Do you have used novels or textbooks taking up space in your home that need to be sold? Navigating today’s online marketplace can be tricky, especially for first-time sellers. Here’s what you need to know about the best websites to sell books in 2024.
1. BookScouter
If you want to sell books online, BookScouter is one of the best platforms. When it was first launched, its main purpose was to help sell textbooks for the best price, but now, with 30+ vendors integrated into the platform, it helps find the best offers for buying and selling used books, too.
BookScouter is unique from the other booksellers on this list because it helps connect you with vendors looking to buy the specific textbook you are selling. Instead of just posting a listing and waiting for someone to make a purchase, BookScouter searches its database of over 30 vendors for the best offers. You can actually compare the textbook buyback prices, making sure that you’ll get the most amount of money for your sale.
Not only have these buyers been vetted by BookScouter, but you can also check verified reviews and ratings on each vendor—which are publicly displayed—meaning that this avenue is safer for sellers, as it is not full of bogus reviews. Additionally, when selling to vendors listed on BookScouter, shipping is totally free, and all buying and selling decision-making processes take place on the website or in the app, both of which have simple and intuitive design and can be easily navigated by online bookseller veterans and beginners alike, what makes it one of the best places to sell books.
As an added benefit, BookScouter sponsors a $500 quarterly textbook scholarships for college students.
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♬ original sound – BookScouter
2. eBay
Though it has lost popularity due to its auction-based sales and the appearance of more popular reselling apps, eBay is still a solid option for those looking to sell used books online in 2024. However, eBay is not the best place to sell textbooks because auctions often lead to sellers being lowballed, resulting in a loss of profit.
That being said, if you are looking to sell rare books or books that can be considered collector’s items, choosing to list these items via eBay auctions can be very profitable, especially if these books are in high demand.
Your first 50 listings on eBay are free, but for any sales after that, you will be charged a small fee, which may be detrimental to profits depending on how much money your items sell for. Additionally, you have to pay for your own shipping.
For eBay newbies, the online website can be overwhelming, as it is a large marketplace that requires a bit of a learning curve. On the other hand, the eBay mobile app is a bit more straightforward.
3. Amazon
Amazon has become the world’s online marketplace and is an absolute behemoth. So does Amazon buy textbooks and books?
Yes, it does. The only way to sell books via Amazon is to sell directly to buyers and make sales yourself. The Amazon textbook trade-in program that quickly became popular among students was shut down without notice or explanation in 2020. Now you have to create a seller account and add listings for your books, personally setting the price, rather than accepting whatever Amazon offers you. This option has the potential to be more lucrative than the first, as you have more control over your earnings. However, it is a bit more time-consuming, and the competition is steep—depending on the price and condition of your books, they may sell quickly or not at all—and you have to pay for your own shipping.
Due to the fact that Amazon is such a huge conglomerate, it is not the best avenue to sell used books in 2024. When selling directly to buyers on Amazon, you likely will have a tough time making a sale due to the sheer number of sellers on the site—many of whom are willing to sell the same books for a fraction of what you might charge. For further information, refer to our guide on how to sell textbooks on Amazon.
4. Chegg
Chegg used to be the best place to sell your old textbooks and make a profit. It featured fair prices and free shipping for the textbooks purchased. Unfortunately, not anymore. As of 2024, Chegg no longer purchases books; instead, it sends you to another brand to sell your books.
5. AbeBooks
Despite selling books for over ten years, AbeBooks is somewhat of a newcomer in the online book-selling scene in terms of popularity. Still, it has cemented itself as a great place to buy and sell books, including textbooks.
If the company name did not already give it away, AbeBooks is a website dedicated to buying and selling books, unlike larger reselling sites like eBay or Amazon. This is a bonus because customers are actively searching for your products: books!
You can’t sell directly to AbeBooks, so you will need to do the legwork yourself in order to make a sale. Additionally, AbeBook’s largest focus is on works of fiction, nonfiction, and rare books. If you sell these kinds of items, AbeBooks is a great marketplace—but it is not the best website if you want to sell textbooks.
The website is a bit confusing but thorough, as it classifies books in many different ways, including condition, binding type, genre, and collection attributes. Unfortunately, AbeBooks does not have an app.
Still unsure of what website to use to sell your books? Compare and contrast the important information.
|
BookScouter |
eBay | Amazon | AbeBooks | |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sell Directly to Site | No | No | No | No |
| Focus on Textbooks | Yes | No | No | No |
| Free Shipping | Yes | No |
No |
No |
Conclusion
When it comes to selling books online, it really depends on what you’re looking for.
If you have rare books or collectibles to sell, eBay is a good option, but you’ll have to deal with auctions and bidding.
If you want to sell different types of books regularly and make steady profits, Amazon is a good platform. However, it’s important to note that just listing your books doesn’t guarantee a sale right away. Here’s a great guide on how to sell textbooks on Amazon.
The same goes for AbeBooks, where you might have to wait a while for a sale.
If you only have textbooks to sell, you can try Chegg (or GoTextbooks, which buys back textbooks on their behalf), but their buying potential is limited.
If you want a more efficient way to sell your used books, when you don’t have to wait for a buyer, where you can sell, ship, and earn fast, you need to get access to the right buyback vendor. Here’s where BookScouter can help you out: their direct-to-vendor connection ensures that you can sell your books fast and profitably while avoiding the hassle of listing and waiting.
