Course Hero provides students with study notes and documents posted by teachers from across the globe.
It also offers a way for students to become teachers to earn some extra money. While it can be a helpful tool for students, you might have a few concerns.
For example, does it mean you are cheating if you use Course Hero, and does Course Hero have a free trial?
Unfortunately, when it comes to the latter, the course hero free trial period is not available. However, you can use it for free.
In this article, we shall discuss how to do that, plus a few other things which may be of interest if you have decided to use Course Hero (see also ‘How To Cancel Course Hero‘).
Why Use Course Hero?
One of the biggest reasons students and teachers use Course Hero (read full Course Hero review to find out why) is because they can share their own original study materials and help those who are studying to access resources that will help them to learn.
It is essentially an open platform that allows discussion, and students can receive help with their homework.
There are also study guides, exam preparation (see also ‘Can You Take The MCAT Multiple Times?‘), and so much more.
Some people worry it is cheating to use Course Hero, but if used correctly – to supplement studying – then it is not.
Does It Cost To Use Course Hero?
Yes, it costs to use Course Hero. However, there are a number of price plans to suit different budgets, however, as a student, you may find the pricing quite steep.
For example, if you wanted an annual plan it would cost you $119.40 for a year. That only makes it $9.95 per month.
If you are looking to pay on a rolling monthly basis, then it would cost a hefty $39.99.
If you decide to take out the annual plan, then it gives you the option of asking the expert tutors 40 questions.
So, it could be helpful to have an account just while you are studying.
How Can You Use Course Hero For Free?
Course Hero does not offer free trials, but that does not mean that you will not have the option to use it for free.
What Course Hero has is a thing that they call an ‘unblur’ which is basically an ‘unlock’.
To unblur material that is for paid customers, all you have to do is upload documents and study notes.
It needs to be original work, and not something you have stolen from somebody else.
Once you have done this, you earn the right to unblur all of the content for free for 30 days online.
This means that you will have access to asking tutor questions, Q&As, Textbook Solutions, documents, and so much more.
However, you might not feel comfortable uploading your own work. When this is the case, it is best to just pay a subscription fee (see above).
As A Teacher Can You Get Course Hero For Free?
As a teacher or educator, you can have free access to the Course Hero platform.
Once you sign up, you can access everything you need without spending any money. So long as you have been verified, then you are good to go.
The Course Hero platform can benefit a teacher in so many ways.
There are over 40 million different resources available, and lesson plans that reach the 10 million plus mark.
You can also chat with other teachers and be invited to events based around teaching.
Another benefit is the fact you can see insights into how students are using the platform, and find out exactly what kind of material they are requesting.
Not only that, you can make money every time a student free unlocks her own course material.
However, some of the benefits above still need to be unlocked, however, the unlocks are completely free every month.
Though, you can earn unlocks every time you add a new study resources to the library.
Is It Worth Getting A Course Hero Subscription?

If you are wanting to access study material such as class notes, flashcards, homework solutions, and 24/7 support from tutors, among so much more, then you are going to want to take out a Course Hero subscription. How Much Is Course Hero?
If you only need Course Hero for a short time, then uploading your own study notes can be a way to help you get access to the platform for 30 days without paying.
However, if you are going to be using Course Hero for a much longer time, then paying may just benefit you.
Are There Platforms Like Course Hero?
There are plenty of other platforms out there which are similar to Course Hero, however, they all have their pros and cons.
One to take a look at is Chegg. Course Hero offers similar studying solutions to Course Hero, and sometimes a free trial is offered too.
There is also Quizlet (see also ‘Is Quizlet Plus Worth It?‘) and
There are plenty of lectures, studying, and tutors discussing work on the video streaming platform.
Is Using Course Hero A Way To Cheat?
Using Course Hero does not mean you are cheating. It is a way to get help with your studying through finding extra help, or looking up more about a certain topic. See also, Is Course Hero Cheating?
It can also help you to prepare for an exam, for example. Do not access Course Hero with the mentality that you are too lazy to study – you will be disappointed.
Course Hero, and many others just like it, are there to help you study when you need it most.
See also, Can You Cancel Course Hero?
My Final Thoughts On The Course Hero Free Trial
While Course Hero does not have a free trial, you can unlock (or unblur) content such as teacher support and study notes by uploading your own resources.
However, it will only last for 30 days, so you will need to make the most of that time.
Otherwise, there are options to pay for the course hero account if using an extra study supplement will benefit you.