• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The College Investor

Student Loans, Investing, Building Wealth

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Save For College
      • How To Start

      • How To Save For College
      • How To Pay For College
      • What Is the Average Cost of College?
      • What Is A 529 Plan and Where to Open One in Your State
      • How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age
      • How To Use A 529 Plan For Private Elementary And High School
      • What Are Qualified Expenses For A 529 Plan (And What Doesn’t Count)?
      • The Best Brokers To Open A 529 Plan
      • Tools + Accounts

      • 529 Plans: The Ultimate College Savings Plan
      • 529 Plan Contribution Limits
      • Prepaid Tuition Plans | What To Know
      • Understanding And Using 529A ABLE Accounts
      • Using A Roth IRA To Save And Pay For College
      • FAFSA Deadlines for Financial Aid
      • CollegeBacker Review
      • Upromise Review
      • UNest Review
      • Other Options

      • Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State
      • The Guide To Military And VA Education Benefits
      • How To Fill Out The FAFSA
      • How To Find College Scholarships
      • The Best College Scholarship Search Websites
      • How To Find Grants To Pay For College
      • Pell Grants: What They Are And How To Qualify
      • Understanding Federal Work-Study
      • How To Use A 529 Plan If Your Child Doesn’t Go To College
  • Student Loans
      • Borrowing

        • How Student Loans Work
        • How To Apply For A Student Loan
        • Best Student Loans And Rates In January 2023
        • 10 Best Private Student Loans Of January 2023
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Graduate School
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Medical School
        • Parent Loans To Pay For College
        • No-Cosigner Student Loan Options
        • Guide To Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs)
        • Best International Student Loans
      • Get Out Of Debt

        • Best Student Loan Refinance Companies In January 2023
        • Best Student Loan Repayment Plans
        • Best Student Loan Refinancing Bonuses And Promotional Offers Of January 2023
        • Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)
        • The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State
        • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
        • Top Student Loan Scams
        • Average Student Loan Monthly Payment
        • Average Student Loan Debt By Year
      • Reviews

        • Credible Review
        • Splash Review
        • Ascent Review
        • Citizens Bank Review
        • Commonbond Review
        • Earnest Review
        • ELFI Review
        • Laurel Road Review
        • LendKey Review
        • SoFi Review
  • Investing
      • How To Start

        • How To Start Investing in High School
        • How To Start Investing In College
        • How To Start Investing In Your Twenties For 22 – 29 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing In Your 30s For 30 – 39 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing With $100 Or Less
        • How To Give Kids The Gift Of Stock
        • What Is Dividend Growth Investing
        • IRA Rollover Chart
      • Tools + Accounts

        • Best Online Stock Brokers
        • The Best Traditional And Roth IRA Accounts
        • The Best Robo-Advisors
        • The Best Investing Apps
        • The Best Places to Trade Options
        • The Best Places To Open A Health Savings Account
        • The Best Solo 401k Providers
        • The Best Self-Directed IRA Providers Of 2023
        • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Reviews

        • Vanguard Review
        • Fidelity Review 2023
        • M1 Finance Review
        • TD Ameritrade Review 2023
        • Charles Schwab Review
        • Robinhood Review
        • Webull Review
        • Betterment Review 2023
        • Wealthfront Review
  • Earn More Money
      • Extra Income

        • 20 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2023
        • 53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Fast
        • 100 Ways To Make Money In College
        • 80 Ways To Make Money From Home In 2023
        • 5 Quick Money Making Ideas (That Take Less Than 1 Hour)
        • 10 Interesting Ways You Can Make Money Driving
        • High-Paying Side Gigs That Earn $1,000 or More Per Month
        • The 10 Best Money-Making Apps
        • Paid Surveys: Earn Money For Giving Your Opinion Online
        • 10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of
      • Build Wealth

        • 40 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2023
        • 3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income
        • How To Become A Real Estate Investor With Just $500
        • 15 Best Online Business Ideas
        • Residual Income: 7 Super Smart Ways to Build It
        • The Most Common Multiple Income Streams
        • How To Become A Real Estate Mogul With Only $10,000
      • Reviews

        • Fundrise Review
        • RealtyMogul Review
        • FarmTogether Review
        • AcreTrader Review
        • Swagbucks Review
        • Survey Junkie Review
        • TopCashback Review
        • DoorDash Review
  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

        • 10 Best High Yield Savings Accounts Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Money Market Accounts Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Free Checking Accounts In January 2023
        • Best Bank CD Rates Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Business Checking Accounts In February 2023
        • Best Online Banks Of January 2023
        • Best Credit Unions Nationwide Of January 2023
        • Best College Student Checking Accounts Of January 2023
      • Insurance

