Course Hero's subscription plans and what each one costs
Course Hero offers a free tier and three paid subscription levels. The free account lets you view some study materials and ask questions, but limits how many documents you can read each month. Paid plans remove those limits and add features like tutoring access and document uploads.
The three paid tiers are called Starter, Plus, and Premium. Starter is the lowest-cost option and gives you unlimited document downloads plus priority customer support. Plus adds live tutoring hours and the ability to message tutors directly. Premium includes everything in Plus, plus unlimited tutoring sessions and priority access to tutors.
Course Hero charges monthly or annually. Monthly subscriptions cost more per month than annual ones, because paying upfront for a year gives you a discount. The exact dollar amounts change periodically and vary by region, so the price you see when you log in may differ from what another user sees.
Key Takeaways
- Course Hero's free tier lets you view materials and ask questions, but limits how many documents you can read each month.
- Paid plans remove read limits and add tutoring access; the more expensive the plan, the more tutoring hours you get.
- Monthly subscriptions cost more per month than annual ones, because annual plans offer a discount for paying upfront.
- Prices vary by region and change over time, so you should check the Course Hero website directly to see current rates.
- You can cancel a paid subscription at any time, though refunds depend on how long you have had the plan.
How the free tier works and what it limits
The free Course Hero account does not cost anything and never expires. You can create a profile, upload documents, ask questions in the Q&A section, and view some study materials that other users have shared. You also get access to Course Hero's essay samples and flashcard sets.
The main limit on the free tier is document downloads. Free accounts can read a set number of documents per month—typically between 5 and 10, though this number can change. Once you hit that limit, you cannot read more until the next calendar month. You can still view documents on the website without downloading them, but you cannot save them to your computer.
Free accounts also have slower access to tutoring. You can message tutors, but response times are longer than they are for paid subscribers. If you need when ready help, a paid plan will get you faster replies.
What Starter, Plus, and Premium include
Starter removes the monthly read limit, so you can read as many documents as you want. You also get priority customer support, meaning your emails and messages are answered faster. Starter does not include tutoring access.
Plus includes everything in Starter, plus access to live tutoring. You get a set number of tutoring hours per month (the exact number varies by plan). You can also message tutors one-on-one and get responses faster than free users do. Plus is the middle option and is what most students choose if they want tutoring but do not need unlimited sessions.
Premium is the highest tier. It includes unlimited tutoring hours, meaning you can message tutors and book live sessions as much as you want during your subscription period. You also get priority access to tutors, so your messages are answered first. Premium is designed for students who need heavy tutoring support throughout the semester.
Monthly versus annual billing and how much you save
Course Hero lets you pay month-to-month or commit to a full year upfront. The monthly option is more flexible—you can cancel anytime without penalty—but costs more per month. The annual option requires you to pay for all 12 months at once, but the monthly cost works out lower because you get a discount for committing longer.
The discount for annual billing varies by plan. Generally, paying annually costs 20 to 40 percent less per month than paying monthly, but the exact percentage depends on which plan you choose and when you sign up. Course Hero sometimes runs promotions that lower the annual price further.
If you are unsure whether you will need the service for a full year, the monthly plan is safer even though it costs more. You can always switch to annual billing later if you find yourself renewing month after month.
How to see current prices and check for discounts
The best way to find out what Course Hero costs right now is to visit their pricing page directly. Prices are displayed when you click on any plan, and you can see both the monthly and annual rates before you enter any payment information. The site shows you the total cost upfront, so there are no hidden fees added at checkout.
Course Hero regularly runs promotions, especially at the start of the school year and around major holidays. These promotions usually offer a percentage off the first month or first year. You may also see a discount if you have not used the service in a while and log back in—the site sometimes offers returning users a limited-time deal.
Student discounts are sometimes available through your school's partnership programs. Check with your university or college to see if they have a deal with Course Hero. Some schools bundle it into their student services or offer a code that reduces the price.
Cancellation, refunds, and what happens to your account
You can cancel a Course Hero subscription at any time through your account settings. If you are on a monthly plan, the cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle. If you are on an annual plan, you can cancel, but you will lose access to paid features when your year is up—Course Hero does not refund the unused portion of an annual subscription.
Some exceptions exist. If you cancel within a very short window after signing up (usually a few days), Course Hero may refund your payment. If you were charged twice by mistake or encounter a billing error, contact their customer support team to request a refund. The refund policy can vary, so it is worth asking if you think you have a legitimate claim.
When your subscription ends, your account does not disappear. You revert to the free tier and can still access documents you uploaded and questions you asked. You just lose the ability to read unlimited documents and access tutoring until you subscribe again.
Comparing Course Hero to other study platforms
Course Hero is one of several platforms that offer document sharing and tutoring. Chegg is a direct competitor and offers similar features—document downloads, Q&A, and tutoring—at comparable price points. Chegg's pricing structure is similar: a free tier with limits, and paid plans that unlock more features.
Studyblue and Quizlet focus more on flashcards and study sets than document sharing, and their free tiers are more generous. If you mainly need flashcards, those platforms may cost less or be free. If you need full documents and tutoring, Course Hero and Chegg are the main options.
Some students use a combination of platforms. For example, you might use Quizlet for flashcards (free) and Course Hero for documents and tutoring (paid). Comparing what you actually need—documents, tutoring, flashcards, or all three—will help you decide whether Course Hero is worth the cost for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get Course Hero for free?
Yes, the free tier is permanent and never expires. You can read a limited number of documents per month and access Q&A and study materials. If you need unlimited downloads or tutoring, you will need a paid plan.
What is the cheapest paid plan?
Starter is the lowest-cost paid plan. It removes read limits and adds priority support, but does not include tutoring. If you only need to read documents without limits, Starter is enough. Plus and Premium cost more because they add tutoring access.
Do I have to pay for a full year, or can I cancel anytime?
You can choose monthly or annual billing. Monthly plans can be cancelled anytime without penalty. Annual plans lock you in for 12 months, but you get a lower monthly cost. If you cancel an annual plan early, you do not get a refund for unused months.
Is there a student discount?
Course Hero sometimes offers discounts through school partnerships or seasonal promotions. Check your school's student services page or contact Course Hero directly to ask if your institution has a deal. Promotional codes are also sometimes available during back-to-school season.
What happens if I cancel my subscription?
Your account reverts to the free tier. You keep access to documents you uploaded and questions you asked, but you lose unlimited downloads and tutoring access. You can resubscribe anytime if you change your mind.