OpenStax
A nonprofit publisher of free peer-reviewed college and high school textbooks.
OpenStax at a glance
OpenStax is an education website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #382 in the country. It was founded in 2012 by Richard Baraniuk and is headquartered in Houston, TX, USA. Today OpenStax is owned by Rice University. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 10 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through grants, donations. Its closest rivals include khanacademy.org, chegg.com, coursera.org.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 9.4 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 9.7 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 10 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 10.6 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search44%
- Direct36%
- Referral10%
- Social6%
- Paid4%
Audience & demographics
- Women51%
- Men49%
- Age 18-2434%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4419%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 3 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| openstax | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| exam results | Top 10 | High | — |
| past papers | Top 10 | High | — |
| online courses | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 66% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading education apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- openstax.org
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- Rice University
- Owner type
- Nonprofit
- Founders
- Richard Baraniuk
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Houston, TX, USA
- Employees
- 100+
- Ownership
- Rice University controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $20 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $20 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Nonprofit
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
OpenStax operates an education platform focused on United States. A nonprofit publisher of free peer-reviewed college and high school textbooks. Revenue comes mainly from grants, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Grants
- Donations
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #382 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in United States
- Global rank
- 8000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| khanacademy.org | ≈ 6 million / month | #383 class competitor | — |
| chegg.com | ≈ 4.5 million / month | #384 class competitor | — |
| coursera.org | ≈ 3 million / month | #385 class competitor | — |
What is OpenStax?
OpenStax (openstax.org) is an education platform serving users in United States. A nonprofit publisher of free peer-reviewed college and high school textbooks. It ranks #382 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns OpenStax?
The site is operated by Rice University, founded by Richard Baraniuk. The company was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Houston, TX, USA. It employs around 100+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place OpenStax at roughly 10 million visits per month, about 0.3 million per day. Around 66% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.2 pages per visit with an average session of 9 min.
How OpenStax makes money
Revenue comes primarily from grants, alongside donations.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include khanacademy.org, chegg.com, coursera.org.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2012
OpenStax is founded in Houston, TX, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #382 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free or low-cost access to study material
- Content aligned with the national curriculum
- Works on low-end devices
- Exam and result services in one place
Cons
- Peak-period slowdowns around exam dates
- Uneven content quality between subjects
- Limited personalised feedback
- Some features locked behind subscriptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns OpenStax?
OpenStax is operated by Rice University. Nonprofit structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is OpenStax headquartered?
OpenStax is headquartered in Houston, TX, USA.
When was OpenStax founded?
OpenStax was founded in 2012 by Richard Baraniuk.
How many employees does OpenStax have?
OpenStax employs approximately 100+ people.
What is OpenStax's revenue?
OpenStax's revenue: ≈ $20 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are OpenStax's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include khanacademy.org, chegg.com, coursera.org.
How does OpenStax make money?
Mainly grants, donations.
Is OpenStax publicly traded?
No — OpenStax is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Rice University.
How many visitors does OpenStax get?
Third-party estimates place OpenStax at roughly 10 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is OpenStax safe?
OpenStax is an established education site founded in 2012 and ranked #382 in United States; use the official domain openstax.org and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsopenstax.org
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos