Despite the rising popularity of e-books and digital publications, traditional printed books are still not exactly cheap.
Buying affordable, second hand books online is, therefore, a great way for regular readers to save a pile of money.
And now, thanks to the proliferation of the internet, finding second hand books online is much easier.
Recent years have seen a mushrooming of websites that sell such used books, magazines, and publications in good condition at a fraction of their printed cost.
And if you are looking for variety, then most of these sites also offer a great selection of second hand books online across a range of genres.
This includes textbooks, entrance exam guides, vocational courses, fiction books, non-fiction, business & economics, self-help, and personality development, biographies, and children’s books, to name a few.
So if you’re looking for the best places to buy second hand books online – you have come to the right place.
Table of Contents
11 Best Places to Buy Second Hand Books Online
Below is a carefully curated list of 11 best places to get used books online in good condition– to satiate your appetite for reading without burning a hole in your pocket.
1. BetterWorldBooks
This US-based website offers a massive collection of new and second hand books online – which includes best sellers from top authors like Jeffrey Archer and Mario Puzo (author of the Godfather series), travel books, textbooks, and story books for kids.
Looking for a good bargain? Checkout their Bargain Bin section for a super selection of used books online and avail of steep discounts – like 20% off if you buy 4 or more second hand books. And did we mention they also ship orders to India – for free.
2. PustakKosh
Students can save up to 70% of their expenses on books on this site which allows them to rent, buy and sell second hand books online and avail themselves of the added convenience of a cash-on-delivery system.
Pustakkosh stocks books stocks books on a variety of subjects, from children’s books to academic books on – Mathematics, Bio-technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and electronic communications, among others.
3. Amazon.in
In addition to a vast collection of new books and best sellers available here, Amazon also offers a section called – Local Finds – where you can easily buy and/or sell used books online.
The books cover various genres, including; textbooks and examination books (MBA, medical, civil services, banking, engineering) and books on business & economics, self-help, romance, literature and fiction, and crime thrillers.
What’s more, you will also get a full refund if you’re unsatisfied with the books delivered to your doorstep.
4. BooksByKilo
This popular site sells second hand books online by their weight and not by their printed cost. You get to choose from three primary categories – the premium collection, the classic collection, and the classic collection.
Though not new, the site claims that all books are thoroughly checked for quality and are dispatched in good condition.
It also offers free shipping (in Mumbai) for orders above INR 1000 and special discounts on bulk orders.
5. Bookchor
This website allows you to buy, sell and exchange books at fair prices.
The featured listings on this site include books on academics (arts, management, school & computer science), magazines (lifestyle, health & fitness, business, and humour), tutorials & skill enhancements (certification courseware, dummies guides, entrance exam prep, and foreign language guides).
For lovers of fiction, it also offers a great collection of novels & best-sellers (crime, horror, fantasy) and non-fiction books (biographies, autobiographies, crafts & hobbies, cooking & food).
6. Quikr
Quikr, the popular online marketplace, also has a category for buying and selling old/used books.
You get to choose from second hand books which have been – heavily used, gently used and almost like new.
The selection includes an assortment of books ranging from used children’s books, academic textbooks and study materials, fiction & non-fiction titles and other varieties of heavily discounted used books, across various price points.
7. OLX
You can also get lucky in your quest to find a particular title or textbook in the second hand books category on this online marketplace.
Frequent finds here include used school textbooks, engineering & medical course books, and study material for NEET and other competitive examinations posted by individual sellers.
8. SaveBooks
This online bookstore aims to save trees by encouraging the buying of second hand books online at low prices near your location, school/college, or class.
Here books are just a click away and are available across multiple categories, which include school (NCERT, entrance, science, language, commerce, computer, mathematics), college (bachelor, master degree, Ph.D., BCA, MCA, MBA, B.Sc and M.Sc) and My Place – a section which allows you to search for books closest to your location/campus.
9. BooksYaari
If you’re on the lookout for good quality, second hand books at reasonable prices delivered to your doorstep, then this is the place you need to be.
It stocks used books across various academic (school, graduate & post-graduate) levels.
Some of the other popular options include books on fiction, non-fiction, engineering & management, biographies, and autobiographies.
Lovers of fiction are eligible for a further 5% discount for buying books INR 499 & above and a 10% discount for deals worth INR 799 and more.
You can also buy select books listed in their – Sale at 60 – section for just INR 60 per piece.
10. BuySecondHandbook
Second hand books across popular categories, including; romance, fiction, travel, photography, short stories, children, biographies, and non-fiction, are up for sale on this site.
All purchases come with a 100% money-back guarantee, while orders above INR 500 are also eligible for free shipping.
As an added incentive, this Guruguram-based site also offers additional discounts of 10-20% on using special promo codes (listed onsite) and discount coupons.
11. BuyUsedBooks
This online marketplace for books is the perfect place to find millions of rare books, used books, and even out-of-print books from across the world – on sale.
From books dating back to the 15th century to new and used textbooks for students and rare titles that are sure to excite book collectors – this site has something for everyone.
In Conclusion
As somebody once put it beautifully – A reader lives a thousand life’s before he dies. The man who never reads, leads only one.
It’s also been scientifically proven that reading regularly comes with several health benefits – like relieving stress, improving IQ, and keeping degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s at bay.
But above all it’s a great way to stay updated and increase your knowledge on various subjects.
So now that we have given you the tools to search for how some excellent reading material online – without the need to spend a king’s ransom – it's time you reignite your passion for books.
And be sure to let us know how it went. Happy Reading.
