Perlego

Perlego is a digital online library focusing on academic, professional, and non-fiction eBooks. Founded in 2016 by Gauthier Van Malderen and Matthew Davis, the company aims to make educational content more accessible and affordable for students worldwide. Perlego offers a subscription-based service that provides users with unlimited access to over 1 million titles across 900+ different topics and subtopics from more than 6,000 publishers. The platform covers a wide range of subjects, including architecture, law, medicine, and psychology, as well as popular non-fiction books.

Perlego's innovative approach to textbook distribution involves partnering directly with publishers and eliminating expenses related to print, distribution, and retail markup. This model allows the company to offer its services at a fraction of the cost of traditional textbooks. Users can access the platform's extensive library through various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, with features such as customizable text size, font, and lighting options. The platform also provides tools for note-taking, highlighting, and automatic citation generation in various academic styles.

As of 2022, Perlego reported having over 400,000 paying subscribers across 172 countries, with 40% of its user base located in the US. The company experienced significant growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a 450% increase in subscribers in 2021. Perlego's business model includes a revenue-sharing arrangement with publishers, where 65% of subscription revenues are distributed to participating publishers.

Key customers and partnerships

Perlego has established partnerships with over 5,000 education publishers, including renowned names such as Cengage, Routledge, Cambridge University Press, Elsevier, and Harvard University Press. The company has also formed relationships with 6,000 institutions across 172 countries to fulfill class and course syllabi requirements.