Textbook solutions can help you get back on track if you’re stuck on a tough problem, facing time constraints or struggling to understand the professor-supplied material. Here’s what you need to know about textbook solutions, plus 8 places to find textbook solutions right now (go straight to the list).
Find more ways to get help in our ultimate homework help guide
Textbook solution do’s and don’ts
Textbook solution websites, apps and manuals help you find homework answers for specific books. Most offer detailed, step-by-step explanations so you can learn as you solve problems.
Though these resources can save time and help you improve your grades, it’s important to avoid abusing them. Follow these guidelines to get the most out of textbook solutions (and stay out of trouble with your school).
Do’s
- Treat them as supplemental learning tools, not resources to help you cheat
- Try to solve problems on your own first. Only consult textbook solutions when you get stuck or to check your work
- Understand that student-submitted solutions could be inaccurate
- Ask your school or professor about their policies on using textbook solution resources
Don’ts
- Use textbook solutions to cheat. Doing so likely violates your school’s academic honor code and risks expulsion or degree revocation
- Copy and paste answers and try to pass them off as your own. Not only is it cheating, but it also prevents you from learning important knowledge and skills you’ll need in your career
- Upload materials created by your professor, school or textbook publisher, since doing so violates their copyrights and could land you in legal hot water
“The time you spend struggling, trying to figure out the solution is the time when you’re learning. If you go straight to a solutions manual, you rob yourself of that learning. But sometimes, if you’re not making any progress, it’s better to just find the answer and figure out how they got it.” – Redditor ThisIsMyOkCAccount
8 textbook solution options
Compare features and costs to find the best textbook solution option for you.
1. Solution manuals
Printed solution manuals offer a distinct advantage over most digital options: they’re authored and published by the same people who write textbooks, so the solutions are accurate.
In addition, recent college cheating scandals – coupled with the fact that services like Chegg share student information with schools – suggest that printed solution manuals might be considered “safer” alternatives for students seeking homework help, even if you do not intend to cheat.
The only drawback? Solution manuals aren’t always available to the public since publishers often release them only to schools.
That doesn’t mean you can’t find solution manuals, however. You just need to know where to look. Our site is a good place to start:
- Search for your book by TITLE + SOLUTION MANUAL (e.g. chemistry a molecular approach solution manual)
OR
- Search for your assigned textbook by title or ISBN, then filter results by Solution Manual, Study Guide and/or Instructor Edition to find additional options
Solution manual prices range from less than $5 to $50 or more, depending on the textbook, bookstore and edition (new, used or rental). You can get the lowest price with our free service, which instantly compares prices from top bookstores to help you save money.
“I find solutions manuals useful. Usually what I do is try to solve everything on my own. Sometimes this is hard and involves spending several hours on a proof. If it takes me more than a few hours to do a proof, that’s when I go for a solution manual or look for the problem online.” – Redditor ThisIsMyOkCAccount
2. Chegg Study
Chegg Study offers more than 21 million textbook solutions covering more than 9,000 books. To use it, search for your book by title or ISBN, then browse by chapter and problem number to find detailed, step-by-step solutions for subjects like science, math and engineering.
Available online and via Android and iOS apps, Chegg Study costs $14.95/month and allows you to view solutions for 5 textbooks each month. You can also get up to 20 questions answered by experts each month in case you need additional homework help.
Read our Chegg Study overview to learn more about how it works.
“I’ve had (Chegg Study) for the last 5 years, totally worth it IMO. More useful than a lot of my textbooks, but make sure you use it responsibly. A lot of my classmates have hurt their own learning (and gotten themselves into trouble) by just blindly copying answers instead of using it as a tool to get unstuck on homework and check answers.” – Redditor t1m1d
3. Slader
Find homework answers and textbook solutions for nearly 3 million problems on Slader, a community-driven site that covers subjects like math, science, social sciences, foreign languages and literature.
In addition to textbook solutions, Slader lets you ask questions and get answers from subject experts – though there is no guarantee if or when you’ll get an answer.
Many textbook solutions are available for free, but you have to subscribe for access to unlimited expert-verified textbook solutions. Paid subscribers can also download one-sheets – a range of textbook solutions consolidated on a single, printable page.
Pricing ranges from $2/month to $8/month depending on your education level and selected subscription. You can access Slader online and via iOS and Android apps.
Check out our Slader overview to learn more.
“LPT: If you need help on homework check Slader.com it comes in clutch.” – Redditor Tumbleweed34
Find Textbooks for Less (20+ store price check)
4. Course Hero
Course Hero offers educator-verified solutions for more than 1,000 textbooks covering subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, accounting, math and psychology.
The service is unique in that it allows you to try to solve problems on your own before you view solutions. That way, you can work through problems and check your answers step-by-step. Many solutions also come with hints and guided videos so you can learn as you go.
In addition to textbook solutions, Course Hero offers student-submitted study resources like course notes, study guides and literature infographics as well as tutor questions.
Pricing ranges from $9.95/month to $39.95/month, depending on your subscription, and you can also upload and review study materials to earn free access. Course Hero is available online and via iOS and Android apps.
Get more details with our Course Hero overview.
“I hardly had to crack open my books for PHYS1050/1060, SOCI1520, ANTH1010, and even for parts of my 3000/4000 level courses because of stuff I’ve found on Course Hero, but it really just depends on the course.” – Redditor Panasonicy0uth
5. OneClass
OneClass features more than 3.7 million step-by-step homework answers, many of which come with expert-led video solutions.
The community-driven service relies on its network of more than 3 million students to submit and rate textbook solutions. It also offers class notes, study guides, “booster” classes and document tracking.
Access to textbook solutions starts at $2/month (billed at $24 annually), but you can get additional perks like class notes and study guides for $10/month (billed at $120 annually). You can also contribute your own self-made documents to unlock free resources.
OneClass is available online and via an iOS app.
“I bought the one year it’s pretty worth it imo as long as u pair it with the actual studying from class and not just rely on it.” – Redditor Nxmo
6. Bartleby
Often promoted by school bookstores in partnership with parent company Barnes & Noble, Bartleby is another resource that helps you find step-by-step answers by textbook, chapter, section and problem number.
Bartleby also offers 24/7 instant tutoring and writing help in the form of grammar and plagiarism checkers plus citation formatting.
Unlimited access to textbook solutions costs $9.99/month. You can use Bartleby online and via Android and iOS apps.
“Bartleby is a decent alternative (to Chegg).” – Redditor pomme-de-terrible
7. Crazy For Study
Crazy For Study claims to offer step-by-step solution manuals for more than 50 million textbooks covering subjects like business, engineering, math, science, law and social science.
CFS also features 24/7 homework help with subject experts and essay writing services.
Crazy For Study promotes a “best price guarantee” on its website, though details aren’t immediately clear. However, it is one of the most affordable textbook solution options at just $7/month. You can access CFS online or via its iOS app.
8. ScholarOn
Find solutions for more than 300,000 textbook problems on ScholarOn, which offers the first 3 solutions of each chapter for free so you can try before you buy.
In addition to textbook solutions, ScholarOn also features 24/7 live experts for instant homework help, writing services, study documents and flashcards.
ScholarOn’s pricing model is unique in that it offers 1-day and 3-day passes in addition to monthly subscriptions and long-term memberships. Access to textbook solutions costs $1.99/day, $3.99/3 days, $9.95/month, $21.95/3 months and $79.95/year.
