Course Hero is a real online study platform, founded in 2006 and now part of Learneo, Inc. It offers study guides, practice problems and step-by-step explanations through a subscription or by uploading your own materials. The catch is academic integrity: its honor code says copying solutions and submitting them as your own can get you terminated.
Students and parents ask me whether Course Hero is legit because it turns up in search results for nearly every textbook question going. It is a real company with a real product. Whether it's a good idea for you depends on how you use it, and on what your school allows. Here's what Course Hero says about itself, plus what Wikipedia reports.
Who runs Course Hero
Course Hero's About page says it's an online learning platform for course-specific study resources, founded by college student Andrew Grauer in 2006. It says it's part of Learneo, Inc., whose portfolio also includes CliffsNotes, LitCharts, QuillBot, Scribbr and Symbolab. Wikipedia lists Learneo as the owner and Grauer as chief executive, with the company based in Redwood City, California.
So this isn't an anonymous site. It has a named parent company, a long history and a published honor code, which is more than I can say for the many sites that copy its look.
What you get with Course Hero
Course Hero says students can subscribe or contribute their own resources to access millions of learning materials, including practice problems, study guides, textbook solutions and step-by-step explanations. Wikipedia adds that registration is optional but needed to upload, download and view full tutor answers, and that users either subscribe or upload documents to earn unlocks.
In practice, that means there are two routes in. You can pay for access, or you can share your own original notes and earn access that way. I couldn't read Course Hero's terms or billing pages while researching this, so I won't tell you what a subscription costs, how refunds work or how to cancel. Check those pages yourself before you enter card details.
Course Hero's honor code and academic integrity
This is the section that matters most. Course Hero's honor code says that when you register you must confirm you've read, understood and agreed to comply with it. It also says anyone found to violate their school's academic integrity policy by misusing the site to cheat, or claim another user's content as their own, will be terminated from its services.
The honor code spells out what it expects:
- Use the materials to quiz yourself, study more effectively and understand your course.
- Upload original study materials that you created entirely on your own.
- Cross-reference solutions and explanations with other authoritative sources.
- Follow your instructors' or institution's academic honor codes.
And what it doesn't allow:
- Copying solutions directly and submitting them as your own work.
- Uploading another person's study materials and claiming them as your own.
- Using the site or its tutors to complete assignments when you've been told not to use outside help.
- Using the service in any way that breaks your school's rules.
The honor code also tells users to follow their instructors' guidelines on homework help platforms such as Course Hero, and on generative AI tools. If your course says no outside help, that rule applies, whatever the site lets you click.
What Wikipedia reports about Course Hero's criticism
Wikipedia's article records criticism too, and a fair review should include it. It reports concern that some uploaded documents, such as exams and instructor study guides, are the intellectual property of faculty and not students. It also says takedowns follow the Digital Millennium Copyright Act process once a copyright owner files a notice. Educators can use that route to ask for material to be removed.
If you teach, that's worth knowing. If you're a student, it's a reason to upload only your own original notes and never a teacher's exam or a classmate's work.
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Is Course Hero safe to use for studying?
Used as a study aid, it's a legitimate option. Used to copy answers, it puts your academic record at risk, and the honor code says in black and white that it can end your access. A sensible approach is to try the problem yourself first, then compare your method to a worked solution, then write your own answer in your own words.
If you're building skills for work rather than a degree, my round-up of online learning platforms for business skills may suit you better. And if you're learning to write for a living, where to learn copywriting for free as a beginner is a good place to start.
Spotting fake Course Hero offers
Search for free Course Hero answers and you'll find sites promising unlocked documents, usually in return for an upload, a survey or your login. Be careful. Giving your password or card details to a site that only claims to be linked to Course Hero is an easy way to lose an account. If you want access, go to Course Hero directly and read its terms.
Course Hero facts at a glance
| What I checked | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Who owns it | Learneo, Inc. (Course Hero's About page and Wikipedia) |
| Founded | 2006, by college student Andrew Grauer |
| What it offers | Study guides, practice problems, textbook solutions, step-by-step explanations |
| How you get access | Subscribe or contribute your own resources |
| Cheating rule | Honor code: misuse to cheat can mean termination |
| Not confirmed | Billing, refund and cancellation terms were not readable |
Is Course Hero worth it?
If you'll use it to understand how problems are solved and your school is fine with it, it can be useful. If your plan is to copy answers, don't. For anyone looking to teach themselves a skill instead, my take on whether you should learn copywriting shows how to pick a skill worth the effort.
Frequently asked questions
Is Course Hero legit?
Yes. It's a real company founded in 2006 and part of Learneo, Inc., according to its About page. It has a published honor code.
Who owns Course Hero?
Course Hero says it's part of Learneo, Inc., which also owns CliffsNotes, LitCharts, QuillBot, Scribbr and Symbolab.
Can you get in trouble for using Course Hero?
The honor code says misuse to cheat or claim another user's content as your own can get you terminated. Your school may have its own rules, so check your instructors' guidelines.
Do you need to pay to use Course Hero?
Course Hero says you can subscribe or contribute your own resources to access materials. I couldn't read its billing pages, so check the terms before entering card details.
Is Course Hero allowed for homework?
That depends on your instructor and institution. The honor code tells users to follow their instructors' guidelines on homework help platforms and generative AI tools.
