10 Best Websites to Download Free Books
From inspiration for our next business investment to a leisurely vacation read, books can transport us to another world and open our minds. Books also help us to develop our social skills and can prevent cognitive decline and boost sleep quality. Moreover, scheduling just 30 minutes of daily reading time can lower blood pressure and heart rate as effectively as taking a yoga class. With an estimated 1.1 billion ebook users by 2027, many people have already swapped the classic paperback for eBooks or other online resources.
After over 200 the FBI seized multiple Z-Library domains in 2022, you may be wondering how to download books for free. Here are 10 of the hottest free book apps and websites for your reading pleasure.
1. The Open Library
First up is the Open Library, a non-profit organization run by the California State Library. The Open Library is a global catalog for book metadata, aptly named because it encourages users to contribute to its resources. Hosting over 2 million digitized books, The Open Library is free and open to anyone, although some features require an account. Users can also personalize their experience with the site by creating reading lists, notes, a public profile, and compiling personal statistics about their reading. Anyone can contribute to the Open Library by sending books to be digitized by their parent organization, the Internet Archive.
2. Project Gutenberg
Offering over 60,000 eBooks, Project Gutenberg makes books for which the US copyright has already expired available. Project Gutenberg was founded in 1971 and is one of the oldest and most popular websites for free ebooks. The website is free and does not require a user account or additional plugin. Users can contribute to this fantastic source by helping to digitize, proofread, and format eBooks.
3. Free Computer Books
Free Computer Books is a directory of links to specialist free ebooks from all over the world. Computer programmers, data scientists, and engineers will be in their element as they can access books and information for a range of computer-related topics. Free Computer Books provides resources for computer experts, newbies, and everyone in between, making it a valuable tool for all levels.
4. ManyBooks
Established in 2004, ManyBooks strives to provide a vast range of digital books to download for free. With something for everyone, ManyBooks offers classic and alternative books in interesting genres. The site also gives self-publishing authors a chance to introduce and promote their books, helping new and seasoned writers gain publicity. With new material added daily, ManyBooks is the ultimate place to download books for free.
5. Librivox
If you want to download free audiobooks, look no further. Founded in 2005, Librivox offers over 18,000 audiobooks in 47 languages, making it the ideal place for audiobook fans to listen to their favorite books for free. The site is an audio volunteer project in which Librivox volunteers work hard to release high-quality recordings of classic books. As audiobooks are usually quite costly, downloading audiobooks from Librivox saves users money while giving back to the community.
6. Google Play Books
Google has also jumped on the e-reading bandwagon with its online library of digital books, Google Play Books. The site requires a Google account to start, however users can access hundreds of free and paid books online. With Google Play Books, users can save their favorite reads in an online account and even read books offline for free.
7. Feedbooks
Another outstanding source of free reading material, Feedbooks offers thousands of books in various genres. Feedbooks lets users filter books by categories without requiring a user account. The site offers free and paid ebooks for download for access whenever, wherever.
8. PDF Drive
PDF Drive is a search engine for books in PDF format. From self-development, health and fitness, and lifestyle to parenting, PDF Drive offers unlimited downloads for avid readers to enjoy. The site boasts over 75 million ebooks, magazines, and articles for users to preview before they download. Readers can even sign up for an email newsletter to receive notifications of top trending books.
9. Obooko
Launched in 2010, Obooko strives to make books accessible to everyone around the world. Users can choose from over 3,000 free ebooks to read or instant download on any digital device. Moreover, the site lets users browse by genre and specific book categories. All Obooko books are legally licensed and quality-checked for added peace of mind.
10. Smashwords
With over 100,000 free ebooks, Smashwords aims to serve readers one digital book at a time. The site was launched in 2009 and offers a range of paid and free books for download. Moreover, writers can also self-publish their books for sale or free download on Smashwords. The company prides itself on creating a reader- and author-friendly environment that offers a simple and easy-to-use website.
Conclusion
Technology has touched and transformed almost every part of our lives, including how we read. eBooks are portable and convenient, allowing readers to expand their knowledge while on the go. Downloading eBooks is better for the environment and saves shelf space in our homes as one device can hold multiple books, letting readers enjoy books in clutter-free surroundings. Moreover, most eBook websites allow users to search for new books by category, language, and cost, which helps to streamline the pursuit of new reading material. If you have not yet experienced the world of e-reading, check out our top-10 website picks today.
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Jeni is a translator and writer based in Taiwan. She is passionate about business development and loves helping companies enter international markets. She is fluent in English, German, and Mandarin Chinese, and combines these with her industry experience to provide practical market entry solutions.
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