Chegg Review: Pros, Cons, And Alternatives

Chegg is an education technology company that offers various affordably learning services to students worldwide, including homework help, Expert Q&As, help solving math problems, plagiarism and grammar checkers, a citation generator, expert proofreading, and more. 

It was once known for its textbook rental services, but that is now being handled by a Chegg partner Valore Books. 

So, how do its learning resources fare? This full review, updated for 2025, covers its key features, pricing, pros and cons, and more. 

Who Is Chegg?

Chegg started as a textbook rental company by two Iowa State University students in 2005, offering affordable textbook rentals to college students. It's textbook rental services are now powered by a separate company, Valore, which is an online textbook marketplace. Chegg now focuses on providing affordable learning resources, including on-demand homework help, Expert Q&As, plagiarism and grammar checkers, proofreading services, and more. 

According to the company, it's mission is to “help every student achieve their best, in school and beyond. We strive to improve the overall return on investment in education by  helping students learn more in less time and at a lower cost.” 

What Do They Offer?

Chegg offers its services via two monthly subscription plans, Study and Study Pack, with the latter plan including all of Chegg's products and services. Here's how they break down: 

Chegg Study

Chegg Study is an academic help service designed to support students with homework, studying, and test prep. It’s best known for two core features: Access to textbook solutions and expert Q&A 24/7. This is a subscription-based service, with pricing around $15.95 monthly, depending on your location. 

Key Features: 

• Expert Q&A: Ask subject-matter experts up to 20 homework questions per month.
• Step-By-Step Textbook Solutions: Access to solutions for millions of problems from thousands of textbooks. Unlimited viewing of Q&A archive. 

Chegg Study is best-suited for students who need help solving textbook problems and might need expert help occasionally. 

Chegg Study Pack

Chegg Study Pack is Chegg's all-in-one subscription service that unlocks access to all of Chegg's features, including additional tools for help with match, writing, and test prep. Pricing is approximately $20.95 USD monthly, depending on your location.  

Key Features include everything in Chegg Study, plus:

• Chegg Math Solver: Access step-by-step math explanations. The tool functions like an advanced calculator.
• Citation Generator: Create citations for your assignments in thousands of free styles, such as APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc. 
• Plagiarism Checker: Offers in-depth scans of your written work and lets you know what percentage of your paper is similar to other content. The checker also provides recommended fixes. 
• Grammar Checker: Offers instant feedback and a grammar scorecard. 
• Expert Proofreading: Submit up to 30 papers per month (up to 3000 words each) and receive feedback within 48 hours of submission. 

Additionally, Chegg Study Pack now includes new features and valuable perks, such as free access to services like DoorDash, HBO Max, TinderGold and Busuu, which are significant selling points for students.

What Courses Does Chegg Offer Support For?

Chegg offers support for the following programs and courses: 

• Biology: (Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology, Immunology, Cell Biology, Nutrition, General Biology, Zoology)
• Business: (Finance, Economics, Accounting, Operations Management) 
• Engineering: (Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering) 
• Math: (Algebra, Calculus, Statistics and Probability, Advanced Math, Other Math, Geometry, Trigonometry, Prealgebra, Precalculus) 
• Science: (Physics, Chemistry) 

What Happened To Chegg's Textbook Rentals?

Chegg started out offering affordable textbook rentals to college students, but that service is now handled by a partner company, Valore, which is a large textbook marketplace. I spoke with a Chegg representative, who confirmed that Valore has been “handling (Chegg's) textbooks for a while now, and they are now taking over this portion of the business. So (customers) can expect the same service…just under a different name.”  

How Does Chegg Compare?

Chegg's study tools are designed primarily for college students, although high schoolers, especially those in advanced or AP classes, can also benefit from its homework help and exam prep tools. 

If you're a high school student looking for help with SAT/ACT exam prep, you might want to consider a dedicated exam prep platform, such Khan Academy or PrepExpert. Khan Academy is free to use and offers self-paced test prep, including practice tests. PrepExpert is more expensive, but it also offers personalized tutoring and admissions counselling. 

How Do I Open An Account?

You can easily open a Chegg account via its website or app (iOS and Android). The process only takes a minute or two, and you'll need to provide your cell number and a secure password. Chegg will send you a verification code before activating your account. Once you've joined, you can log in and start a Chegg Study subscription. 

Is It Safe And Secure?

Chegg’s website does use encryption and a secure payment method, and should be considered safe to use. However, it should be noted that Chegg suffered three significant data breaches between 2018 and 2020. The worst of the hacks took place in 2018 when information from over 40 million customers was leaked. 

Contact

Many questions about the Chegg platform are 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.

When I opened my account, I texted customer support with a couple of questions, and they responded within two or three minutes. I was speaking with a live support agent (not a chatbot), and he was able to quickly answer my questions. 

Unfortunately, Chegg has a less than satisfactory 2.2/5 star rating on TrustPilot, based on more than 6,000 reviews. According to a review summary, customers reported “ongoing charges even after subscription cancellation, leading to frustration and financial concerns. People also report problems with the solutions provided, describing them as incorrect or unhelpful.” 

While this doesn't mean you will have a negative experience (close to 60% of users rated four-or five-stars), I recommend reading through online reviews before you sign up. 

Who Is This For And Is It Worth It?

Chegg is ideal for college students who are looking for additional help with everything from homework assignments and exam prep. It also offers a suite of valuable writing tools to Study Pack subscribers. Pricing seems reasonable if you are using the service regularly and getting value from it. However, before you sign up, read through the online reviews on platforms like TrustPilot and forums such as Reddit, as it will give you an even better understanding of what to expect after you sign up.

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