What Course Hero does

Course Hero, founded in 2006 by Andrew Grauer and headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a consumer-facing online learning platform operating as a business unit under Learneo, Inc. The platform functions as a document-exchange repository combined with on-demand homework help: students upload and share class-specific materials — assignments, past exams, lecture notes, and study guides — and receive in exchange access to peer-contributed documents from 130,000+ institutions. The repository holds 184 million documents and 77 million answered questions, with 200,000+ faculty contributing content across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

The product surface spans a core web platform, iOS and Android mobile apps with Snap to Solve computer-vision math assistance, a Chrome browser extension, and self-assessment quizzes. AI-powered features include Ask AI (generative homework explanations) and Snap to Solve, complemented by integrated third-party tools — Quillbot for AI writing assistance and Symbolab (acquired in October 2020) for step-by-step math solutions. Distribution is primarily self-serve digital via organic search, app stores, and the Chrome Web Store.

The business model is freemium-to-subscription. Free users access limited content; paid subscribers convert to Premier ($9.95/month) or Premier Plus ($11.95/month) tiers that unlock documents, AI features, and tutoring. Supplementary usage-based revenue streams include pay-per-question expert tutoring and a la carte tutoring sessions. The platform faces a material legal contingency: a $7.4 billion intellectual property damages claim from Post University in Connecticut federal court alleging approximately 300,000 DMCA violations, which represents a significant overhang on the operating profile.

Name

Course Hero

Legal name

Learneo, Inc.

Website

http://www.coursehero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Course Hero is a consumer learning platform where students exchange course-specific study documents and access AI-powered homework help, expert tutoring, and integrated writing and math tools via freemium and $9.95–$11.95/month subscriptions across 130,000+ institutions in the US, Canada, and Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Learning Platform

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Core Digital Curriculum & Courseware (Full Programs & Units) (EDAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Subject-Specific Courseware (Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, etc.) (EDAFACAB), Tutoring & Homework Help Marketplaces (On-Demand) (EDAFAIAG), Intelligent Practice & Mastery Learning Platforms (Spaced Repetition, Skill Drills) (EDAFAFAD), Writing & Assignment Support (Essays, Reports, Research Skills) (EDANADAD)

Keywords

• Online learning platform
• Study resource repository
• Homework help service
• Expert tutoring platform
• Document exchange platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Premium Subscriptions: Tiered subscription plans (Premier and Premier Plus) offering document unlocks, homework help features, and AI writing tools. Subscribers pay monthly fees for unlimited access to platform features.
2. Freemium Access: Free tier allowing limited access to documents and features, with conversion incentive to premium subscriptions.
3. Pay-per-Question Tutoring: Per-question payment option for expert tutor assistance, supplementing subscription model with usage-based revenue.
4. A la carte Tutoring Sessions: Individual tutoring session purchases for personalized learning support beyond subscription benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Course Hero operates a document-exchange repository and online learning platform that allows students to upload, share, and access class-specific study materials including course assignments, past exams, lecture notes, and homework help. The core offering combines a freemium access model with tiered premium subscriptions (Premier and Premier Plus), and bundles AI-powered homework help (Ask AI), 24/7 verified expert tutoring, integrated Symbolab math solving, and Quillbot AI writing tools into a single consumer study destination.

Product overview

Course Hero operates as a document-exchange repository and online learning platform combining a freemium model with tiered premium subscriptions. The core platform enables students to upload and access 184M documents and 77M answered questions across 130K institutions. Premium features are delivered through named modules including Expert Tutoring (24/7 verified tutor access), Ask AI (generative AI homework assistance), Quillbot AI Writing Tools (grammar, paraphrasing, proofreading), Symbolab Math Solver (step-by-step solutions), and Course Hero Quizzes. The platform also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android with Snap to solve camera functionality, and a Chrome Extension for browser-based access. Subscription tiers include Premier ($9.95/month) and Premier Plus ($11.95/month), supplemented by pay-per-question tutoring options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Course Hero Platform A document-exchange repository and online learning platform where students upload, share, and access class-specific study materials including course assignments, past exams, lecture notes, and homework help across 184M documents and 130K institutions. Available via freemium and tiered subscriptions (Premier and Premier Plus).
• Expert Tutoring 24/7 access to verified expert tutors for personalized homework help and explanations across subjects, offered through ask-a-question and pay-per-question models as well as a la carte tutoring session purchases supplementing the subscription offering.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• QuillbotcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated AI writing tools including grammar checker, paraphraser, proofreader, and spell checker available to Course Hero subscribers. Provides enhanced writing assistance capabilities as part of the premium subscription offering.
• SymbolabcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated math solver providing step-by-step solutions to complex mathematical problems. Powers Course Hero's snap-to-solve feature for math homework assistance.
• Learneo, Inc.coreOthersCourse Hero is a Learneo, Inc. business, operating as a subsidiary under the Learneo corporate umbrella. Learneo is the parent company overseeing Course Hero and related educational platforms.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Wyzant: Wyzant is a tutoring marketplace connecting students with tutors, comparable to Course Hero's Expert Tutoring product but built around live 1:1 sessions rather than on-demand Q&A.
• Photomath: Photomath is a camera-based math solver now owned by Google, directly competing with Course Hero's Symbolab-powered Snap to Solve feature for math homework.
• Mathway: Mathway is a step-by-step math problem solver owned by Chegg, a closer substitute for Course Hero's integrated Symbolab math offering.

Others

• Symbolab: Symbolab was acquired by Course Hero in 2020 and now operates as an integrated math solver within the platform; relevant as the in-house math capability powering Course Hero's AI homework help.

Direct peers

• Bartleby: Bartleby offers on-demand homework help, textbook solutions, and tutoring—essentially the same direct homework-help subscription model Course Hero competes against.
• Brainly: Brainly operates a community-driven homework help platform with verified experts, mirroring Course Hero's community Q&A and tutor model across multiple geographies.
• Quizlet: Quizlet is a leading study-tools platform with user-generated flashcards, practice tests, and now tutoring subscriptions, targeting the same K-12 and college student base as Course Hero.
• Chegg: Chegg is the most directly comparable paid study-help platform, offering textbook solutions, homework help, and tutoring subscriptions to college students—overlapping Course Hero's core offering and target buyer.
• Study.com: Study.com provides online courses, video lessons, and study resources to high school and college students, overlapping with Course Hero's test prep and course-specific study material use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a large free educational platform offering practice, lessons, and tutoring across K-12 and college, representing a free alternative that pressures Course Hero's freemium funnel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CourseHero
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt_TSquDx7B-2RX6y3dx3_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/coursehero
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coursehero
• Instagraminstagram.com/coursehero

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Course Hero