RedShelf vs. VitalSource: What Students Should Know (for Staff)

RedShelf vs. VitalSource: What Students Should Know (for Staff)

As campuses transition from RedShelf to VitalSource for delivering digital course materials, it’s important to understand how the student experience is changing — especially if you're supporting students during the Fall 2025 term.

This article provides a side-by-side walkthrough of how students access and opt out of their materials in each platform, along with what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and a full transcript of the comparison video.

Watch: RedShelf vs. VitalSource – Student Experience Walkthrough

This short video demonstrates what students will see in the LMS when accessing their materials through RedShelf and VitalSource. It highlights where links appear, how students opt out, and what looks different in the new platform.

Prefer to read instead? See the transcript below.

What’s Changing for Students

With the move to VitalSource, students will notice a few key updates. 

What's Changing:

• Opt-out flexibility: Students can opt out of individual materials instead of opting out of the entire course.
• Simplified access: The dashboard design is modern, branded to your campus, and easier to navigate.
• Instant access: Most titles open with a single click using Read Now.
• Access codes (if needed) appear in-line with clear redemption instructions.
• 24/7 support is available via chat or email directly through VitalSource.
• Offline reading is available through the Bookshelf app.

What’s Staying the Same

• Students still access materials through their LMS (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard).
• Most students are automatically enrolled in the Inclusive Access program.
• They still have the option to opt out during the designated window.
• Pricing, billing, and access timelines remain consistent with previous terms.

  Related Resources

  • 🧑🏽‍🏫 RedShelf vs. VitalSource: What Instructors Should Know
    A side-by-side video comparison of RedShelf and VitalSource from the instructor perspective, including LMS access, analytics, and new tools.
  • 📘 Understanding the VitalSource Student Dashboard (for Staff)
    A visual walkthrough of how students access materials, opt out, and view deadlines in the new LMS-integrated dashboard.
  • 📅 Fall 2025 Migration Timeline and Key Changes
    Key dates, integration tasks, and platform access timelines to support your campus transition to VitalSource.

Need Support?

Students have access to 24/7 support through VitalSource via live chat or by emailing support@vitalsource.com.

Campus staff and partners can reach out to their Customer Success Manager or email us at success@vitalsource.com with any questions or concerns.

Transcript: RedShelf vs. VitalSource Comparison Video

Introduction – 0:00
This video walks through the student experience of accessing course materials through the LMS using RedShelf and then compares it to the same process with VitalSource.

RedShelf Experience – 0:15
In Canvas, the RedShelf Digital Materials link is installed in a Course Module. Students click this link to view their materials or opt out.

Clicking Read Now opens the eBook. To opt out of all materials in the course, students click Opt Out, type OPTOUT when prompted, select a reason, and click Submit.

VitalSource Experience – 0:45
With VitalSource, students access materials through a similar LMS link.

Clicking Read Now opens the eBook. Students with multiple materials in a course can opt out individually—what we refer to as a la carte opting.

To opt out of a specific title, students click Want to Opt Out, select a reason, and confirm.