        • Best Life Insurance Companies
        • Renters Insurance
        • Car Insurance
        • Pet Insurance
        • Umbrella Insurance
        • Disability Insurance
        • Tuition Insurance
        • Travel Insurance
      • Credit Tools

        • Best Budgeting Apps
        • Cash Advance Apps
        • How To Get A Free Credit Score Report
        • Best Credit Monitoring Services For 2023
        • Debt Settlement: Inside The Secret World
        • Credit Repair Explained: Should You Pay For Help?
        • Best Personal Loan Companies And Lenders
        • Online Loan Companies To Borrow From Home
      • Tax

        • Best Tax Software
        • Free Tax Software
        • IRS Tax Refund Calendar
        • Common IRS Questions and Errors
        • Federal Tax Brackets
        • Capital Gains Tax Brackets
        • 401k Contribution Limits
        • IRA Contribution Limits
        • HSA Contribution Limits
  • Forum
  • Search
Home » Student Life » Books » Chegg Review 2023 | Buy, Rent, And Sell Textbooks

Chegg Review 2023 | Buy, Rent, And Sell Textbooks

Updated: December 26, 2022 By Robert Farrington

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Email
Print

At The College Investor, we want to help you navigate your finances. To do this, many or all of the products featured here may be from our partners. This doesn’t influence our evaluations or reviews. Our opinions are our own. Any investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. The College Investor does not offer investment advisor or brokerage services, nor does it recommend buying or selling particular stocks, securities, or other investments. Learn more here.Advertiser Disclosure

There are thousands of financial products and services out there, and we believe in helping you understand which is best for you, how it works, and will it actually help you achieve your financial goals. We're proud of our content and guidance, and the information we provide is objective, independent, and free.

But we do have to make money to pay our team and keep this website running! Our partners compensate us. TheCollegeInvestor.com has an advertising relationship with some or all of the offers included on this page, which may impact how, where, and in what order products and services may appear. The College Investor does not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace. And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews (or even pay for a review of their product to begin with).

For more information and a complete list of our advertising partners, please check out our full Advertising Disclosure. TheCollegeInvestor.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product's website. All products and services are presented without warranty.

Chegg Review

There are plenty of places to purchase textbooks for university classes. But if you want a good price and the convenience to purchase and have the book delivered right to your door, Chegg might be what you’re looking for.

Chegg is basically an online university bookstore. You can rent, buy, and sell textbooks all through Chegg. It also has a study component that includes textbook solutions and access to experts who can answer questions.

In this article, we’ll take a tour of what Chegg has to offer.


Chegg

Quick Summary

  • Marketplace for new and used editions of textbooks
  • Many used books offer steep discounts over new ones
  • eTextbooks allow searching and highlighting text 
SHOP NOW

Chegg Details

Product Name

Chegg

Services

Buy, sell, and rent textbooks

Book Types

Physical or digital

Shipping

Must pay for shipping unless a promo is being offered

Refunds

21-day free returns

Promotions

Textbooks come with 4-week free trial of Chegg Study

Table of Contents
Who Is Chegg?
What Do They Offer?
Is Shipping Free?
How Does Chegg Compare?
How Do I Open An Account?
Is It Safe And Secure?
How Do I Contact Chegg?
Is It Worth It?
Chegg FAQs
Chegg Features

Who Is Chegg?

Chegg provides textbooks to university and community college students. Its CEO is Dan Rosensweig. Chegg is based in Santa Clara, CA, and was formed in 2005. The company went public in 2012 and trades under the stock symbol CHGG.

Chegg benefited tremendously from the transition to virtual education throughout 2020 during pandemic lockdowns. In its Q1 2021 investor report, it reported 55% year-over-year revenue growth. And, according to the report, the site also currently averages 19 million unique monthly visitors.

What Do They Offer?

Chegg provides textbooks for purchasing and renting. They also have information on how to sell back used textbooks. Its target audience is university and community college students. In addition to textbooks, it provides tutoring services through Chegg Study.

With Chegg, students can save up to 90% off the list price of textbooks. There is also a 21-day risk-free return policy on physical books. This can come in handy if a student decides to drop a class.

Chegg Review: Benefits and Services

Buying Textbooks

Many students are familiar with buying textbooks from the university bookstore. However, these are often new books sold at full price.

Not only are Chegg books much cheaper than new books, but you also don’t have to make a trip to the bookstore. Instead, books are delivered right to your door. You'll also receive 7-day instant access to the eTextbook version of the book while you're waiting for it to arrive.

Renting Textbooks

Renting textbooks is a cost-effective way to pay for class materials. Chegg makes renting textbooks easy. Once you are finished with a rental, use the prepaid return shipping label to return the book.

