Chegg is one of the most recognized online study platforms in the U.S., but “legit” and “worth your money” aren’t the same thing. We spent two weeks testing Chegg Study, Chegg Writing, and the Math Solver to see what you actually get for $15.95 a month.
- Chegg is real: NYSE-listed (CHGG), founded 2005
- FTC fined Chegg $7.5 million for billing nearly 200,000 users after cancellation requests, making it one of the largest ed-tech enforcement actions in FTC history
- Chegg Study: $15.95/month for 20 expert questions; annual plan drops to $9.95/month if you pay $119.40 upfront for the year
- Trustpilot rating: 2.1/5 stars with billing and refund issues dominating
- Khan Academy and Socratic by Google cover many of the same subjects free
#Chegg Services and How They Work
Chegg launched in 2005 as a textbook rental company out of Santa Clara, California. It now covers homework help, online tutoring, writing assistance, and math solving. Students pay monthly for access to these tools through a subscription model.
The core product is Chegg Study. You type a homework question into the search bar, and Chegg pulls a step-by-step answer from its database of millions of textbook solutions. If your question isn’t already answered, you submit it to a Chegg Expert and typically get a response within a few hours.
In our testing, about 7 out of 10 questions already had existing solutions. The other 3 required expert submissions.
We got those expert responses in under 4 hours each time. Quality varied by subject: math and science answers were solid, but open-ended essay-type questions got generic responses that wouldn’t pass as original work.
#Chegg Pricing and Subscription Plans
Chegg runs on a monthly subscription model. Here’s what each tier costs as of early 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Chegg Study | $15.95 | 20 expert Q&A submissions, textbook solutions (weekly view limits) |
| Chegg Study Pack | $19.95 | Unlimited Q&A, math solver, writing tools, plagiarism checker |
| Chegg Writing | $9.95 | Grammar checks, plagiarism detection, citation help |
| Chegg Math Solver | $9.95 | Step-by-step math solutions across algebra, calculus, and stats |
According to Chegg’s pricing page, an annual Study plan drops the monthly cost to $9.95 if you pay $119.40 upfront. That’s a 38% discount, but it locks you in for a full year.
One thing we noticed during testing: the free trial requires a credit card, and Chegg auto-renews at full price once the trial ends. If you forget to cancel before the trial period closes, you’re charged immediately. This pattern is at the center of most user complaints, similar to the cancellation issues we’ve covered with Adobe.
#Chegg Data Breaches and Security Record
Chegg’s security record is rough. The company suffered four separate data breaches between 2017 and 2020. The worst one, in April 2018, exposed personal information of about 40 million users: names, emails, passwords, and sensitive scholarship data like dates of birth and income ranges.
According to the FTC’s 2023 order, Chegg stored user data in plain text, didn’t have a written security policy until 2021, and failed to provide adequate security training. The FTC now requires Chegg to implement a full information security program, offer multi-factor authentication, and let users request data deletion. If online safety matters to you, our guide on staying safe with online purchases covers similar trust signals to watch for.
We confirmed that Chegg now offers two-factor authentication in account settings. That’s real progress. But the breach history is worth knowing before you hand over your .edu email and payment info.
#Common Complaints and Red Flags
Chegg’s review scores tell a clear story. On Trustpilot, the platform sits at 2.1 out of 5 stars, and Sitejabber reviewers rate it 1.2 out of 5. The BBB lists over 500 complaints in the past three years. Three issues dominate:
Billing after cancellation. The FTC’s $7.5 million settlement specifically addressed Chegg charging nearly 200,000 consumers after they’d requested cancellation. Screenshot your cancellation confirmation if you subscribe.
Hard-to-find cancel button. For years, Chegg buried the cancellation option behind multiple screens. The FTC now requires the company to provide a straightforward cancellation process.
Answer accuracy. Some expert answers are incomplete or wrong. We tested 15 questions across chemistry, statistics, and literature, and three had errors ranging from a wrong formula to a citation that didn’t exist. That 80% accuracy rate is decent for studying but not reliable enough for exam prep without double-checking your textbook first.
#Does Chegg Count as Cheating?
According to Chegg’s honor code page, the platform is for learning, not copying. Studying a solution is fine; copying it word-for-word is academic dishonesty.
Many universities have caught students submitting Chegg answers verbatim. Some schools subpoena Chegg for user data during honor code investigations, and Chegg cooperates with these requests. This is similar to the safety concerns around other online platforms where the terms of service matter more than the marketing promises.
