College Board reports that the average student at a four-year university spends over $1,200 a year on textbooks and course materials. That’s more than enough for a round-trip flight to Europe or a semester’s worth of groceries. To understand the factors contributing to high textbook prices, you can read our article: Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?. But there’s good news: you don’t have to buy every textbook brand new.
Renting textbooks has become a go-to solution for students who want to save money, reduce waste, and avoid being stuck with books they’ll never open again.
Why Pay $1,200 a Year? There’s a Better Way.
We would like to review textbook rental vendors featured in our BookScouter vendor list to create a reliable list of the best places to rent textbooks in 2025. These vendors were analyzed based on pricing, rental flexibility, shipping options, and user-friendliness.
Why Renting Textbooks Makes Sense
- 💸 Massive savings compared to new textbook prices
- 🌿 Sustainable option with less waste
- 🛅 Flexible rental periods
- 🚚 Many websites offer free return shipping
Textbook rentals are perfect for different types of students: budget-conscious undergrads, those taking electives outside their major, last-semester seniors who don’t want more clutter, and even grad students who just need a book for a month.
9 Best Places to Rent Textbooks in 2025:
1. eCampus
📊 Pros: Huge selection, short-term rentals, rent-now-pay-later option
❌ Cons: Restocking fees may apply if you return a book late
✈️ Shipping: Free shipping over $35, prepaid return label included
eCampus is known for its textbook variety and multiple rental term lengths (semester, quarter, or short-term). You can also choose to rent now and pay later through Klarna or Afterpay. The site often runs discounts and promo codes for even more savings.
2. BiggerBooks
📊 Pros: Daily deals and promo codes, buy/sell/rent options, easy-to-use interface
❌ Cons: Free shipping requires a $59 minimum purchase
✈️ Shipping: Free returns, free initial shipping on orders over $59
BiggerBooks offers textbook rentals with a twist: daily deals and time-sensitive coupon codes that can save you even more. You can buy, sell, or rent textbooks through their platform. While you’ll need to hit $59 for free shipping on the initial order, all return shipping is free. It’s a budget-friendly and promo-savvy choice for students who love a good deal.
3. BooksRun
📊 Pros: Simple user interface, eco-friendly initiative, sell-back options
❌ Cons: Rental inventory may vary per semester
✈️ Shipping: Free shipping both ways
BooksRun offers affordable rentals with a green twist—they plant trees for every book sold or rented. Their pricing is competitive, and the platform lets you buy or rent books with easy return options. BooksRun also offers instant quotes if you decide to sell your book back.
4. ValoreBooks
📊 Pros: Compares prices from several vendors, easy to navigate
❌ Cons: Quality may vary depending on vendor
✈️ Shipping: Free return shipping
ValoreBooks aggregates offers from hundreds of sellers and rental providers, making it another solid comparison-based tool. You might see varying prices and book conditions, but it’s a great way to find budget options quickly.
5. Knetbooks
📊 Pros: Affordable pricing, simple checkout, early return grace period
❌ Cons: Limited customer support options
✈️ Shipping: Free shipping both ways
Knetbooks offers a no-fuss experience with reliable low prices. Their early return policy gives you a few extra days to return without penalties. The checkout process is clean and student-friendly.
6. TextbookRush
📊 Pros: Loyalty program, quick shipping, large selection
❌ Cons: Customer reviews are mixed
✈️ Shipping: Free shipping over a certain amount, free returns
TextbookRush has been around for a while and is a favorite for both buying and renting textbooks. Their Rush Rewards program lets frequent users earn credits, and they usually ship fast. They also accept textbook buybacks if you switch from renting to owning.
7. Vital Source
📊 Pros: Instant access, searchable content, synced across devices
❌ Cons: No print copies for most book
✈️ Shipping: Not applicable (digital format)
VitalSource specializes in digital textbook rentals and offers a fully online experience. You can search, highlight, and take notes within the eTextbook, which syncs across devices. It’s ideal for students who prefer studying on their tablets, phones, or laptops.
8. Alibris
📊 Pros: Wide rental catalog, worry-free guarantee, trusted marketplace of independent sellers
❌ Cons: Delivery times and policies vary by seller
✈️ Shipping: Prepaid return label included; delivery time depends on seller
Alibris offers textbook rentals through a network of independent sellers, giving students access to a wide range of affordable titles. Rentals typically last 130 days and include a prepaid return label, making returns hassle-free. With their Worry-Free Guarantee, Alibris ensures you’ll get the right book or your money back, making it a dependable option for textbook rentals.
9. Chegg
📊 Pros: Huge book database, access to study tools with rental
❌ Cons: Pricier than competitors, limited to 21-day return window
✈️ Shipping: Free returns, delivery takes 7–10 days
Chegg is a long-standing name in textbook rentals and offers more than just books—you also get access to study help and expert Q&A. However, Chegg rentals can be more expensive than other platforms.
Bonus: Compare All of These Vendors in One Place
Want to skip the hassle of opening every website one by one? Use BookScouter to compare rental prices across all these vendors in seconds.
BookScouter helps you find the lowest textbook rental prices, check shipping options, and even compare buyback offers if you decide to sell your books later. It’s the easiest way to rent smart and save big.
Final Thoughts
Textbooks don’t have to drain your wallet. Whether you’re comparing options with BookScouter, going green with BooksRun, or grabbing a last-minute copy from Chegg, there are smart choices out there. Explore these websites to rent textbooks and see which best fits your needs, schedule, and budget. You can also check out this guide to find cheap textbook rentals with free shipping.
If you’re wondering why Amazon isn’t on the list of the best places to rent textbooks anymore, we covered that here.
Before you go, here are a few more helpful resources to stretch your budget and make the most of your textbooks:
📘 Free Textbooks Online – Find legal sources of free textbooks to supplement your rented or purchased copies.
📚 Where to Sell Textbooks – Learn where to get the best deals when it’s time to part with your books.
💵 How to Sell Used Textbooks – A step-by-step guide to selling used textbooks for top dollar.
🎁 Where to Donate Textbooks – Discover meaningful ways to donate books you no longer need and support education worldwide.
Choosing the best places to rent textbooks starts with being informed—and now you are!
