Getting textbooks shouldn’t be one of the hardest things to check off your list before class. Yet often, it is.
You cringe at the prospect of spending hundreds of dollars on one book while already surviving on ramen and peanut butter sandwiches. Your campus library should offer relief, but someone else has already checked it out. Even your local rental bookstore offers nothing more than a helpless shrug from the clerk—they don’t have it in stock. Without your textbook, you’ll face your professor’s wrath.
Fortunately, textbook rental sites exist to rescue both your wallet and your peace of mind. These companies let students rent books for specific periods at heavily discounted rates. But as more companies emerge, choosing the right one becomes increasingly challenging. Will they ship my book on time? Are they trustworthy? Which textbook rental site delivers the best value?
While every site has its strengths, Chegg Books stands out as a robust textbook rental site with an extensive selection for students. Let’s explore whether it’s right for you in this Chegg Books review!
What Is Chegg Books?
Chegg is a comprehensive platform for students, offering everything from tutoring to learning aids—though it started with textbook rentals. Founded in 2011, they claim students can save up to 90% on textbooks. With the tagline “a Smarter Way to Student,” they’re dedicated to helping students advance their education through innovative—and affordable—solutions.
How Chegg Books Works
You scan your syllabus and discover an ever-expanding list of required books. Fortunately, Chegg has you covered. When you visit their site, you can search for your book using the title, author, or ISBN number.
After finding and selecting your title, you’ll reach a page offering multiple purchase options. You can rent or buy your textbook new or used—and sign up for a free trial of Chegg Study as well.
You can pay for your rental using a credit card or PayPal—and orders over $25 qualify for free shipping. Once your order is complete, Chegg sends you an e-book version of your textbook for seven days, allowing you to start studying while awaiting your physical package. Shipping typically takes 1-2 days, though it can extend to 2-5 days during peak periods. Your package might contain more than just books—Chegg often includes “special surprises,” samples of items that students might enjoy.
Once your class ends, returning your rental is straightforward—simply print the free shipping label Chegg provides on their site, pack it in any box, and drop it off at your local UPS store.
Is Chegg Books Legitimate?
Chegg has operated in the textbook rental space for over a decade, building a track record that proves their legitimacy. They’re trusted enough to partner with student loan companies like Sallie Mae and have established themselves as a reputable company. They also maintain a Better Business Bureau rating of A—though they experienced a recent data breach that exposed email and shipping addresses, though no financial information was compromised.
Chegg does face recurring issues with customer service—while office hours are posted on their site, no phone number accompanies them. However, Chegg maintains an extensive FAQ section for most common issues and keeps their social media channels open for questions. Moreover, most complaints against Chegg relate to their subscriptions, not textbook rentals.
Is Chegg Books Reliable?
Nothing feels worse than ordering all your textbooks early, fully prepared—only to have those books never arrive. You need confidence that your books will reach you on time for class.
At Chegg, orders placed before 10AM ship the same day. If any books are out of stock, you’ll receive an email notification about the delay, along with the option to cancel those specific items if desired.
Chegg offers a 21-day “for any reason” return policy for physical textbooks and a 14-day window for e-textbooks. While they don’t guarantee that supplemental materials like CDs or worksheets will be included, this matches industry standards—and occasionally you’ll get lucky and find those materials still intact.
Is Chegg Books Cheap?
Chegg’s pricing runs slightly higher than average—Amazon or eCampus may occasionally offer lower prices, though Chegg typically beats competitors on new book prices. Here’s a comparison of their pricing:
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Chegg’s generous return policy makes getting your money back easy, and their free return shipping saves you additional dollars when returning rentals. Chegg also hosts its own coupon page, gathering any current deals they’ve found.
While it won’t necessarily save you money, they often include a “surprise” in their packages—usually a free product sample. These can range from favorite coffee drinks or subscriptions to movie-streaming services, providing a delightful mood-booster when you open your delivery.
Chegg no longer offers a buy-back program for textbooks you’ve already purchased, eliminating that opportunity to earn some cash back.
Some Cautions For Chegg Books
Chegg Books offers a free 4-month subscription to Chegg Study with your first order, which provides excellent resources—but monitor when that free trial expires. One of the most common customer complaints about Chegg involves difficulty canceling subscriptions, and if you don’t need the service, you’ll waste money. You can avoid these complications by simply declining the free trial during checkout.
Also, avoid writing in your rental textbooks. While highlighting is permitted, any writing is prohibited. If you write in your rental, you’ll be charged full retail price—often several hundred dollars more—so keep your notes in a separate notebook.
Chegg Books vs Amazon
Amazon often offers lower rental prices—but that savings comes with trade-offs. Chegg allows you to rent physical textbooks for a semester or quarter, and e-textbooks for 90, 120, or 180 days. Amazon, however, only permits semester-long rentals, which can be problematic if you only need your book for part of a class. Chegg also provides 1-2 day shipping options, while Amazon currently estimates 8-10 days for delivery.
Chegg also provides a free e-textbook with some items for the first 7 days after purchase, giving it an edge over Amazon, where you must wait for physical delivery to begin studying. Amazon maintains fairly vague highlighting standards, allowing only a subjective 10%, while Chegg’s only requirement is being considerate of other students and avoiding writing in rental textbooks.
Chegg Books vs eCampus
eCampus is another textbook rental company offering competitive prices compared to Chegg. However, for e-textbooks, eCampus offers no refunds or returns—contrasting with Chegg’s 14-day return window.
However, eCampus does provide a buy-back program for purchased textbooks, which offers a good way to earn extra dollars at semester’s end. Additionally, eCampus allows students to both highlight and take notes directly in rental books.
The lowest price varies from book to book—so take time to compare both platforms, weighing shipping and return options to determine which offers the best value.
Conclusions For Chegg Books
Chegg Books ranks among the top textbook rental sites—and for good reason. They consistently deliver books at reduced prices, helping students save money throughout college. While Chegg experiences some customer service challenges that come with being a large company, the surprises and samples they include in packages add a thoughtful personal touch. Chegg provides an excellent way to rent textbooks and prepare for your semester.
