selectiveAre you an avid reader or listener who enjoys accessing books on your ebook reader, tablet, or smartphone? If so, you’re in luck! There are numerous websites where you can download and access free ebooks and audiobooks. In this article, we will explore the top 10 places to find these literary treasures. You’ll discover a treasure trove of reading and listening material from classic novels to contemporary works.
1. Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is a popular website that offers over 60,000 free ebooks, many of which are classic novels and fiction available in the public domain. In addition to ebooks, Project Gutenberg also provides a variety of non-fiction titles. You can choose among different formats such as Kindle, epub, or plain text to download the books onto your device. Additionally, some books are available in HTML format, allowing you to read them directly through your browser. The website offers different browsing options, including browsing by popularity, latest releases, and random titles. You can also search for specific books by author, title, subject, language, and popularity. Project Gutenberg also provides a collection of audiobooks in MP3 format, although a computer-generated voice reads some titles. However, there are audiobooks available that actual human narrators read.
2. The Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a vast digital library that houses millions of books, movies, TV shows, music, and other content. Within its virtual bookshelves, you’ll find over 20 million downloadable ebooks and texts that you can keep, as well as 2.3 million titles that you can borrow by signing up for a free account. The Internet Archive offers a wide selection of audiobooks as well. The books are organized by collections and various criteria, allowing you to narrow down your search by specifying a year, language, and other factors. You can search for books based on title, author, publisher, topic, year, and more. Ebooks are accessible in formats such as epub, Kindle, PDF, and plain text, while audiobooks are available as MP3 files and M3U files.
3. Open Library
Open Library, a division of the Internet Archive, is dedicated specifically to ebooks and audiobooks. With a collection of more than 3 million books, Open Library offers classic books that you can read online or download as epub or PDF files. It also features more modern books that you can borrow for a limited time and read online. You can browse for books by subject, genre, and other factors, and search by title, author, ISBN, or publisher. The website displays images of bookshelves based on topics, allowing you to visually explore different titles. Depending on the book you select, you can read it, borrow it, or download it. Open Library also provides the option to listen to most books, although some titles are read in a computer-generated voice.
4. Feedbooks
While primarily offering books for sale, Feedbooks also features a vast collection of free titles in the public domain. The website categorizes books into fiction, non-fiction, most popular, and recently added sections. By clicking the “Show all” button next to a category, you can browse for titles based on specific genres such as science fiction, mystery, romance, and more. Feedbooks allows you to search for books by title, author, publisher, and date. Once you find a book that intrigues you, you can download it as an epub file.
5. LibriVox
LibriVox specializes in audiobooks and offers a large catalog of public domain titles that are read by volunteers. Unlike audiobooks read by computer-generated voices, LibriVox’s titles are read by real people, making the listening experience much more enjoyable. The website allows you to browse or search for books by title, author, genre, language, and even the person who narrates the audiobook. With a wide range of genres and categories, including fiction, non-fiction, short stories, plays, and poetry, LibriVox caters to various literary preferences. To listen to a book, simply select it and download the corresponding ZIP file, which can be unzipped into individual MP3 files for convenient listening.
6. ManyBooks
ManyBooks is home to a collection of over 50,000 ebooks, including those in the public domain and self-published works. The website offers browsing options based on genres and subjects such as biography, cooking, fiction, health, history, philosophy, politics, science fiction, and travel. You can also search for books by title, author, or keyword. Creating a free account allows you to access up to five free titles per month, and you can sign up for a daily newsletter offering free and discounted ebooks. Once you find a title that interests you, you can read it online or download it in various formats, such as epub.
7. Free-Ebooks
Free-Ebooks provides a free account that allows you to download up to five free titles per month. For unlimited access to free books, a $50 VIP plan is available. The website offers browsing options by category, including fiction, non-fiction, academic, textbooks, and audiobooks. You can further narrow down your search by selecting genres such as business, computers, health, history, psychology, web design, and writing. Each book listing provides a description and a preview of the first few pages, allowing you to gauge your interest. The books can be downloaded in PDF, epub, Kindle, or text format. Audiobooks are available as MP3 or Apple M4B files, although downloading them requires a VIP plan.
8. Amazon Kindle Bookstore
Apart from the extensive collection of paid books, Amazon Kindle Bookstore offers a wide range of free Kindle ebooks and audiobooks. You can find freebies among classics and public domain titles, as well as the 100 free bestsellers. Alternatively, you can browse directly to the Kindle bookstore and search for free books. Amazon also offers free audiobooks through Audible, including titles that do not require an Audible subscription. If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can access over 2 million free ebooks for $9.99 per month. With Kindle Unlimited, you can check out up to 10 books at a time, returning them when you’re ready for a new title.
9. Barnes & Noble Nook Store
The Barnes & Noble Nook Store provides free ebooks, and while some audiobooks are free, others require a B&N Audiobooks subscription. To access the ebooks and audiobooks on your mobile device, simply download the Nook mobile app for iOS/iPad or Android. You’ll need a free Barnes & Noble online account and a payment method, even for free books. By typing the word “free” in the search field, you can easily find all the available free titles. The Nook Store allows you to browse freebies by category or subject. Once you find an interesting book, you can view its overview, details, and customer reviews. After enabling the Instant Purchase option, you can download the book to your Nook app.
10. Google Play Books
While the Google Play bookstore primarily sells paid books, it also offers a selection of ebooks and audiobooks for free. By browsing the Google Play Books site and using the search feature, you can find free titles by typing “free” or specific book details. You can narrow down the search results by selecting the “Free” price category. Google displays free ebooks at the top of the search results, followed by audiobooks. Clicking on a specific book allows you to view customer reviews and other details. To download an ebook or audiobook, simply click the “Get for free” button. You can read or play the book directly on the website or use the free Google Books app for iOS/iPadOS or Android to access the title on your mobile device.
With these 10 fantastic sources for free ebooks and audiobooks, you can expand your literary horizons without breaking the bank. From classic literature to modern works and everything in between, these websites offer a wealth of reading and listening material. So, grab your device, choose your preferred platform, and dive into the world of free books and audiobooks today!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the internet is a treasure trove of free ebooks and audiobooks waiting to be discovered. Whether you prefer to read on an ebook reader, tablet, or smartphone, or listen to audiobooks on your device of choice, numerous websites provide access to a vast collection of digital books. From Project Gutenberg to the Internet Archive, Open Library to LibriVox, ManyBooks to Free-Ebooks, and Amazon Kindle Bookstore to Barnes & Noble Nook Store and Google Play Books, you have an abundance of options to choose from. So, start exploring these websites and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of literature. Happy reading and listening!
