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VERDICT

Should I use ThriftBooks?

Spend less. Read more. - thriftbooks.com

Worth it. Buy if you're a budget reader who wants cheap used books and can tolerate occasional condition-grading or support hiccups. Skip it if you need guaranteed pristine copies, collectible-grade condition, or reliable buyback payouts.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 15 public sources: Reddit threads, review and complaint sites, official pricing/security pages, and news coverage.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security postureNo security posture data in sources reviewed

Pricing

Per-book retail

Varies by title and condition

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed

Best for

  • Bargain readers
  • Casual bulk reading
  • Out-of-print title hunting
  • Everyday paperback restocking

Not for

  • Collectors and gift-givers needing pristine copies
  • Rare-book buyers needing vetted condition reports
  • Sellers expecting guaranteed buyback payouts
  • Buyers unwilling to dispute damaged orders with support

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Condition grades are inconsistent — 'Like New' copies can arrive worn or with missing pages.

medium

Buyback quotes aren't guaranteed; books can be rejected after you ship them.

medium

Complaint boards describe slow, unsatisfying resolutions for damaged or wrong orders.

medium

Typo domains like are NOT ThriftBooks — that site scores 2.7 'Poor'.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Used books cost well below retail, per r/Frugal users
  • 13 million new and used titles in catalog
  • First-time buyers report smooth, positive ordering experiences
  • $2.39 shipping on orders under $15
  • Buyback program pays for books you're done with

Cons

  • Missing pages and misgraded condition reported by buyers
  • Just 1.4/5 on ComplaintsBoard; 148 PissedConsumer reviews
  • BBB complaints on file over order problems
  • 'Like New' grading unreliable, say long-time users

Sources & method

Analyzed 10/04/2026 - 15 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x2review x10security x1news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Varies by title and condition

    Starting price

  • 15

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Consistently low used-book prices per user reports
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Praised as user-friendly; polished iOS app
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Loyalty program, buyback, app — retail basics only
  • Support quality: 2/5. 1.4/5 ComplaintsBoard; BBB and PissedConsumer complaints
  • Security posture. No security posture data in sources reviewed
  • 13M+ Catalog size new & used titles per App Store listing
  • $2.39 Shipping under $15 from official shipping page
  • 842 ResellerRatings customer reviews of thriftbooks.com
  • 1.4/5 ComplaintsBoard complaint-site score

Pricing

Per-book retail

Varies by title and condition

  • Used and new books, well below list price per user reports
  • Shipping $2.39 on orders under $15

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Budget readers praise low prices and selection, while complaint sites flag condition grading and weak support.

“Great experience with my first order”
Reddit, r/Thriftbooks
“Ordered from thrift books and not impressed…”
Reddit, r/Romantasy
“Is ThriftBooks a trustworthy site to purchase books from?”
Reddit, r/BookCollecting

Alternatives

Compare ThriftBooks with each alternative.

  • Amazon used sellers

    Faster delivery and easy returns; usually pricier.

Full analysis

Based on 15 public sources: Reddit threads, review and complaint sites, official pricing/security pages, and news coverage.

Legit, cheap used-book mega-store — great for casual reading; risky if you need pristine condition or strong support.

Methodology

Based on 15 public sources: Reddit threads, review and complaint sites, official pricing/security pages, and news coverage.

Sources

  1. Great experience with my first order : r/Thriftbooksreddit.com
    review
  2. Thrift Books Reviews | 842 Reviews of Thriftbooks.comresellerratings.com
    review
  3. ThriftBooks Readers Reviews and Complaints 2026complaintsboard.com
    review
  4. Thrift Books Global, LLC | BBB Complaintsbbb.org
    review
  5. Get cheap books on ThriftBooks : r/Frugalreddit.com
    review
  6. I'm sick and tired of buying "Like New" books from...reddit.com
    review
  7. Buy Back Program : r/Thriftbooksreddit.com
    review
  8. Ordered from thrift books and not impressed… : r/Romantasyreddit.com
    review
  9. Shipping Informationthriftbooks.com
    official
  10. ThriftBooks: New & Used Books - App Storeapps.apple.com
    official
  11. Product security pagethriftbooks.com
    security
  12. Read Customer Service Reviews of thriftybooks.comtrustpilot.com
    review
  13. ThriftBooks Launches BuyBack Programbooksnreview.com
    news
  14. How ThriftBooks uses loyalty and tech to fend off competitionmodernretail.co
    news
  15. ThriftBooks Review - Must Read This Before Buyinghonestbrandreviews.com
    review

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