With skyrocketing prices of school textbooks, we need affordable eBook textbooks more than ever. In general, eBooks are significantly cheaper, costing 40-50% less than physical textbooks.
Fortunately, several websites offer textbooks at a lower price and for free in some cases. By purchasing eBook textbooks, you can save money, time, space, and backache.
To help you find affordable and accessible learning material, we’ve created this list of top 5 websites to get eBook textbooks online.
Table of Contents:
What Are eBook Textbooks?
eBook textbooks are textbooks students and teachers can download to their devices or access online. They don’t require storage, and students can access them on multiple devices anywhere, at any time. eBooks are also easier for schools to distribute and update.
The best part is that educators can now create interactive eBooks to increase student engagement. KITABOO is a digital publishing platform that helps educators develop customized eBooks to deliver a personalized learning experience.
These versions allow students to take notes, use quick search tools, digitally highlight and watch videos, bookmark, and more.
5 Best Websites for Affordable eBook Textbooks in 2024
eBook textbooks are also a tree-friendly and convenient alternative to their printed counterparts. Below are 5 websites where you can find textbooks for your school, classroom, or district.
1. Project Gutenberg
Website: Project Gutenberg
Launched: 1971
Subjects: Arts and Humanities
Founded by Michael Hart, Project Gutenberg is the first resource ever to provide free eBooks in 1971. The website offers more than 70,000 free eBooks, all of which have been proofread and digitized by thousands of volunteers.
Though the platform focuses on literature, several other textbooks are available in dozens of different languages. The eBooks are offered in multiple formats – ePub, HTML, plain Text UTF-8, Kindle, and others.
You can search the library by title, author, language, subject, or book type to find the eBook you need. Whether you’re a literary enthusiast or need a free eBook textbook, Project Gutenberg is at your disposal with its free collection of eBook textbooks on different topics.
2. OpenStax
Website: OpenStax
Launched: 2012
Subjects: K12, Math, Science, Social Sciences, Business, Humanities, Statistics etc.
OpenStax is a non-profit digital learning platform that offers a wide range of peer-reviewed textbooks from the top universities in the U.S. The platform aims to provide open education resources, giving students access to engaging, affordable education.
All the books in its library are available for free to independent learners and students. The digital textbooks are offered in ePub and PDF format; you can also read them online. The platform also provides OpenStax Tutor – a helper for students who need additional homework support.
It offers textbooks online for both college and school students. You can browse the high school section to access science and math textbooks for secondary education. The platform also allows you to browse specific subjects to get appropriate textbooks.
Being one of the world’s biggest learning platforms and publisher of free educational content, OpenStax has saved students $1.2 billion less than a decade after its launch.
3. McGraw-Hill eBookstore
Website: McGraw-Hill eBookstore
Launched: 2011
Subjects: K12, Math, Medical, Science, Social Studies, Computer, English, Language Arts, ELA & World Languages etc.
Being one of the ‘big three’ educational publishers, McGraw Hill offers over 800 of their print textbooks in digital format through their eBookstore. With all the benefits of a print textbook, these digital versions come with enhanced study features like bookmarking, highlighting, note-taking, searchability, and more.
The platform offers several resources and programs for students in Pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school. You can search for learning materials by book title, International Standard Book Number (ISBN), Mental Health Information Database (MHID), subject, or state.
We highly recommend searching by ISBN to maximize your chances of getting the edition you want.
McGraw Hill also offers an eBook & ReadAnywhere App, which aims to provide a cost-effective learning solution to students. It has many affordable plans, with rental rates between $45-$70 and lifetime access at $70-$90.
4. CengageBrain.com
Website: cengagebrain.com
Launched: 2010
Subjects: Business, Computer Science, Social Science, Mathematics, Science, Trade, etc.
Cengage Learning, a leading global educational content provider, launched its direct-to-consumer website, CengageBrain.com, offering exceptional features for instructors and students. It provides students with various resources to obtain the company’s diverse array of digital learning solutions.
The multifaceted site allows you to rent or buy eBooks, textbooks, or individual eChapters. The platform also provides free companion resources for some titles, such as flashcards, quizzes, glossaries, and more. It aims to offer high-quality content in multiple formats and price point options to suit every student’s learning style and budget.
The platform also offers digital study tools and online homework solutions, which include Aplia, MindTap, OWL, and more. Whether you’re looking to purchase what’s assigned for your class, save money, or select the format of the course materials you buy, this website is the perfect destination for you.
5. MERLOT
Website: MERLOT
Launched: 2002
Subjects: Arts, Mathematics, Business, Humanities, Education, Science and Technology, etc.
Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) is a global community of researchers, learners, and educators. The site provides open and free educational resources, including eBook textbooks for higher education.
The platform has more than 40,000 learning materials, including videos, animations, textbooks, and more. You can access them online or download them in PDF format.
To help you quickly find the eBook you need, the site offers an advanced search by ISBN, members, and materials. It also allows you to choose a subject (discipline) and a K12 grade level like middle school, grade school, or high school.
The website enables users to provide peer reviews, rate materials, and build personal collections to help them find high-quality learning materials. Users can also share open eBook textbooks with the international online community.
How to Create eBook Textbooks?
To create eBook textbooks, all you need is an online eBook creator. By choosing the right cloud-based publishing platform, you can quickly and easily upload your source files, design the layout, include interactive elements, and then publish.
KITABOO, an end-to-end digital publishing platform, can help your district or school create and distribute high-quality eBooks, integrating with your LMS if required. Educators can now deliver customized learning resources and interactive digital textbooks to students in a secure and hassle-free way.
Schedule a demo with us and see how it works!
Wrapping Up!
We hope that you’ll be able to find the content of your choice for free or at an affordable price by using the websites mentioned above. Whether you’re a high school student or someone who loves reading, your eBook textbooks are just a click away.
For more information, please write to us at kitaboo@hurix.com or Requesr for a free demo call .
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