# OpenStax + SE — College Textbooks and Videos

> Free college textbooks and optional paid study guides/videos. (iPhone/iPad app by STUDY EDGE, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openstax-plus-se/id1473661166 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [STUDY EDGE, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/730083639)
- Category: Education, Books
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.10/5 from 305 App Store ratings · 50 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 71 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2019-08-16
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openstax-plus-se/id1473661166/reviews.md

## What is OpenStax + SE?

9.5 millions students have saved over $626 million by using free textbooks by OpenStax. Written and peer-reviewed by experts, OpenStax textbooks cover the standard scope and sequence of most introductory college courses. Our books are free and yours forever—no access codes or expiration dates. 

OpenStax + SE delivers all our content for free, plus free study guides and tutorial videos for the first several chapters of each book from our partners at Study Edge. Want extra study help?  Subscribe to OpenStax + SE for $14.95 per month for unlimited access to Study Edge videos and study guides alongside your free book. All videos in OpenStax + SE are created by professional tutors and graduate students, all of whom have years of experience tutoring in their respective subjects and can teach difficult concepts in ways that college students can easily grasp. 

“About a year ago I became homeless and had to withdraw from class leaving me unable to receive financial aid. Being a single mom of two children I couldn’t possibly afford a $200 book, but your book made it possible for me to go back to school without the stress of “how will I afford it.” Thank you! I really hope openstax grows, because you guys are providing a way for me and many others to get a better education so we could better our lives.
-	Jenny, community college student

We offer over 30 titles: Algebra and Trigonometry, American Government, Anatomy & Physiology, Astronomy, Organizational Behavior, Biology, Business Ethics, Business Statistics, Calculus, Chemistry: Atoms First, Chemistry, College Algebra, College  Physics, Concepts of Biology (non-majors biology), Principles of Economics, elementary Algebra, Financial Accounting, Intermediate Algebra, Introduction to Business, Introduction to Sociology, Introductory Statistics, Macroeconomics, Management, Managerial Accounting, Microbiology, Microeconomics, Prealgebra, Precalculus, Psychology, University Physics, U.S. History, AP Biology, AP U.S. History, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, and AP College Physics. 

Privacy Policy: https://www.studyedge.com/openstax-privacy
Terms of Use: https://www.studyedge.com/openstax-terms

## Key features

- Free college textbooks
- Peer-reviewed content
- Free study guides
- Free tutorial videos
- Optional subscription for unlimited video access
- Content from over 30 college courses

## What do users think of OpenStax + SE?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 💰 Free or affordable textbook access
- 👍 Easy to navigate and intuitive interface
- 📱 Convenient mobile access anytime, anywhere
- 📚 Comprehensive course material coverage
- 🎥 Helpful supplementary videos
- ✅ Practice questions and assessments
- 📖 Well-organized content with clear sections
- ⚡ Fast performance without lagging
- 🔗 Useful hyperlinks and cross-references
- 📝 Chapter summaries for quick review
- 🎯 Ability to zoom in on text and images
- 🏫 School-specific course selection
- 🌐 Multi-device accessibility

**Cons**

- 🐛 Session not saved between app closures
- 🔐 Requires re-login every time app opens
- ✏️ No highlighting feature on mobile version
- 🚫 Limited annotation capabilities
- ⏱️ App runs slowly at times
- 📦 Not all latest textbook editions available
- 🔔 Excessive notification pop-ups
- 📍 Must reselect school info on each launch

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App does not maintain logged-in state
- Must re-enter school name and subject selection on each launch
- Page position not saved when closing app
- Slow performance reported by some users
- Mobile PDF compatibility issues on iPad
- Highlighting feature unavailable on mobile despite being on desktop version

**Most requested features**

- Bookmark and save reading progress to account
- Highlighting tool on mobile app
- Text-to-speech/audiobook functionality
- In-app speaker for audio narration
- Tutorial or introduction guide for new users
- Better visibility of 'Check Your Understanding' feature
- Answer keys for all review questions
- Navigation back to previous location after viewing answers
- Updated textbook editions
- Persistent login between sessions

## Recent user reviews (10 of 50)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openstax-plus-se/id1473661166/reviews.md

### 5/5 — So much material

*2022-11-30, version 1.32*

There’s so much material you can access and the price isn’t bad at all. It’s definitely helped a lot in understanding the material for my courses that involved a lot of math because I’m not very great at understanding but the videos break everything down well. I even found material for Business Law which is a class I take as well so that was a pleasant suprise!

