Perlego operates a subscription-based digital library providing unlimited access to over 1.3 million academic, professional, and non-fiction ebooks. Founded in 2016 by Cambridge graduates Gauthier Van Malderen and Matthew Davis, the platform works directly with more than 5,000 academic publishers including Cambridge University Press, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Stanford University Press, Wiley, and Harvard University Press to make educational content available whilst ensuring publishers and authors are fairly compensated.
The platform's catalogue spans more than 1,000 topics and is available in seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Swedish. Perlego's technical infrastructure encompasses digital library and platform engineering, ebook distribution and licensing, multilingual content delivery, and subscription monetization. The company has built proprietary features including Smart Search, a study tool designed to help learners locate content more effectively, and Study Guides authored by Masters and PhD experts.
Perlego operates on a mission to make education more accessible globally, addressing the high cost of traditional textbooks. The company emphasises sustainability by reducing reliance on printed materials and positions education as a human right, with its platform trusted by students worldwide.