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Q. I just read your post on how you don’t need a Kindle to read an ebook. I’m interested in trying out ebooks to have some books handy to read when I’m stuck in line somewhere, waiting for an appointment or traveling.
I’d like to download some free books to my tablet and phone and am very interested in learning where I can find free ebooks.
Can you recommend places for me to find free ebooks? Do you have an article at The Wonder of Tech that lists these sites?
A. Great question. I’m glad you’re going to give ebooks a try and you’re wise to seek out the free ones, especially as you’re giving the format a try.
Yes, finding free ebooks is easy, especially if you know where to look. No, I haven’t written a guide to finding free ebooks, but thanks to your suggestion, I’m doing that now.
Tips for Finding Free Ebooks
Some websites in this list offer free ebooks while others let you know about free or discounted ebooks at other sites.
[tip]Don’t Miss => How to Read a Kindle Book Without a Kindle[/tip]
When ebooks are free, that may be because their copyright has expired or because the author wants to generate interest in a book. Often a free ebook will be the first in a fictional series. The author may hope to get you hooked so you’ll buy other books in the series.
When you find a free ebook you’re interested in reading, get it right away. Often the price of free is only for a limited time. You don’t want to wait, only to find out later that the book is no longer free and you must pay $24.95 to get it.
Be careful of websites that offer free ebook files to download directly from the site. These files could have viruses or malware designed to infect your computer. If a best-selling novel is available free on a mysterious website, be very suspicious. Don’t download a file from an unknown site, whether or not that file is an ebook.
Bookmark websites that offer the most books that interest you so you can refer back to them. Sign up for a service that lets you know when ebooks become free or have a reduced price.
Some free ebook sites offer referral links to Amazon so you can download the free ebooks there. These sites help you find free ebooks of interest to you and alert you when an ebook goes free or on sale. These referral sites earn a small commission if you buy anything from Amazon during your visit from their link. This commission does not cost you any extra and helps those websites cover their expenses.
Websites to Find Free Ebooks
Amazon
Amazon is filled with free Kindle ebooks you can download, if you know where to look. Check out Amazon’s Best Selling Free Kindle Books, a list of the top 100 free ebooks on Amazon.
This list changes constantly, based on how well the books are “selling” and whether they become or remain free.
Free Best Selling Kindle Books
Amazon’s Best Seller list is divided into two categories, Paid and Free. Check out the free sections in dozens of genres, such as:
- Non-fiction
- Business and investing
- History
- Foreign Languages
- Computers and Technology
- Romance
- Teens and Young Adults
Within each genre are sub-genres so you can hone in on the subject matters that interest you most. Each genre lists the Top 100 free ebooks so you will have plenty of choices.
[tip]When you download an ebook from Amazon that is priced at $0.00, be sure to click the “Buy” button, instead of the “Read for Free” button. [/tip]
=> Learn how to buy Kindle books on your iPhone or iPad: Want to Buy Kindle Books on Your iPad or iPhone? Here’s How!
Prime Reading
If you’re a member of Amazon Prime you can download free Kindle books through Prime Reading, a Prime benefit that was added by Amazon last fall.
The ebook has to be eligible for the Prime Reading program. You can keep the book as long as you want, and remain a member of Amazon Prime.
=> Check out Amazon Launches Prime Reading – Free Kindle Books, Magazines and More to learn more about Prime Reading.
When you want to download a Prime Reading Kindle book from Amazon, click the “Read for Free” button to download it.
Prime Reading is only available for Prime members in the US.
Prime Reading also includes magazines you can read for free. To learn more, check out the Amazon Prime Reading page.
OverDrive
Amazon is not your only source for free ebooks. Explore OverDrive, an ebook service that works with local libraries to lend free ebooks to their patrons. If your library is a member of OverDrive, you can borrow free ebooks, without having to go to the library.
=> Learn more at OverDrive: Get Free Ebooks and Audiobooks 24/7.
OverDrive includes ebooks ranging from best sellers to classics. Note that you may have to get on a waiting list for more popular books, just as you might for a popular print book.
Project Gutenberg
Started in 1971, Project Gutenberg is the largest source of free ebooks in the world. Their website is filled with books that are no longer protected by copyright and are available to download for free.
To learn more about Project Gutenberg, including how to get a Project Gutenberg book on your iPhone or iPad, check out How to Use iBooks to Enrich Your Ebook Library.
iBooks
You can read free ebooks on your iPhone and iPad using the iBooks app. After you download the iBooks app, head to the iTunes App Store and click the Free Books category on the right side. You can also see a list of the top best sellers in the free category of books.
Click “Get” to download these books to your iPhone or iPad.
Google Play Store
Google Play has lots of free ebooks for you to download. Check out Google Play Store’s Free Best Sellers to find popular books that won’t cost you anything.
You can also search by genre, such as
- Fiction & Literature
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Books in Spanish
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Science & Math
and plenty more.
Ebooks on from the Google Play store can be read on Android devices using the Google Play Books app.
Audible
Audible is filled with audiobooks, a different kind of ebook you listen to. You can get a free audiobook when you sign up for a trial membership. You can also get a free audiobook sent to you by an Audible member.
Audible members are permitted to send one copy of each audiobook in their Audible library free to a friend. If a friend of yours is an Audible member and has enjoyed a book, ask him or her to send it to you so you can listen to it too.
=> See, Audible: My Favorite Way to Read a Book! to learn more about listening to audiobooks through Audible.
Audible Send This Book program is only available for listeners in the US. Each recipient can only receive one free audiobook with this program. Learn more at Audible’s Send This Book page.
