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Where to Get Books for Free (Yes, Really!)

Where to Get Books for Free (Yes, Really!)

If you’ve been around MoneySavingMom.com for any length of time, you know I’m an avid reader. I always have a running list of books I want to read, and somehow it never gets shorter. I love books, I love learning, and I truly believe reading is one of the best (and most affordable!) ways to grow.

That said, because I read so much, I had to figure out how to feed this habit without spending us out of house and home. Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty creative, and I’ve discovered that it is possible to read a lot without spending a lot.

How to Get Free Books

Not every idea will work for everyone, but below are specific, tried-and-true ways I’ve personally used (or that our readers swear by) to get books for free or almost free. If you’re willing to be a little flexible, you can keep a steady stream of books coming into your life without adding strain to your budget.

A cardboard box of gently used books contains 5 fiction titles.

1. Earn Free Books With MyReaderRewards

One of my favorite lesser-known ways to get brand-new books for free is through MyReaderRewards.

My Reader Rewards Club lets you earn free books and audiobooks by doing simple things like filling out surveys, sharing feedback, or referring friends, and you don’t have to refer anyone to earn a free book.

They offer a great selection of Christian books from Tyndale, including:

Nonfiction and fiction
Parenting resources
Kids’ books
Audiobooks
Ministry resources
Even Adventures in Odyssey books and audios

Our family has received a number of free books from MyReaderRewards over the years, and I love that they arrive brand-new, completely free.

2. Check Out Free Books From the Library (and Use Inter-Library Loan)

No list of free books would be complete without the library. I’ve checked out countless books over the years, and it’s truly one of the best free resources available.

If your local library has a limited selection, ask about Inter-Library Loan. This allows you to request books from other libraries, often from across the state or even the country, at no cost. You may have to wait a bit, but free is usually worth the wait.

You can also suggest titles for your library to purchase. They don’t always say yes, but I’ve been surprised how often they do!

If you have trouble finding the books you want at your local library, you can also join other library systems, even as a non-resident! These non-resident cards are often free, but some of the best systems require payment. If you’re an avid reader, you might find yourself saving a lot of money, even if you have to pay a small fee to access a better library collection!

And, thanks to e-books and audiobooks, you don’t even need to live near the library to enjoy its offerings. Everyday Reading has a full post about where you can get a non-resident library card, including listings by state!

3. Download Free Audiobooks Using Libby

As much as I love sitting down with a physical book, that’s not always realistic on full days. Audiobooks have been a lifesaver for keeping reading part of my daily life especially while driving, cooking, or folding laundry.

Instead of buying audiobooks (which can be expensive!), I rely on Libby, a free app connected to your local library.

Most libraries have moved from OverDrive and Hoopla to Libby, and I honestly love it. It’s easy to use, has a great selection, and every audiobook is completely free.

If you’re trying to find more time to read, even when life is busy, free audiobooks are one of the easiest ways to fit books into your day.

Psst! Do you struggle with finding time to read? Read this post, plus check out these practical tips on how to find more time to read each day!

Bright home library with floor to ceiling white built in bookshelves filled with colorful books. A rolling ladder leans against the shelves and a light gray rug covers the hardwood floor while a ceiling fan hangs overhead.

4. Get Free Books From Friends, Neighbors, and Local Groups

Book swapping has been one of my go-to strategies for years. I regularly borrow books from friends and loan out books I’ve finished.

Just a few simple rules make this work well:

Keep track of what you borrow
Return books promptly
Return them in the same condition

Many neighborhoods also have Facebook groups where people swap or give away books. It’s like having a mini free library right in your community.

By the way, if you love getting book recommendations as much as I do, I often share what I’m reading over on Instagram stories, on the podcast, and in my personal email newsletter.

5. Download Free eBooks Online

If you have a phone, tablet, or computer, you can read free ebooks (no special device required).

You can use the free Kindle app on almost any device to read ebooks. My favorite ways to get free ebooks include:

Borrowing ebooks through my library using Libby
Taking advantage of free ebook promotions
Using Kindle Unlimited (which often has a free trial)

Tip: Many libraries also allow you to borrow ebooks directly from their website for a few weeks at a time.

