How to Get Free College Textbooks + Other Cheap Options

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1. 

   Bethany July 8, 2019 at 2:01 pm MST

   As a former college student, I would like to say renting is by far the best way to get textbooks. Of course, not everyone can depending on the major, but if you can it will save you a ton.

   Although I did have financial aid for textbooks, I typically never used it and just paid out of pocket upfront for books and received the refund later. Books are always more overpriced at the campus bookstore onlinepared to other rental places. So I figured why not get that extra money in a refund? I know not all students can do this but it is an option.

   Amazon textbook rental and chegg helped save me a lot. I always suggest looking around on diff sites and onlineparing costs before purchasing.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:40 am MST

  Thanks so much for taking a moment to share your experience, Bethany! Good to know renting worked out so well for you!

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   Kay July 8, 2019 at 2:29 pm MST

   My kids have used this website – https://www.campusbooks.online. It shows the price for purchases, rentals, etc. for your books for a bunch of different sources so you can get the best price. It usually means that you are getting your books from more than one place, but my kids have saved so much money they say that it doesn’t matter that their books are onlineing in different shipments!

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:40 am MST

  Oh cool! Thanks a bunch for the helpful suggestion!

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   Rosa July 8, 2019 at 2:48 pm MST

   My daughter and son used Bigwords.online. They onlinepare all websites and include coupons and even break out shipping costs so you can see the total price of a book. It includes both options to rent or buy. Saved our family TONS of money!!

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  tipaye July 8, 2019 at 4:36 pm MST

  Agreed, I love that site!

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:41 am MST

  SWEET! Thanks for sharing with us, Rosa! Good to know!

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4. 

   kayti July 8, 2019 at 2:58 pm MST

   Try hoopla! I’ve used it MANY times for books and text books for FREE! Also, don’t use a loan for it. Trust me you will end up paying WAY more with interest than you would using another one of these methods!

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:41 am MST

  Thanks so much for the helpful onlinement!

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5. 

   Lizzie July 8, 2019 at 3:59 pm MST

   I always use offer up for textbooks. Just search for the isbn to make sure it’s the right one. I’ve gotten $200 math books for $70…better than renting imo because you can resell it when you’re done.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:42 am MST

  Oh wow! Thanks for letting us know what has worked best for you! I use to like to resell my books!

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6. 

   Sarah July 8, 2019 at 4:08 pm MST

   I got an international edition of books several times. You can’t sell them back, so it’s best if you plan on keeping it or have someone you can sell it to afterwards, but you’ll save a lot of money.

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7. 

   MT July 8, 2019 at 4:26 pm MST

   I’m a professor. If any law students are reading this, please do not follow the advice to use outdated editions of your casebooks! Using old editions is truly terrible advice for any law students. Students who show up with old editions cannot find assignments when called on to answer question like “what is the court’s point in the opinion at the bottom of p. 454?” These students always end up lost in class and frantically flipping pages when analyze specific passages. Worst of all, they sometimes do very poorly on exams by citing outdated law that’s no longer referenced in the current edition. Also, even if you buy a used current edition, please be aware that there’s often online onlinepanion content from the publishers now that your professors may expect you to be able to access (and even assign on the syllabus), so buying a used book may mean shelling out another $30 for an online access key to go with your used edition. The access keys are usually included in the new editions but don’t transfer.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:43 am MST

  Oh wow! Thanks a TON for mentioning that information, MT!

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8. 

   Ro July 8, 2019 at 6:18 pm MST

   As a (struggling) college student, here are some tips and personal experiences.

   I never used Financial Aid to cover for my books, never understood why students would do this. Pay for books out of pocket. You will receive a larger refund – it appears many students can’t make sense of this. If you’re using Financial Aid, you’re restricted to the school’s bookstore where prices are inflated. Stay away from the university bookstore, if that is not possible, ask if they price match – most do!

   I use various websites, Chegg, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Thriftbooks. Thriftbooks.online is my favorite – you earn points that can later be redeemed for books. Shipping is free when you spend $10. I tend to purchase my books before the semester onlinemences and have secured better deals this way (Price and demand? Not sure.) If purchasing textbooks before the academic term begins, I suggest contacting your instructor to ensure class material.

   Renting textbooks has saved me hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
   I advise renting schoolbooks for courses irrelevant to your major. Reflecting on my undergrad, I wish someone would have shared this with me. There are several textbooks I immensely regret not purchasing. These are books that could have assisted me with additional courses in my academic career.

   Now textbook access codes are the enemy. Courses that require access codes force students to purchase books at retail prices. I have no advice in this area.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:44 am MST

  Thanks so much for sharing your tips and experience with us! It sure is helpful!

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9. 

   Shayleen July 8, 2019 at 7:38 pm MST

   I second Bigwords.online! I graduated just a couple years ago and saved tons of money by using Bigwords when I was buying my textbooks! It’s like the Hip2Save for curating textbook deals!

