Pearson+ is Pearson's student subscription for its eTextbooks, with study tools such as search, highlighting, flashcards and audio, plus Pearson+ video study content for common courses. Students use Pearson+ in place of, or alongside, a printed textbook.
A Pearson+ purchase goes well when you know exactly what your course requires, buy the correct edition, and manage the subscription so it does not renew after the semester.
First, check what your course actually requires
This is the most expensive mistake with Pearson+. Many courses use Pearson's MyLab or Mastering homework platforms, where graded assignments are submitted.
A Pearson+ eTextbook subscription is not the same as MyLab or Mastering access. If your instructor sets homework in MyLab, you usually need that access, which often includes the eTextbook already.
Read the syllabus or course page in your learning system. If it gives a course ID for MyLab or Mastering, buy that access through the course link first, then decide whether you need Pearson+ as well. Often you will not.
Single title or multi-title plans
Pearson+ has typically offered a single-title plan for one eTextbook and a multi-title plan with access to a much larger library. Check the current plans and prices on the Pearson+ site.
If you need one Pearson book this term, the single-title plan is cheaper. If two or more of your courses use Pearson texts, or you want to consult related Pearson titles, the multi-title plan can cost less overall.
Count your Pearson books for the whole year, not only this term. A Pearson+ multi-title plan held across two semesters can beat buying single titles twice.
Getting the right edition
Textbooks are revised, and a newer edition changes page numbers, problem sets and sometimes whole chapters. Homework set from the 12th edition may not match the 11th.
Match the ISBN or the author, title and edition on your syllabus exactly when searching Pearson+. If only a different edition is available, ask your instructor whether it is acceptable before paying.
Check the preview. Pearson+ usually shows the table of contents, so you can confirm the chapters your course lists are there.
Study tools, offline reading and devices
The Pearson+ app lets you read on a phone or tablet and download chapters for offline reading. Highlights and notes sync across devices when you reconnect.
Audio lets you listen to chapters, which helps with long reading loads. Flashcards and search save time before exams.
Printing is usually restricted in eTextbooks. If you study better on paper, check whether Pearson offers a print rental or add-on for your title.
Renewals, the term length and cancelling
Pearson+ is a subscription, commonly billed for a set term and set to renew automatically. Check the term length when buying and note when it ends.
Turn off auto-renew in your Pearson account once you know when the course finishes, unless you want the book for the next course in the sequence.
Refund rules depend on timing and how you bought. Pearson has typically allowed refunds within a short window, but check the current policy before relying on one.
Pearson+ versus other ways to get the book
The campus bookstore may bundle MyLab access with a loose-leaf print copy. Some universities use inclusive access, billing the Pearson materials through tuition.
If your university uses inclusive access, check before buying Pearson+, or you may pay twice for the same book. Opting out is sometimes possible, but deadlines are early in the term.
A library copy on reserve can cover a course with light reading. Pearson+ earns its keep when you read the book weekly.
Wait until the first class if you can. Instructors sometimes tell students on day one that the book is optional, or that an older edition will do, and that information is worth more than any Pearson+ code.
Keep the receipt and order email. If a Pearson+ charge looks wrong, or a subscription renews by mistake, the order number makes the support request quick.
Where the Pearson+ savings are
These Pearson+ codes are listed:
Try SUMMER40 first; it is the largest, but seasonal Pearson+ codes can be tied to certain months or plans. PREP20 and STUDY15 are the fallbacks.
Codes usually apply to Pearson+ subscriptions bought directly, not to MyLab access bought through a course link or bookstore. They also tend to apply to the first term only.
A percentage off a multi-title plan saves more in dollars than the same percentage off a single title. If you are between the two plans, compare discounted prices.
Only one Pearson+ code normally applies per purchase. Check the total before confirming.
Common questions
Does Pearson+ include MyLab?
No. MyLab and Mastering are separate; they often include the eTextbook, not the other way round.
Will Pearson+ renew automatically?
Usually yes. Turn off auto-renew in your Pearson account if you do not need the next term.
Can I read Pearson+ offline?
Yes, by downloading chapters in the Pearson+ app.
What if my edition is not on Pearson+?
Ask your instructor before buying a different edition.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 25% off | Promo code | View at Pearson+ → |
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Pearson+ → |
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Pearson+ → |
| 60% off | Promo code | View at Pearson+ → |