Sites to Help You Find Free Ebooks
These sites can help you find free ebooks in different formats, such as Kindle, Apple iBooks, Nook, etc. They can also alert you when books become free or discounted.
BookBub
BookBub is a subscription service to let you know about ebooks that go free or are on sale. You can get daily emails to alert you about free and discounted books and choose which books you want to hear about. Choose from different formats (Kindle, iBook, Nook, etc.) and genre (fiction, mysteries, biographies, etc.).
The BookBub site has a “no spam” guarantee for your email address, as well as a list of books currently free or on sale.
=> Learn more about BookBub at BookBub – The Scoop on the Best eBooks at the Best Prices!
BookBub is available in the US, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Australia.
Freebooksy
Freebooksy is a website that shows which books on Amazon are free. Each day the site is updated with books that have become free. You can search by genre or scroll through the list to see what catches your interest.
The site shows the book cover as well as a short description of the book. Below the description are buttons showing the format the book is available in, such as Kindle, iBook, Nook, etc. Click a button to be taken to the website with the free download.
=> Find out more at Discover Free Ebooks with Freebooksy.
Your Thoughts
Have you ever read a free ebook? Do you have some ebooks downloaded to your phone or tablet to read when you have spare time? Which sites do you use to find free ebooks?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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*Woman Reading image courtesy of Wolf G. via Flickr and Creative Commons
I have used Book Bub for a few years now, and I really like it. You select the genres of books you prefer and they send you an daily email with two or three selections. Most are either $.99 or $1.99 and some are free. I like this because it’s more suited to my interests, and I don’t have to spend time pouring over so many possibilities in the free book section! Free books are not much good if they stay on your Kindle unread:)
Hi Lois, You make an excellent point. You’re right, a free ebook isn’t a bargain if you waste your time reading a book you don’t enjoy. Often you can find books that are discounted to very low prices and those may be more interesting to you than free ebooks.
We only have so much time to read books. We should make sure we’re reading books we enjoy.
That’s great you’re having success using BookBub, Lois. Finding an ebook you want to read that is on sale or free is a beautiful thing.
Hi Carolyn,
You didn’t mention Goodreads. I guess they usually aren’t free, but occassionally I get very good discount offers from them. What is your opinion in where that website falls in the book world. It seems they are more social media oriented?
Thank you for this article,
Hi Ann, I am a member of Goodreads and do need to write about it here at The Wonder of Tech. While you can find free books at Goodreads, I don’t find the free books section organized as well as with other sites mentioned in the article. There is also a Goodreads Giveaway section where members can enter to win free ebooks from publishers before they are released.
Goodreads is like a social media website for book lovers. You’re right, Ann, I should cover it because The Wonder of Tech is read by many fans of books. Look forward to a future article about Goodreads. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi Carolyn
Very precious resources you shared here and it shows your extensive research into the topic before sharing these best ones out of many.
Many sites dodge the visitors by displaying an ebook free but on clicking one knows it’s trial version or a few chapters could be read before buying it.
The sites you shared here do offer free stuff and the tip you mentioned to download free ebook from Amazon is quite helpful for those new to such sites.
Many thanks for sharing.
Hi Mi, You’re right, many sites claim to offer free ebooks for download but then those files may contain a virus or malware. It’s much better to stick with sites you know. So yes, I did research this to make sure Wonder of Tech readers find the best sites for free ebooks.
Amazon does contain many free ebooks but sometimes finding where they are can be a challenge. The link in the article can take you directly to the free ebooks at Amazon.
Thanks for adding to the conversation, Mi!
Treasure for the bookworm! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Darren, You’re right, bookworms love free books! I’m glad you enjoyed this article. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Great method, thanks for sharing it with us all. Hope I will find them now easily Keep helping us always.
Hi Dilawar, I’m very glad you enjoyed this article and found it to be helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I too use Book Bub and most of the time I do not see anything of interest, but occasionally there are first run titles available to download. It is worth subscribing!
Hi Robin, Thanks for sharing your experience with and recommendation of BookBub. Yes, when you find a gem of a book for free, you feel as if you found a treasure!
I highly recommend Open Culture, more than 800 e-books absolutely free.
Hi Vlad, Thank you kindly for recommending Open Culture. That site has books that are off copyright protection and available for download to Kindle, iPad/iPhone and more formats. Here is the link for Wonder of Tech readers: Open Culture.
Hey Carolyn,
I don’t get the time to read ebooks but my friends do that. Most of them buy it from Amazon.
The websites mentioned above can be helpful. I should tell them to try Overdrive and iBooks.
Thanks for the info.
Have a great week ahead.
~Ravi
Hi Ravi, You’re right, finding time to read for pleasure can be difficult. I have that issue too, which is why I’m a big fan of audiobooks. I listen to them when I’m driving, walking, cooking, etc. It makes all of those more interesting!
Hello Carolyn
What an important list of eBooks sites, I really need this article. Thank you for sharing such an article.Keep Writing 🙂
Hi Anuradha, That’s great you found this article to be useful for you. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us. Keep reading! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for sharing these amazing websites. I really appreciate your effort in sharing these.
Keep up the good work.
And have a good day ahead.
Hi Carolyn,
Great article, great collection and great links. Will check out your other lists.
Thanks.
Great list of ebook sites. With the failing economy it is becoming hard to find the extra money to get books and now here are sites where people can read for free. This is wonderful.
Hi Mike, I’m so pleased this article is useful to you. You’re right, in tough economic times saving money is more important. But no matter what the economy, we can always benefit from free ebooks!