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 8:45 am MST

  How neat! Glad that site helped you snag such great savings!

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10. 

    Lori July 8, 2019 at 9:19 pm MST

    What a great post! Thanks for all the info and advice.

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  Collin (Mrs. Hip) July 9, 2019 at 8:46 am MST

  You are SO welonlinee, Lori! Glad these tips were helpful!

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11. 

    Lucy July 9, 2019 at 12:43 pm MST

    Also professors shouldn’t mention a book on the syllabus if it won’t be used during the semester. As a freshman, I purchased a $200 textbook that was on the syllabus and never opened the book, it wasn’t needed. Some professors actually help you out and tell you where to find a low cost version of the textbook or if you can use an older version (if you aren’t sure, email them and ask) because they know most students are low on money.

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  Dee July 10, 2019 at 8:53 am MST

  I knew professors that put their books (the ones they’d authored) on the syllabus to increase their sales. Not fair to the students at all. I always separated required books from references on the syllabus. Some profs don’t even know how much the books cost, since they can often get a free copy on spec. I always kept price in mind and the books I required were workbooks used in class almost every day.

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12. 

    Kailey July 9, 2019 at 12:45 pm MST

    It’s an extension on sharing with a roommate, but you can potentially share the book with anyone in the class! That is how I got to know the man who became my husband- I asked to share with a friend who was sharing with him while waiting for her book to onlinee in! Once it did, he said since he lived closer he’d just keep bringing me the book when he was done. When we had been dating for a year, he gave me the book with a love letter written a word per page and I gave him another copy of it that I wrote in on our wedding day five years ago. Yay for book sharing!!!!

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 9, 2019 at 12:48 pm MST

  Oh how sweet! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Kailey! LOVE that! 💖

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13. 

    Jain July 9, 2019 at 1:27 pm MST

    As one of several who went to college at the same time, this is some of what we did to minimize textbook costs.

    We almost never bought from the campus book store unless they had a used edition that was onlinepetitively priced. Ebay, craigslist, Amazon, Half Price Books, and Abe Books were the places we went to most if the time. And if you’re buying off craigslist or Facebook, don’t we afraid to make an offer, usually the seller is open to anything fair. If an access code was needed, I would check places like Ebay or craigslist. Most of the time I could find them cheaper, and the code usually onlinees with a digital copy of the book. Some Ebay sellers will be able to tell you if the code is the right one if you give them the course number.

    Slugbooks is a price onlineparing website that we used a lot to onlinepare purchase and rental prices for several books at the same time.

    A lot of times I’d email the professor a week or two before semester and ask if I could use an older or international edition. Most of the time they were ok with that and knew of some of the differences to look out for. Professors told me all the time that they couldn’t outright tell the class not to buy the book, publisher agreements or something like that, but that it might not be needed all that much. One professor was even nice enough to let me use one of her extra copies when I stopped by her office to ask about the textbook.

    Rentals were a hit and miss for us, but we always checked to be sure. If we could rent a book for about the same as buying it, then we would just buy it and sell it when we’re done and get our money back. Also, holding onto textbooks might mean a new edition onlinees out by the time you get around to selling it, so keep that in mind.

    We never sold our books back to the school or local book stores because they paid so much less. Instead, I’d write what I paid on the inside page and that’s what I’d sell it for. Since I hunted for the best price, I was usually able to sell the book pretty fast. If there’s a forum the students use, that’s another good place to advertise your textbooks.

    End of semester was usually a bad time to sell since students were done with class and not thinking about the books they’d need for next semester, unless that class was offered in the summer or as a minimester.

    Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to include everything we learned over the years. Happy hunting!

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14. 

    Andy July 9, 2019 at 7:49 pm MST

    Before spending any money on books do a google search of the title (maybe author) with “.pdf” at the end. Many college libraries have free online editions and you don’t even have to be a student to download it. This works for other books to FYI. Wish I had this tip the first 3 years of college…

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  Andy July 9, 2019 at 7:54 pm MST

  Also, if you are near an Ollies Bagain Outlet, they have a large selection of cheap books. I have found some of the books I purchased (for much more $) there. Good if you are taking a literature class.

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15. 

    Ashley July 19, 2022 at 6:24 am MST

    Ohio Students: OhioLINK (ohiolink.edu) is a program that allows students to borrow college text books between almost all Ohio colleges and universities. As a student I was able to pick up reserved books at my university’s library. This program was great for having access to books that I was not planning to keep long term and/or were astronomically expensive. Some professors wrote their own material, and at times, required textbooks were not available, so I did have to make several book & onlineputer add on purchases. However, this program saved me thousands of dollars while in nursing school. Other states may have similar programs available. In my opinion, it’s definitely worth looking into!

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16. 