If you don't return your book by the due date, you'll be charged an extension fee (25% of the original rental cost) which gives you an extra 10 days to return it. If you don't return it by that extended date, you'll be charged a purchase fee. Or if you want more rental time, you can always extend the rental period.

Rentals usually come in good shape with some signs of wear. You can highlight text in rentals but Chegg discourages writing in them. In addition to renting, some books are available for purchase either as used or new.

When selecting a book to rent, you’ll see its due date. Textbooks have close to three months before they must be sent back. You’ll also see the book’s list price and Chegg discount as well.

Note that rentals are used textbooks and generally do not come with supplemental materials such as CDs, DVDs, access codes, or lab manuals. If you want those, you’ll need to purchase a new textbook.

eTextbooks

Some textbooks have an eTextbook available. An eTextbook is a digital version of the physical textbook. You can access the eTextbook on connected devices. You can also search and highlight text.

Monthly rental rates start at $6.99 per month and they come with a 14-day return policy. eTextbooks cost a little less than the physical textbook, but they are an additional purchase. eTextbooks can be rented for 120 or 150 days. Or you can buy them.

Sell Your Textbooks

Chegg used to buy used textbooks but stopped doing that a while back. If you click Sell from the top menu, you’ll be brought to a page that recommends using GoTextbooks and provides a link to them.

Related: How To Resell Your Textbooks And The Best Places To Do It

Chegg Study

Chegg Study is a subscription-based study service. You get access to textbook solutions and expert Q&A 24/7. It says that the average response time to questions submitted by its subscribing students is 46 minutes.

Chegg Review: Chegg Study

Chegg Study costs $14.95 per month. However, if you buy or rent a textbook from the site, you'll receive a 4-week free trial of the service.

Is Shipping Free?

No, you do generally have to pay for shipping with Chegg. But they often run free shipping promos such as waiving the shipping charges on orders of $35 or more. Also, you won't have to pay to send your books back as Chegg provides prepaid shipping labels for returns.

How Does Chegg Compare?

Chegg separates itself from other retailers by offering so much more than just textbooks. If you're looking for an all-in-one learning platform, Chegg is going to be hard to beat.

But if you need to buy or rent textbooks, Chegg's extra features won't be a selling point. And, in that case, you may be able to find better prices and terms by choosing one of Chegg's competitors like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Check out how Chegg compares in this quick table:

Header
Chegg Comparison
Chegg Comparison: Amazon.com
Chegg Comparison: Barnes and Noble

Rating

Free Shipping

$35 order minimum when promotions are being offered

$25 order minimum or

Amazon Student membership

$35 order minimum or

BN membership

Refund Period

21 days

30 days

21 days

Rental Extension Period

10 days

15 days

15 days

Cell
SHOP NOW
READ THE REVIEW
READ THE REVIEW

How Do I Open An Account?

You can visit Chegg's website to create your account and start shopping. You'll have the option to either create a unique username and password or log in with your Apple, Facebook, or Google credentials.

Chegg Review: How to open an account

Is It Safe And Secure?

Chegg’s website does use encryption and a secure payment method. However, it should be noted that it has suffered three data breaches over the past four years. The worst of the hacks took place in 2018 when information from over 40 million customers was leaked. 

No website is completely invincible to cyberattacks and those that are as large as Chegg are natural targets for hackers. Still, three breaches in such a short period of time is worrisome and could cause one to wonder if Chegg is investing enough time and money into its data security systems.

How Do I Contact Chegg?

Many questions about the Chegg platform have already been addressed and answered on their Help Center. However, if you more questions you can text their team at 408-351-0942 or call them at 855-477-0177.

Most customers have reported satisfying experiences when dealing with Chegg support. The company is currently rated 4.0/5 on Trustpilot from over 4,800 customer reviews.

Is It Worth It?

The Chegg platform is incredibly popular with college students. It’s convenient to have textbooks shipped to your address. And given the generous 21-day return policy on physical textbooks and potential cost savings, Chegg is certainly worth checking out. 

However, it isn’t the only game in town. Amazon is a competitor of Chegg's as well as Barnes & Noble and several others. Make sure to compare prices for the textbook you need at multiple textbook rental sites before pulling the trigger.

Chegg FAQs

Let's answer a few of the most common questions that people ask about Chegg:

Can I purchase a membership with Chegg to get free shipping?

No, unlike Amazon or Barnes & Noble, Chegg doesn't have a paid membership tier that always offers free shipping regardless of order size.

Does Chegg have an eBook reader app?

Yes, and it allows readers to easily navigate, search for key words, and highlight.

