Introduction: What is Course Hero?
Course Hero is a widely used online learning platform offering homework help, study resources, textbook solutions, and expert tutoring. It provides students access to over 60 million study documents, including lecture notes, practice problems, and past exams.
But is Course Hero really worth the cost? Does it provide high-quality academic support? In this detailed Course Hero review, we’ll analyze its services, pricing, pros & cons, user feedback, and alternatives to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Course Hero Services: What Do They Offer?
1. Study Resources & Document Library
✅ Access to over 60 million study documents (class notes, essays, past exams)
✅ Course-specific resources from various universities
✅ Unlock documents by uploading your own materials
2. Homework Help & Expert Q&A
✅ Post questions and get answers from subject experts
✅ Responses typically within 15-30 minutes
✅ Covers a wide range of subjects
3. Textbook Solutions & Explanations
✅ Step-by-step explanations for textbook problems
✅ Solutions verified by educators
✅ Helpful for self-study and exam preparation
4. Live Tutoring (Limited)
✅ 24/7 tutor support available
✅ Pay-per-question model
✅ Focused on instant doubt resolution
5. Course Hero AI Study Assistant
✅ AI-powered tool for quick explanations and problem-solving
✅ Generates summaries and concept breakdowns
✅ Helps with paraphrasing and writing assistance
Pricing & Subscription: Is Course Hero Affordable?
Course Hero operates on a subscription-based model, with different pricing options:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly Plan | $39.95/month |
| Quarterly Plan | $19.95/month (billed $59.85 every 3 months) |
| Annual Plan | $9.95/month (billed $119.40 annually) |
Free Access & Discounts
💰 Upload-to-Unlock: Get free access to study materials by uploading your own documents. 🎁 Student discounts: Occasionally available for new users.
📌 Pro Tip: If you don’t need full access, you can still view free previews of documents before subscribing.
Quality & Accuracy: How Reliable Is Course Hero?
We tested Course Hero’s study resources and homework help services, and here’s what we found:
🔹 Study Documents: Some user-uploaded materials were highly valuable, while others lacked accuracy. 🔹 Expert Q&A: Responses were mostly correct, but some lacked depth or clear explanations. 🔹 Textbook Solutions: Well-structured and useful for self-study. 🔹 Live Tutoring: Limited compared to other platforms like Chegg or TutorBin.
📌 Overall Quality Rating: 7.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Customer Support: Is Course Hero Responsive?
Course Hero provides support via email and live chat. Here’s our experience:
✅ Response Time: Usually within 24 hours via email.
✅ Support Quality: Helpful, but no immediate live chat support.
✅ Refund Policy: Strict—refunds are only given under limited conditions.
💬 Student Feedback: Some users reported difficulties canceling subscriptions and unlocking documents.
Pros & Cons of Course Hero
✅ Pros:
✔ Huge database of study documents from various universities ✔ Flexible upload-to-unlock option for free access ✔ Fast expert Q&A responses ✔ Affordable annual plan compared to competitors ✔ AI-powered study assistant for quick solutions
❌ Cons:
✖ Expensive monthly plan ✖ Some user-uploaded content lacks accuracy ✖ Limited live tutoring options ✖ Strict refund and cancellation policy ✖ Requires uploading personal study materials to unlock free content
User Reviews & Ratings: What Are Students Saying?
Here’s what students from the US, UK, and Canada are saying about Course Hero:
🔹 Reddit Review: “Great for finding study notes, but unlocking documents is frustrating.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🔹 Trustpilot Review: “Useful for textbook solutions, but expensive if you only need a few answers.” ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🔹 Quora Discussion: “The upload-to-unlock system is helpful, but content quality varies.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
📌 Overall User Rating: 3.9/5
Course Hero vs. Competitors: How Does It Compare?
| Feature | Course Hero | Chegg | TutorBin |
| Study Resources | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Expert Q&A | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Live Tutoring | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Subscription | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| AI Study Helper | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Price | 💲 Medium | 💲 High | 💲 Low |
📌 Best For:
✅ Course Hero: Best for self-study with a large document library.
✅ Chegg: Best for tutoring & textbook solutions.
✅ TutorBin: Best for one-time homework help at a lower cost.
Final Verdict: Is Course Hero Worth It?
✔ If you need access to study notes and textbook solutions, Course Hero is a good option.
✔ It’s useful for self-paced learning, but the quality of uploaded content varies.
✔ However, the subscription can be pricey if you only need a few answers.
📌 Final Rating: 7.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Would we recommend Course Hero? Yes, if you rely on study materials and textbook solutions, but consider alternatives if you need live tutoring or detailed Q&A.
FAQ: Common Questions About Course Hero
1. Is Course Hero legal?
✅ Yes, Course Hero is a legal study resource, but using uploaded materials for direct submission may violate academic policies.
2. Can I get free access to Course Hero?
🔹 Yes, by uploading documents or through limited previews.
3. How do I cancel my Course Hero subscription?
✔ You can cancel via account settings, but be aware of their strict refund policy.
🌟 Did you find this Course Hero review helpful?
➡ Share your thoughts in the comments below! 😊