The 7 Best Places to Buy, Rent and Sell Your Textbooks

One of the many expenses you'll encounter as a college student is purchasing or renting textbooks. With the rising costs of higher education, finding affordable options for course materials is crucial, as textbooks are a separate cost and not included in tuition. So, what is the average cost of college textbooks per year? According to Education Data, an undergrad college student can expect to pay anywhere from $339 to $600 for books and supplies in one year. eBooks are usually the first solution offered to save money, but they're not cheap either! Most digital textbooks require access codes: students pay full price each time an eBook or digital textbook is accessed.

Where to Buy and Rent Textbooks

Below are seven of the top textbook sites for college students:

eCampus.com

Get an exclusive 5% discount with the FASTWEB5 code! eCampus.com offers free shipping on textbook orders over $35 with a 25-day return policy. Founded in 1999, eCampus is the oldest online textbook store. RENT - Yes BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - Yes EBOOKS OFFERED – Yes

BiggerBooks

Get an exclusive 5% discount with the FASTWEB5 code! BiggerBooks offers Daily Deals for students, free shipping on orders $59 or more, and a 25-day return policy. RENT - Yes BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - Yes EBOOKS OFFERED – Yes

VitalSource

VitalSource is an eBook platform that offers students a digital bookshelf for easy organization. VitalSource also provides free built-in study tools to help students with retention. RENT - No BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - No EBOOKS OFFERED – Yes

Knetbooks

Get an exclusive 5% discount with the FASTWEB5 code! Students get free shipping on all orders if they use Knetbooks to rent textbooks. RENT - Yes BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - No EBOOKS OFFERED – No

Routledge

Routledge offers free standard shipping on all orders. RENT - No BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - No EBOOKS OFFERED - Yes

Chegg

Chegg offers 21-day returns for students and low-cost shipping. RENT - Yes BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - Yes EBOOKS OFFERED – Yes

AbeBooks

AbeBooks offers students textbooks and a platform for students to resell their books. Fine arts, collectibles, and even rare books are available. RENT - No BUY - Yes BUYBACK/SELLBACK - Yes EBOOKS OFFERED – No

Is it better to buy or rent textbooks?

There are pros and cons to both renting and or buying college textbooks.

Renting Textbooks

Renting textbooks allows students to borrow a course textbook for an agreed-upon timeframe. Students do not have to pay the full price when renting textbooks. Renting used textbooks is financially savvy, as it's usually cheaper than buying them. If you're comfortable with a book with some wear and tear, renting can be a smart way to save money. Renting allows you to use the book for a specified time, typically for a semester, without the financial burden of purchasing it outright. It's a convenient option, although you may find no textbook rentals available if your professor requires the latest edition for their class. Some textbook rental sites offer flexible rental periods and the option to purchase the book at the end of the rental term if you decide to keep it. Renting is a flexible and practical choice for general-education courses or electives.

Buying Textbooks

Owning a textbook allows you to refer to it later. Consider the course requirements and how often you may need to reference your textbook in the future. Buying the textbook might be a wise investment for courses within your major or that are part of your long-term academic plan. Purchasing a textbook allows you to highlight and write notes in the book, which some students find helpful for studying. If you like to keep your textbooks in pristine condition or the book includes access codes or online components for one-time use, buying textbooks might be the better option. However, buying textbooks can be expensive, especially for college classes requiring the latest editions or specialized books.

What is Textbook Buyback?

Textbook buyback refers to selling your used textbooks to the bookstore or an online store for a portion of the original purchase price. Students who buy textbooks should consider selling them back to save money. If they sell back their textbooks and a newer edition is not published, they can expect to get a good amount of buyback money in return. There are two common ways to sell your textbooks: • Sell college books at your college's textbook buyback program. These buyback events usually take place at your campus bookstore each semester. • Sell textbooks online: Use an online textbook store to resell textbooks. There is no right or best way to rent or buy textbooks. The final choice depends on individual circumstances, preferences, and budget. Evaluate your course requirements at the beginning of each semester. Consider factors such as the textbook's importance in the course, the frequency of use, and the potential for resale. Weigh the pros and cons. Use this to make an informed choice that meets your academic needs while being mindful of your finances. Fastweb Disclaimer Fastweb provides discount information as a service to our members. We make every effort to ensure accuracy but are not liable for the availability of discounts provided by a third party. Discounts may vary by location. As an affiliate partner of some discount providers, Fastweb may earn from qualifying purchases. The discount provider may track how you navigated to their site, but we do not share personal information with them.