LibreTexts vs VitalSource Bookshelf
LibreTexts
libretexts.orgVitalSource Bookshelf
vitalsource.comSide by side
| Figure | LibreTexts | VitalSource Bookshelf |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $104.17/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 2 |
| Spec score · Digital Textbook Platforms | 8.3 (#6) | 8.3 (#7) |
| Accessibility | LibreTexts states a goal for its platform and features to meet or exceed Revised Section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.1 AA, and says it audits accessibility at major development milestones. | VitalSource states that Bookshelf supports assistive technologies and provides accessibility conformance documentation. |
| Founded | 2008 | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Davis, California, United States | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
| Privacy | LibreTexts says it does not accept advertising or sell, rent, or lease user lists to third parties, and it describes collection of voluntarily provided personal information and anonymous Google Analytics demographics. | VitalSource says it does not share or sell user or partner data and builds its technologies to function without personal information. |
| Purpose | LibreTexts is a nonprofit open education resource platform for creating, customizing, and sharing accessible, interactive textbooks, adaptive homework, and ancillary materials. | Bookshelf is an app for reading and studying eTextbooks and other digital learning materials. |
| Support | LibreTexts offers free support tickets, monthly webinars, weekly office hours, and free Academy lessons. | VitalSource advertises 24x7x365 Tier 1 support in English and Spanish and maintains separate learner, educator, partner, and Bookshelf support portals. |
Plans
LibreTexts
- ADAPTFree
- All-AccessFree
- Jupyter HubFree
- LibreTexts core platformFree
- The ForgeFree
- LibreNet Consortium (affiliate)$1,250 a year
- LibreNet Consortium (full)$2,500 a year
In their own words
LibreTexts
LibreTexts is a nonprofit open education platform for creating, adapting, and sharing accessible textbooks, homework, and related learning materials. Its libraries cover 17 subject fields and more than 2,000 textbooks, and instructors can remix chapters into custom books. Pages can include Jupyter Notebooks, ADAPT homework questions, 3D visualizations, and videos. ADAPT supports formative and summative assessment and includes a shared bank of more than 240,000 openly licensed elements. LibreTexts can be embedded in institutional learning management systems over a secure connection, with optional grade and assessment exchange. Guides cover importing books into Canvas, Moodle, and D2L, and also mention Blackboard. Book pages may provide PDF, EPUB, and editable downloads. Educators can create, adapt, and host open educational resources free of charge. The service is available on the web, Android, and iOS, with offline access and annotation tools. A free plan is listed, with paid pricing from $15/mo.
VitalSource Bookshelf
VitalSource Bookshelf is an app for reading and studying eTextbooks and other digital learning materials on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. Its study tools include highlighting, notes, flashcards, bookmarks, citations, search, and read-aloud. Users can download titles in desktop or mobile apps for offline reading and study, and notes and highlights sync across registered devices. VitalSource says the app supports assistive technologies for people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. It can be installed on up to two computers and two mobile devices at a time. Integrations support learning management system access, single sign-on, roster sync, and grade pass-back. The app is free to install at free, while eTextbook content may require purchase or an active license; pricing is also listed on request. For offline access to a lifetime-access eTextbook, download it within 180 days of purchase. VitalSource says assignments and library filters are being deprecated as part of a Bookshelf experience update.