Use Chegg to check your work or understand a concept you’re stuck on. Then write your own answer. Treat it like a tutor, not an answer key.
#Who Benefits Most From Chegg?
Chegg works best for a specific type of student. If you’re taking STEM courses with textbook-heavy problem sets, the solution database saves real time. We found it most useful for calculus, organic chemistry, and introductory physics, where step-by-step breakdowns of textbook problems made concepts click faster than re-reading lecture notes.
It’s less useful for humanities, social sciences, or anything requiring original analysis. Expert answers for essay-type questions tend to be surface-level.
You probably don’t need Chegg if you’re comfortable with free resources. Khan Academy covers math, science, and economics with video lessons at no cost, and Google’s Socratic app gives AI-powered homework help for free on both Android and iOS.
If you’re comparing language learning platforms, our Babbel vs. Duolingo breakdown covers what’s available without a Chegg-style subscription. We’ve also looked at Duolingo vs. Rosetta Stone.
#Chegg vs. Course Hero Comparison
Course Hero is Chegg’s closest competitor. Both platforms offer textbook solutions and expert Q&A, but they differ in pricing and focus.
| Feature | Chegg Study | Course Hero |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $15.95 | $9.95 |
| Expert Q&A | 20 questions/month | 40 unlocks/month |
| Textbook solutions | Millions | Fewer, but growing |
| Unique strength | Step-by-step solutions | Class-specific notes and past exams |
| Free tier | Limited previews | Upload documents to earn unlocks |
Course Hero’s edge is its library of class-specific study materials uploaded by other students. If you want past exams or lecture notes from your exact university, Course Hero is the better pick. Chegg wins on textbook solution depth and the Study Pack bundle.
For students considering other legitimacy questions about online platforms, the key is always the same: check the refund policy and cancellation process before you pay.
#Bottom Line
Chegg is a real company that delivers real study tools. It’s not a scam. But the $7.5 million FTC fine, four data breaches, and thousands of billing complaints mean you should go in with eyes open.
Start with the free trial, set a calendar reminder to cancel before it renews, and never copy answers directly. For many students, free options like Khan Academy or Socratic cover the same ground without the subscription headaches.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Is Chegg worth $15.95 a month?
For STEM students working through textbook problem sets, absolutely. Humanities students get less value.
#Can you cancel Chegg anytime?
Yes. Go to My Account, then Subscriptions, then select Cancel. The FTC’s 2023 settlement requires Chegg to provide a clear cancellation process. Screenshot your confirmation email as proof, and your access continues until the billing cycle ends.
#Will my school know if I use Chegg?
Possibly. Universities can submit honor code investigation requests to Chegg, and the company has cooperated by sharing user data in documented cases. If you copy a Chegg answer verbatim and your professor runs it through plagiarism detection, expect it to flag.
#Is Chegg safe after the data breaches?
Chegg is now under an FTC order requiring a full security program, multi-factor authentication, and data minimization practices. The company has made documented improvements since the 2017-2020 breach period, including hiring a dedicated CISO and implementing encrypted storage. That said, 40 million records were exposed in the worst breach alone. Use a unique password and enable two-factor authentication on your Chegg account regardless of their current security posture.
#Are Chegg answers always correct?
No. In our testing across 15 questions, about 80% of expert answers were accurate. The remaining 20% had errors ranging from wrong formula applications to fabricated citations. Always verify Chegg answers against your textbook or lecture notes before relying on them.
#What are the best free alternatives to Chegg?
Khan Academy offers free video lessons across math, science, and economics. Socratic by Google provides AI-powered homework help on Android and iOS at no cost. Wolfram Alpha handles advanced math computations with a free tier, and Stack Exchange covers community Q&A from programming to physics. Don’t overlook your university’s own tutoring center either.
#Does Chegg offer refunds?
Chegg’s refund policy is limited. Contact support within a few days of being charged and they may issue a refund, but there’s no guaranteed money-back window. Document everything if you plan to dispute.
#How does Chegg compare to using ChatGPT for homework?
ChatGPT is free (or $20/month for Plus) and handles a broader range of questions, but it doesn’t have Chegg’s verified textbook solution database. Chegg’s advantage is sourced, step-by-step answers matched to specific textbook editions, while ChatGPT wins on speed and versatility. For textbook-specific problems with exact page references, Chegg is more reliable.