If you have a child between ages 0–5 and your area participates, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will mail your child a free, high-quality book every month.

Our kids have LOVED the free books that come in the mail from the Imagination Library. In fact, some of them have become our favorite books to read on repeat at bedtime! (One before-bed favorite from the Imagination Library that we’ve probably read hundreds of times is Help Wanted: One Rooster!)

The program is available in many areas across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. Check here to see if your area participates.

7. Use Rewards and Gift Cards to Get Books for Free

When I do buy books, I often use Swagbucks rewards to cover the cost. I redeem Swagbucks for Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift cards and then buy used books through their marketplaces.

By stacking gift cards, cashback, and used pricing, I’ve been able to get books I really wanted without spending any out-of-pocket money.

Stack of nonfiction and inspirational books arranged on a wooden table against a neutral wall.

Bonus: How Bloggers and Influencers Can Get Free Books

If you blog or review books on social media, many publishers offer free review copies.

Look up the publisher of a book you’re interested in, visit their website, and check their review copy policy. Just be sure to only request books you genuinely plan to read and review.

I don’t actively request review copies anymore, but I still receive a few each week from publishers hoping I’ll share about them, so this can be a legitimate way to get free books if done responsibly.

More Ideas for Where to Get Books for Free Online

Looking for even more ways to get free books? Check out some of these unique and creative ideas!

Project Gutenberg

With over 70,000 titles, you’re bound to find several fantastic free books online to read (or re-read).

Digital Public Library of America

All of the materials found through DPLA are free and immediately available in digital format!

International Children’s Digital Library

The ICDL is a free website that offers children’s literature from around the world.

Goodreads Free Shelves

Goodreads has a small selection of free readable ebooks. You can also find a list of free Kindle ebooks to download on Goodreads.

Open Library

Open Library is a cost-free, ad-free service that offers over 3 million books to read, borrow, and discover. You will need to create an account to use this service.

Simon Teen

Riveted (by Simon Teen) offers free reads for young adults and teens, including weekly free teen reads.

Open Culture

Get ereader books for free by downloading 800 free eBooks to your Kindle, iPad/iPhone, computer, smart phone.

Library of Congress

All of the books in the Library’s Open Access Collection may be read online or downloaded as a PDF or as an EPUB.

Many Books

Get free (and discounted) eBooks sent directly to your inbox.

Tor

Get a free book every month by signing up for the Tor.com eBook Club. After signing up, you will receive a download link for the latest eBook Club offering in their preferred format.

Free Booksy

Get free ebooks in your preferred genres for Amazon Kindle, Nook, Apple Books & Kobo with Free Booksy.

Reedsy Discovery

Reedsy Discovery is an ARC site that provides free digital copies of books in exchange for writing an honest review. You can download the book as a PDF, EPUB, or MOBI file from the Reviewer Dashboard.

Crystal Paine smiling and holding a stack of paperback books.

“If you already pay for Spotify Premium, you get 15 hours per month free audiobook listening!” – Mishele
“Chirp audio has dollar audiobooks and free books on Fridays” – Jill
“My family and I downloaded the Hoopla app. All you need is a library card and we get to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, music and movies for free each month. We also use the Libby app to borrow books from the library. Typically I take my family to the library every other week so we have plenty to read.” – Sharon H.
“As a homeschool mom, libraries are LIFE! I recently discovered Openlibrary.org. It’s free to join, and they have a LOT of books, especially older, harder to find ones. Our homeschool curriculum has a recommended reading list and a lot of the books listed, my library didn’t have, even through ILL. But Open Library did! – Ashley

A white bookshelf with 4 sections holds dozens of fiction and non-fiction titles

FAQs about Where to Get Books for Free:

How can I get Kindle books for free?

Borrow free Kindle books through your library with the Libby app! You can also try Kindle Unlimited free for one month.

How to get an audible book for free?

Try a 30-day trial of Audible, which comes with 1 free credit. Also try the Libby app with your library card for free audiobooks!

Where to get books free online?

You can get free Kindle books through the Libby app with your library card or with a free trial of Kindle Unlimited. Check out this post for more ideas!