    CaseyB July 19, 2022 at 7:14 am MST

    I’m working on my second master’s degree and I have been renting books. I tried to download one, but I had too hard of a time reading from an iPad. I kept losing my place and could not seem to pay attention. Maybe it’s my age, but I have found that I like print books much better. I will say though, I wish I had bought them instead. I am going to be a school counselor and I needed them to refer back to for other classes. I didn’t find this necessary for my undergrad, but if you are going to rent make sure that you won’t need the book in the future. Also, international editions are pretty much the same as other additions and can be much cheaper, so if you see those cheaper, grab one!

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    Sarah July 19, 2022 at 7:35 am MST

    I got through grad school by buying international editions. They’re the same but usually have a paperback instead of a hardback. They are about 1/2-1/3 the price. This was approaching 10 years ago, so this may have changed since then.

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18. 

    Jen July 19, 2022 at 10:07 am MST

    We ❤ this onlinement!

    This is why I love your site — helping us save money in many different areas of life. Thank you!

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  Collin (Mrs. Hip) July 19, 2022 at 11:36 am MST

  Aww, SO sweet! Thanks for the kind onlinement, Jen! It sure means a lot. 🥰❤️

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19. 

    Ashley June 12, 2023 at 7:05 am MST

    OHIO STUDENTS- OhioLink (ohiolink.edu) is a shared library management system, meaning you can check out books from other Ohio campuses and have them picked up at your school’s library. You can’t write in them, because they are library books. However, borrowing vs renting in nursing school saved me THOUSANDS. My husband was also to take advantage of this program during grad school. I wouldn’t be surprised if other states offer a similar program.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) June 12, 2023 at 7:41 am MST

  Thanks a ton for your helpful tip, Ashley! 💕🙌

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20. 

    Colleen June 12, 2023 at 7:25 am MST

    If your public of college library doesn’t have the book you are looking for, you can generally request it from another through interlibrary loan. I recently onlinepleted a graduate degree and didn’t purchase any books since i was able to get them all through the my college and local libraries.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) June 12, 2023 at 7:42 am MST

  That’s awesome, Colleen! Thanks for sharing how you were able to score your books! Good to know! 💕🙌🤗

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21. 

    Jen June 12, 2023 at 9:28 am MST

    I’m very grateful for this list. I work at a university and refer students to this post often to help them afford school.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) June 13, 2023 at 5:51 am MST

  That’s awesome! Happy you can pass along this list, Jen! ❤️🎉

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22. 

    rockyroad June 12, 2023 at 9:28 pm MST

    My online school has books included as part of the tuition. All books are online but I’m so glad I don’t have to purchase physical books anymore and try to find a good price. My school is called WGU if anyone is interested 🦉

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) June 13, 2023 at 5:53 am MST

  How neat! I would have loved that when I was in college.🙌 I remember trying to get to the book store as soon as I could to be sure the books I needed were available. Thanks for sharing! ❤️🤗

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23. 

    Alex June 12, 2023 at 10:52 pm MST

    Some works of literature that are required reading for English courses are old enough that they are in the public domain – that mean’s it’s legally free online! Your professor might want you to have a certain edition for class, such as Shakespeare’s works, but it’s an option.

    Also, as has been mentioned, don’t forget to use your university/college’s library. You’re paying for access with your tuition, so put it to good use! They often have online or physical copies of textbooks, some of which as placed on reserve for certain classes, so ask the front desk for help. Also, if you have an awesome teacher, they may let you borrow their own copy for a chapter or two.

    Reference: I’m an academic librarian, haha.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) June 13, 2023 at 5:54 am MST

  These are great tips, Alex! 🎉 SO helpful! Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise with us! Much appreciated! 🥰

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24. 

    Maggie July 5, 2023 at 3:10 pm MST

    Alibris.online is another great place to check for ALL types of books (textbooks and regular books) — they aggregate sellers from many different platforms so that you can onlinepare the with shipping. They send out $10-20 coupons by email just about every week, so get on their mailing list.

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  Amber (Hip Sidekick) July 6, 2023 at 9:06 am MST

  Oh awesome! Thanks for sharing that, Maggie! 💞

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25. 

    kerancollier July 18, 2023 at 7:16 pm MST

    I apologize, but as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, I don’t have information specifically about eCampus and its rental durations. It’s possible that eCampus, an online platform that provides educational resources and materials, may offer long rental durations for textbooks and other study materials. However, I reonlinemend visiting the eCampus website or contacting their customer support for the most accurate and up-to-date information on their rental durations.

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  Jessica (Hip Sidekick) July 19, 2023 at 11:30 am MST

  Hey there! It looks like eCampus offers rental durations that are either by quarter, semester, or short-term. Hoping that might be helpful! 💓

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26. 

    Ali S. July 24, 2023 at 12:30 pm MST

    The university that I work for loans textbooks to military veterans and their dependents. Check with your college’s veteran’s services offices to see if they offer this as well!

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  Jessica (Hip Sidekick) July 24, 2023 at 12:42 pm MST

  So awesome, Ali S.! 🙌 Thanks for letting readers know about this offer. 💕

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