop - that is, of course, if you can wait to purchase it.
More than textbooks
Before checking out this list, you no doubt had heard of Amazon since people can purchase everything from household goods to hardware to furniture to clothing - you get the picture. As a result, it's not as easy to navigate Amazon when searching for college textbooks to purchase. If you type "college textbooks" into the search bar, you'll find over 30,000 results. Another option is to go to "books" in the search bar and then use the drop-down menus to navigate to "textbooks" to find their textbook store, complete with categories of textbooks to browse. However, we recommend looking for your specific book by ISBN if you know it, to cut down your browsing time. Once you reach the product listing, it's much easier to explore. Textbook listings display all options sold, including all of the copies in one place so you don't have to wonder if you missed one. Make sure to carefully read the condition on used items to verify what you'll be receiving.
No more rentals
Amazon once offered textbook rentals and eTextbook rentals, but that was discontinued in July 2025. We are disappointed by this change: if you want to rent your books, you'll have to look elsewhere.
Shipping costs may vary
Depending on which books you buy, there can be a charge for shipping on Amazon. If you are getting used textbooks from the marketplace, shipping costs may vary by seller. Products sold by Amazon typically ship free with Prime membership, which students can get at half price.
Discounted Prime program
Knowing that students may purchase a lot of stuff online, Amazon has cleverly created a Prime plan for students or those aged 18-24. Offered at a 50% discount, you must verify your student status (use your school email address) or age (ID or driver's license) to earn the reduced rate, but it provides free delivery on millions of items on their website, as well as access to Prime Video and Amazon Music. It auto-renews at $7.49 per month. Keep in mind that items sold by Amazon directly will typically qualify for the free Prime shipping, while marketplace retailers may charge to ship.
Easy returns for most items
Amazon's return policy is pretty easy when it comes to most items, and textbooks are no exception. Be sure to read the individual item's policy under the add to cart button. The text we looked at offered a 30-day refund/replacement policy with a possible shipping fee when returned. (Another textbook had a slightly different return policy with no shipping fee charged.) The return policy on digital books for Amazon is typically only 7 days if the book has not been read or downloaded.
Sell your used books on their marketplace
If you want to sell your textbooks on Amazon, you will need to create a seller's account. Follow their step-by-step instructions, price your used books competitively, and wait for someone to buy it. If you need the money sooner rather than later, you may want to choose another company which offers direct buybacks for cash.
Competitive prices
The textbook we checked at every online retailer was available to purchase as a new text for $189.97 with free shipping - the lowest price we found. Other versions ranged in price from $119.95 for a printed access code, $164.55 for a used hardcover, and an eTextbook for $94.99. While the digital book cost was significantly higher, the used hardcover was the lowest on our search.
Customers
Amazon is an accredited business with the BBB and has received an "A+" rating. Across online review platforms, all users aren't thrilled with Amazon, giving the company 1.7 out of 5 stars from over 41,000 reviews on Trustpilot. People rant about inadequate customer service and delivery problems. It seems when it works as it's supposed to - and it usually does - those customers don't leave reviews. Alternatively, on Google reviews, the retailer has earned a solid 4.5 stars out of 5 from nearly 17,000 reviewers. While it's true that Amazon has occasional issues with both deliveries and customer service, they wouldn't be as popular as they are if their service was as bad as these reviews indicated. We confidently recommend them as a reliable option for your textbook purchases.
Solid online retail choice for your textbooks
Boasting deep discounts and free shipping for many offerings, Amazon is a great choice for purchasing new, used, and digital textbooks. While they may not have everything you need for class and no longer offer rentals, Amazon is a trustworthy option for students looking to save money on college textbooks.
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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:
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.
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