LitCharts vs SparkNotes
LitCharts
litcharts.comSparkNotes
sparknotes.comSide by side
| Figure | LitCharts | SparkNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5.95/mo | $1.75/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 6 |
| Spec score · Study Guide Websites | 8.0 (#8) | 8.0 (#11) |
| Free access | Most website content is freely accessible, while A+ content such as guide PDFs, quote explanations, and Teacher Editions requires a paid subscription. | SparkNotes says its free plan includes all study guides and requires no sign-up. |
| Support | LitCharts says it typically responds to subscription questions within 24 hours or less on weekdays and directs users to its Help Center for quick answers. | The help page directs account and password questions to Customer Support at [email protected]. |
| Trial | LitCharts says it does not offer a free trial, but provides free samples of downloadable products. | SparkNotes offers a 7-day PLUS free trial and says customers who cancel before it ends will not be charged. |
Plans
LitCharts
- LitCharts free accountFree
- LitCharts A+$71.40 a year
- LitCharts A+ Teacher$95.40 a year
SparkNotes
- FreeFree
- SparkNotes PLUS Monthly$5.99 a month
- SparkNotes PLUS Group Annual (50–99 accounts)$20.99 a year
- SparkNotes PLUS Group Annual (2–49 accounts)$22.49 a year
- SparkNotes PLUS Annual$29.99 a year
- Customized group planPriced on request
In their own words
LitCharts
LitCharts is a literature and poetry resource for students, teachers, and book-club readers, with guides, Shakespeare translations, literary-term material, and learning and teaching tools. Its guides put a bulleted plot outline beside analysis and use color-coded themes to make ideas easier to track through a work. Readers can look up quotes by chapter, theme, or character; A+ access adds explanations and citation details. A+ Teacher includes classroom materials such as close-reading organizers, prompts for essays and discussion, and comprehension checks. AI tools provide study answers and generators for discussion, essay, and quiz questions. Most website content is freely accessible, while guide PDFs, quote explanations, and Teacher Editions require a paid subscription. A free account costs nothing and supports title requests, new-title notifications, and saved highlights and notes. LitCharts A+ is $71.40 a year, and A+ Teacher is $95.40 a year. The service is available on web, Android, and iOS, and includes literature practice questions.
SparkNotes
SparkNotes provides study guides, analysis, and quizzes for understanding schoolwork, writing essays, and preparing for exams. Its library includes more than 1,000 literature guides, along with resources on 80 classic philosophy works and subjects such as film, history, economics, and sociology. The free plan includes all study guides without requiring sign-up, though non-subscribers see ads. SparkNotes PLUS adds No Fear translations and audio, flashcards, mastery quizzes, infographics, graphic novels, and AP test preparation. No Fear presents Shakespeare’s original text beside modern English translations line by line, with audio recordings. AP Test Prep offers interactive lessons and multiple-choice practice with in-depth feedback for AP English Language and Literature. A PLUS dashboard provides access to notes and saved pages, scores, and study progress. SparkTeach has teacher-created lesson plans and downloadable worksheets. SparkNotes is available on the web and iOS. PLUS costs $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year, plus tax, and includes a 7-day free trial; customers who cancel before the trial ends are not charged.