How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Libby is the best starting point for new releases, since it borrows current ebooks and audiobooks free from public libraries.
- Project Gutenberg and LibriVox offer fully free classics: 79,681 ebooks and over 21,000 volunteer-read audiobooks.
- Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kindle, and Kobo all include free sections, but their catalogs lean on paid titles.
- The free reading world splits into library borrowing, public domain classics, and store freebies. Use one from each group for the widest shelf.
Quick comparison
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The best app to read books for free
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Libby, the library app by OverDrive, is the strongest free reading option for current books. Thousands of public libraries offer ebooks and audiobooks free in Libby, and a library card is the only requirement. That means new releases, bestsellers, and popular nonfiction are available without buying, subject to library copies and wait lists.
The limits are library-shaped: popular titles queue up, loan periods end, and small libraries hold fewer copies. Libby suits any reader with a library card who wants current books free, and it pairs well with the classics sources below for times when the wait list is long.
What we like- Borrow current ebooks and audiobooks free from public libraries
- No cost beyond a library card
- Works on phones, tablets, and e-readers
Watch out for- Homepage extract was thin
- Popular titles have wait lists
- Availability depends on the local library
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Project Gutenberg is the oldest free ebook project, running since 1971, and its homepage reports a library of 79,681 free ebooks. Everything is free with no fees and no registration, and books download or read online in a regular browser or e-reader. Volunteers digitize and proofread the collection, with a focus on older works whose US copyright has expired.
The catalog skews classic: Austen, Dickens, Twain, Shakespeare, and thousands of lesser-known older works, but no recent releases. Project Gutenberg suits readers building a classics shelf, students, and anyone who wants a permanent free library with no account.
What we like- Library of 79,681 free ebooks
- 100 percent free with no fees and no registration
- Works in any browser or e-reader
Watch out for- Focus on older works whose US copyright has expired
- No current bestsellers
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Google Play Books serves as the default ebook store for Android, with a large catalog, frequent deals under 5 dollars, and a free section that includes classics and promotional titles. Books sync across Android, iOS, and the web, and free samples let readers try before buying.
The flag is that the homepage extract showed paid bestsellers and deals rather than the free section, so free availability rests on in-app browsing. Google Play Books suits Android users who want one store for free and paid reading, with cloud sync across devices.
What we like- Large store with deals under 5 dollars and free titles
- Syncs across Android, iOS, and web
- Samples free
Watch out for- Homepage extract showed paid titles and deals, so the free section needs in-app browsing
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
The Kindle app is free on phones, tablets, and computers, and the Kindle Store offers 15 million titles worldwide, including free classics and promotional free books. Prime members can read from a rotating selection of ebooks, audiobooks, and comics, and Kindle Unlimited adds all-you-can-read access to 4 million titles for subscribers.
The extract focused on Kindle devices, from the base Kindle at 109.99 dollars to the Scribe at 399.99 dollars, so free-book specifics rest on store browsing. Kindle suits readers already in the Amazon ecosystem, and anyone who wants the largest store with a free app tier.
What we like- Kindle app free on phones and tablets
- Kindle Store offers 15 million titles
- Free classics and daily deals
- Prime members get a rotating selection
Watch out for- Homepage extract focused on devices, so free-book details rest on store browsing
- Amazon format lock-in
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Apple Books is a built-in app on Apple devices with no subscription: books are priced individually, and thousands of free audiobooks and ebooks are available, plus free samples while browsing. Reading Goals track daily progress, streaks, and yearly totals, iCloud syncs progress across devices, and purchases share with up to five family members.
The free catalog leans toward classics and promotional titles rather than current bestsellers. Apple Books suits iPhone, iPad, and Mac users who want a clean free tier with audiobooks included, without a subscription.
What we like- App free with no subscription
- Thousands of free audiobooks and ebooks
- Reading Goals and family sharing up to five members
Watch out for- Apple devices only for the full experience
- Free titles lean classic and promotional
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Kobo, by Rakuten, runs a large ebook and audiobook store with a free app and web reader, plus e-readers from the Clara BW at 159.99 dollars to the Elipsa 2E at 399.99 dollars. Many titles show as free with Kobo Plus, and the store runs frequent sales with books under 5 dollars. Kobo supports the open EPUB format, which makes it friendlier than Kindle for side-loaded public domain books.
The flag is that the homepage extract showed paid titles and Kobo Plus offers rather than a dedicated free section, so free availability rests on in-store browsing. Kobo suits readers who value open formats and want an alternative to Amazon and Apple.
