Who doesn’t enjoy getting things for free?

On your birthday, you can enjoy gifts like discounts and complimentary coffee. Throughout the year, there are various special days—like “National Croissant Day”—when businesses offer free promotional treats.

Reading can be a costly pastime, but there are ways for book lovers to take advantage of great deals too. If you prefer e-books, you might not need to pay $30 for the latest hardcover edition.

How to find free books online

Here are five suggestions for scoring free digital books, including library tips and accessing unreleased advanced copies. For additional budget-friendly reading options, check out our guide on affordable book purchasing.

Utilize your local library

Many libraries are embracing digital resources, allowing members to borrow e-books or audiobooks for limited durations. One popular app for this is Libby, brought to you by OverDrive. It allows readers to borrow e-books for free and either download them or send them directly to their Kindle. Hoopla and CloudLibrary are also great options.

Plan for ‘Stuff Your Kindle’ days

Several times a year, Kindle hosts “Stuff Your Kindle” days aimed at supporting independent authors. For a full day, readers can grab numerous e-books at no cost.

Additionally, Kindle frequently offers free e-books. Simply search for “Free books on Kindle” to access thousands of complimentary titles.

Claim a free audiobook instead

In 2023, Spotify started providing audiobooks by offering 15 hours of listening per month with its Premium Plan. Amazon Music followed suit late last year, and its Unlimited plan now includes one free audiobook each month.

If you’re already subscribed, this is a fantastic way to enjoy an audiobook without any extra fees. For entirely free options, explore selections available on Audible, Libro.fm, or Librivox, which features volunteer-read public domain works.

Request free copies in exchange for reviews

If you’re interested in becoming a book influencer, consider checking out NetGalley, a platform for obtaining advanced review copies of books. Publishers often distribute early editions—sometimes called “galleys”—to generate buzz for upcoming releases.

As an enthusiastic online reviewer, you can request titles through NetGalley in exchange for posting reviews on platforms like social media, Goodreads, or Storygraph. Publishers will approve your requests individually, but the more reviews you contribute, the stronger your case as a potential early reader.

Explore other websites and apps that provide free e-books

If these suggestions don’t yield results, try BookBub, a service that helps you find free book titles across platforms like Amazon, Apple Books, Google Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.

Additionally, Simon & Schuster offers a free e-book when you join their mailing list.

Are you searching for your next great book? YSL News has recommendations for you.

Tastes vary widely, and YSL News Books has a diverse range of genres to suggest. Discover the 15 new releases we’re most excited about in 2025. If dystopian tales intrigue you, look into books reminiscent of “The Hunger Games” or “1984.” For something lighter with charming characters, consider a “cozy mystery” or “cozy fantasy.” For top-selling titles, check out YSL News’s Best-selling Booklist.

Clare Mulroy is the Books Reporter for News, where she discusses trending releases, interviews authors, and explores the literary culture. Follow her on Instagram and read her latest articles.