### 5/5 — Best thing for students

*2022-11-20, version 1.32*

This app might be the best thing ive come across since I started college. It helps me navigate my courses and narrow done my sections I want to study in a very organized matter, which is super convenient for me! Also, make sure to check out the videos, they really help explain course content!!!

### 5/5 — Phenomenal free textbook resource

*2022-07-25, version 1.32*

It’s truly great to see that such a practical and useful solution has been put together for the benefit of those who otherwise would have little accessibility to expensive textbooks. 

I’ve been reading the text on Astrology and find it is well put together and deeply insightful.

### 5/5 — Amazing app for all students!

*2022-07-20, version 1.32*

This app is such a great resource for all students. It is easy to access info when you are on the go. Everything is connected and organized so you don’t have to go on different platforms to find course content. If you need an app that stores all your course info get this app!! Highly recommend to anyone especially if you want to access material anytime and anywhere!

### 4/5 — Great resource!

*2022-07-18, version 1.32*

I think the app overall acts as a great resource for both college and middle/high school students; there isn’t an overwhelming number of tabs to navigate within the app which makes for easy access between the textbook and the extra videos and bonus content. Having everything accessible within the app rather than having to navigate to a bunch of different platforms has also been really convenient for studying.

### 4/5 — Easy and super convenient

*2022-07-17, version 1.32*

I often have difficulty navigating apps like these, but this app could not be easier to figure out. It’s organized into simple sections and each hyperlink takes you exactly where you want to go. It’s super convenient to have an online form of a textbook, allowing you to study whenever and wherever you need.

### 4/5 — Needs updating

*2022-06-15, version 1.32*

App works great. Easy to navigate. Text is readable, better than using the mobile site. My only issue is that the app needs updated to include the latest editions. For example, American Government Third Edition is my required course material. I have been reading it on the website, but only the Second Edition is available in the app. Once that is up to date it will be so much easier for me to read my textbooks!

### 4/5 — Pretty Great App!

*2022-04-11, version 1.31*

I really like how the apps are organized into sections of reading and videos within the book. I have no complaints about the price and how many hyperlinks are provided within the textbooks. However, it would be nice if my progress within the textbook was saved so that I can go back to where I left off.

### 5/5 — So amazing!!

*2022-04-11, version 1.31*

I love OpenStax. The app makes it so easy to navigate through my courses and watch videos that correspond with concepts I don’t understand. It’s also really easy to subscribe and unsubscribe, and it’s just a great way to access class material and my textbook literally anywhere. Totally recommend getting it if your school is available!!!

### 5/5 — Free and easy to use!

*2022-03-26, version 1.31*

Openstax is a great program and I am so happy to have come across it!  The app makes learning so easy to do and has helped me do well in a lot of my classes. The textbooks have great examples and explain everything easy to comprehend. The app is almost perfect it’s quick and easy to navigate. I can learn on my phone at anytime I want! Definitely recommend downloading the app and using it !!!!

## Frequently asked questions about OpenStax + SE

### What is OpenStax + SE?

OpenStax + SE provides free, peer-reviewed college textbooks for a wide range of introductory college courses. It also offers free study guides and tutorial videos for the initial chapters of each book, with an optional subscription for unlimited access to more advanced study materials.

### How much does OpenStax + SE cost?

The core content, including textbooks, study guides, and tutorial videos for the first several chapters, is completely free. An optional subscription is available for $14.95 per month, granting unlimited access to all Study Edge videos and study guides.

### What subjects are covered by the textbooks?

The app offers over 30 titles covering a broad spectrum of college subjects, including mathematics (Algebra, Calculus, Precalculus), sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology), social sciences (Sociology, Economics, Psychology, U.S. History), and business (Accounting, Management, Statistics).

### Who creates the study videos and guides?

The optional subscription content, including videos and study guides, is created by professional tutors and graduate students. These individuals have extensive experience tutoring college students and are skilled at explaining difficult concepts in an easily understandable manner.

### Are the textbooks available offline?

The description does not explicitly state whether textbooks are available offline. However, it emphasizes that the books are 'yours forever—no access codes or expiration dates,' suggesting a permanent digital ownership once accessed.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 1.32 — 2022-04-28

- Bug fixes and improvements.

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All apps by STUDY EDGE, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/730083639

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*