What we like- Kobo Books App free on phones and tablets
- Free titles plus Kobo Plus subscription titles
- E-readers from 159.99 dollars
- Open EPUB support
Watch out for- Homepage extract showed paid titles and Kobo Plus, so the free section needs in-store browsing
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Open Library is an open, editable library catalog run by the Internet Archive, building toward a web page for every book ever published. Like Wikipedia, anyone can contribute corrections, every record is free, and the project reported 279,000 books read, 255,000 new members, and 336,000 catalog edits in the last month.
The flag is that the homepage showed an offline notice during this review, though the catalog description and stats loaded. Borrowing depends on Internet Archive lending rules, so some titles lend only briefly. Open Library suits readers who want a free catalog and borrowing path outside commercial stores.
What we like- Open, editable catalog aiming for a page for every book ever published
- Free to use
- Run by the Internet Archive
- 279,000 books read last month
Watch out for- Homepage showed an offline notice during research
- Borrowing depends on Internet Archive lending availability
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
LibriVox produces free public domain audiobooks read by volunteers, and its September 2026 update reports more than 21,000 completed projects. All recordings are public domain, so third-party apps and archives can share them freely, and the official outlet remains the LibriVox website. The project celebrated its 20th anniversary in August 2025.
Narration quality varies by volunteer, and the catalog covers only public domain works, so no current titles. LibriVox suits listeners who want free audiobooks for commutes and chores, especially classics that pair with Project Gutenberg texts.
What we like- Over 21,000 completed volunteer-read projects
- All recordings public domain
- Free forever with no account
Watch out for- Volunteer narration quality varies
- Catalog limited to public domain works
How we chose
We opened each vendor homepage and compared free catalog size, borrowing rules, device support, and format openness. Libby's homepage extract was thin, and Google Play Books, Kindle, and Kobo extracts emphasized paid titles, so free-section details for those entries rest on store browsing and are flagged. We favored sources with genuinely free catalogs over stores with a few freebies, and we treated vendor counts as claims.
Building a free reading shelf: the three-source strategy
One source rarely covers every taste. The practical setup uses three: Libby for current books through a library card, Project Gutenberg or Open Library for permanent classics, and LibriVox for free audiobooks. Add a store app like Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kindle, or Kobo for free samples and promotional titles, and the shelf stays full without spending.
Check the library first before buying any book. Many readers buy titles their library already lends, and Libby wait lists move faster than expected for mid-list books. For classics, download the permanent copy from Project Gutenberg rather than a paid store edition, since the text is the same public domain work.
Getting a library card is usually the only barrier, and it is a low one. Most US public libraries issue cards free to residents, and many offer online signup with instant digital access to Libby. Readers who live in one city but work in another should check both systems, since a second card doubles the available copies and shortens wait lists. Some libraries also offer reciprocal borrowing with neighboring systems.
Format matters less than it once did, but it still trips up new readers. Kindle uses its own format, while Kobo, Apple Books, and Google Play Books handle EPUB more openly. Public domain books from Project Gutenberg come in several formats, so pick the one that matches the reading app. When in doubt, the app from the store where the book was bought always opens it, while side-loaded files need format awareness and care before any transfer begins on any device at all, every single time without exception.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to read books for free?
Libby leads for current books, since it borrows from public libraries free. Project Gutenberg leads for permanent classics, and LibriVox leads for free audiobooks.
Do I need a library card for Libby?
Yes, a public library card is required. Most US libraries offer free cards to residents, and many allow online signup.
Are Project Gutenberg books really free forever?
Yes. The books are public domain works, free with no fees and no registration, and downloads work in any browser or e-reader.
Can I read free books on a Kindle?
Yes. The Kindle app is free, and the Kindle Store offers free classics and promotional titles, plus side-loaded public domain books from Project Gutenberg.
Is LibriVox narration good quality?
It varies by volunteer, since recordings come from many readers. Most titles offer several versions, so try a sample before committing to a long book.
What is the difference between Libby and Open Library?
Libby borrows current ebooks and audiobooks from public libraries through OverDrive. Open Library is an open catalog run by the Internet Archive with its own lending rules.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://libbyapp.com/
- https://www.gutenberg.org/
- https://play.google.com/store/books
- https://www.amazon.com/kindle
- https://www.apple.com/apple-books/
- https://www.kobo.com/
- https://openlibrary.org/
- https://librivox.org/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Libby
Project Gutenberg
Google Play Books
Kindle
Apple Books
Kobo
Open Library
LibriVox