Can students use Chegg to cheat?

Students could certainly try to manipulate Chegg's study tools to get answers to exam questions or gain other unfair advantages. However, Chegg has several policies in place that are meant to uphold academic integrity, including its Honor Shield, Honor Code Policy, DMCA copyright removal process, and more

Why I have been locked out of my Chegg account?

Chegg accounts can only be used on up to two separate devices per month. If you try to log in on more devices then this in a given month, it could indicate that your account is being shared and it will be locked while Chegg investigates. Chegg says that it will notify suspended accounts of the result of investigations within 48 hours either way.

Chegg Features

Services

Buy, sell, and rent textbooks

Book Types

Physical or digital

Shipping

Must pay for shipping unless a promo is being offered.


Always free for textbook sellers and on rental returns

Refunds

21-day free returns

Late Fees On Rental Returns

25% extension fee for returns 1-10 days late. Customers are charged the full purchase price for the book after that.

Availability

Cannot ship internationally -- US address required.

Payment Methods

  • Debit or credit card
  • PayPal
  • Apple Store (for monthly subscribers)
  • Google Play Store (for monthly subscribers)

Payout Methods

Check or PayPal


(For books resold on GoTextbooks)

Payout Speed

  • Check: 7 to 14 days
  • PayPal: 2 to 14 business days

(For books resold on GoTextbooks)

Other Services

  • Chegg Study
  • Chegg Flashcards
  • Chegg Writing
  • Chegg Internships
  • Chegg Math Solver

Customer Service Options

Help center, 24/7 live chat, text, and phone

Customer Service Numbers

  • Text: 408-351-0942
  • Phone: 855-477-0177

Promotions

Textbooks come with 4-week free trial of Chegg Study

Chegg Review
  • Pricing
  • Shipping Costs
  • Return Policy
  • Extras
  • Customer Service
Overall
3.6

Summary

Chegg is a college textbook marketplace that offers low prices on used editions and a generous return policy on physical book orders.

Pros

  • 21-day free returns on physical books
  • Free shipping on orders over $35
  • Books include a month of Chegg Study

Cons

  • Shorter, 14-day return window on eTextbooks
  • Must use GoTextbooks to sell books back
  • No way to get free shipping on small orders under $35
  • Shop Now
Robert Farrington
Robert Farrington

Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page, or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.

He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.

He has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox, ABC, NBC, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.

Chegg Review 2023 | Buy, Rent, And Sell Textbooks

Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Claire Tak

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors'. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Subscribe
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of

I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Robert Farrington will teach you how to get out of student loan debt and how to start investing.

Hi! My Name is

America's Millennial Money Expert

Welcome to The College Investor. We're here to help you escape student loan debt so you can start investing and building wealth for the future

Our expert guides, reviews, and more are designed to help you achieve your financial goals.

Want to learn more? See what's in my wallet.

As Featured In

Social Media

Popular Posts

Side Hustling

53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Fast

Best Side Hustles

20 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2023

Crazy Ways To Make $10,000

10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of

Make $50,000 Per Year

3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income

Student Loan Scams

Top Student Loan Scams

Net Worth of Millennials

Average Net Worth Of Millennials By Age

Ways To Get Student Loan Forgiveness

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)

529 Plan By Age

How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age

Passive Income Ideas

40 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2023

Make Money From Home

80 Ways To Make Money From Home In 2023

Ultimate Guides

529 Plan Guide

529 Plans: The Ultimate Guide To College Savings Plans

Student Loans and Financial Aid By State

Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State

Student Loan Advice

The Definitive Guide To Student Loan Debt

Student Loan Forgiveness By State

The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State

newretirement

How to Start Saving Now: The College Graduate’s Guide to Saving for Retirement

Latest Research

How much to file taxes

Tax Survey: How Much People Paid To File And The No.1 Tax Software They Used

Inflation survey

Side-Hustles To The Rescue: Survey Shows 86% Stressed About Money & Inflation

students choose to work survey

75% Of Students Would Still Choose To Work Even If They Didn’t Have To

Institutional Merit Grants

Who Gets Institutional Merit Grants At Private Colleges?

Resume Student Loan Payments

Survey: Even With Higher Expenses, Most Student Loan Borrowers Are Ready To Resume Payments

Footer

Who We Are

The College Investor is an independent, advertising-supported financial media publisher, focusing on news, product reviews, and comparisons.

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Press & Media

About

  • About
  • Our Team
  • Podcast
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • How We Make Money
  • Archives

Social

Copyright © 2023 · The College Investor · Privacy Policy ·Terms of Service · DO NOT Sell My Personal Information

wpDiscuz