Perlego, a subscription based digital library
Perlego is a digital subscription-based academic library that provides access to a massive collection of academic and professional books. Instead of buying individual textbooks—which can be expensive and heavy— pay a monthly, semesterly, or annual fee for digital access to thousands of titles at once.
With an active subscription, you can read on the web, or download books in the Perlego mobile app for offline reading, with built-in study tools designed to help you learn more effectively.
You don't 'own' these books in the traditional sense, but you have constant access to them as long as you have a subscription.
What you can do with Perlego
Here’s what you can expect from the platform:
Access a large online library
Perlego offers access to over 1 million books across 1,000+ topics—from Art to Zoology.
Read and study with built-in tools
As you read, you can use features like:
Read Aloud (text-to-speech)
Highlights, notes, and bookmarks
Notebook (to organise notes and highlights across books)
References & citations (generate citations in multiple styles)
Reader settings (fonts, zoom, background colours, focus tools like BeeLine and dyslexic-friendly options, where available)
Bookshelves (to organise your reading and add external learning content)
Good to know: Some tools and shortcuts are available on web and app, and a few features may differ depending on where and what you’re reading.
How Perlego works
Choose a subscription plan and billing cycle.
While your subscription is active, you can read as many books as you like from the collection available in your library/plan.
While you're reading, utilise built-in tools our reader provides.
Build your own bookshelves in the library and keep track of all your notes and highlights in one place.
Make changes to your subscription anytime through your subscription settings on the website.
Where you can use Perlego
You can read on:
Web browser (on a laptop/desktop/tablet/mobile)
Perlego mobile app (iOS and Android)
Offline reading (mobile app)
You can download books in the Perlego app to read offline—great for commuting or travelling. Downloaded books are stored inside the Perlego app.
Note: Perlego currently doesn’t offer a desktop app (reading on desktop is via your browser).
Plans, pricing, and billing
Perlego offers multiple plan options (for example, Essential and Complete) and different billing cycles (including Monthly, Semesterly, and Annual).
For the most accurate plan details (including what’s included and current pricing), check:
Languages and availability
Perlego is available worldwide. 🌎
The library includes books in multiple languages (currently including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Italian), and you can change the language reflected in your library via your account settings or the footer of the website.
Subscribe
Check for university access: many universities partner with us. Check your library portal to see if you can log in for free!
Pick your billing: choose Monthly for ultimate flexibility, Semesterly, or Annual to save up to 33% on your subscription.
Choose your plan: the Essential Plan is ideal for general academic or professional use, while the Complete Plan offers features suited for advanced research or specialised content.
Start reading: search by ISBN, title, or author and start building your personal bookshelves.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print books?
To protect our publishers' copyright, you can copy up to 10% of any book. There is no in-platform tool to print directly from the reader.
Can I cancel anytime?
Absolutely. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through your subscription settings on the website.
Can I get a refund?
Yes—Perlego offers a refund if you contact support within 14 days of your first charge (refunds aren’t automatic). Reach us via live chat or email [email protected]; refunds are usually processed within 10 working days (bank-dependent).
Do I have to pay for individual books?
No—Perlego is a subscription service. As long as your subscription is active, you can access the books included in your plan.
Can I download books?
Yes, you can download books in the Perlego mobile app for offline reading. Downloaded books are stored inside the app.
Can I read on my phone or tablet?
Yes—use the Perlego app on iOS and Android to read anywhere (including offline).
Why did a book disappear or become unavailable?
Publishers control availability, including regional rights and how long a title remains in the collection. We will always include at least a 30 day notice on any title leaving the library.
Troubleshooting: if you encounter difficulties locating or accessing a book, consider verifying your subscription status in your account settings. Additionally, review your search terms to ensure accuracy or try alternate keywords related to the book.
Any further questions?
If you’d like a walkthrough of how reading works, start here:
If something isn’t working as expected or you have any questions, you can reach support via live chat or email [email protected]