The main places to get free books are public library apps, Project Gutenberg, and open-source sites like Standard Ebooks

Free books exist in three categories: older books with expired copyrights, books authors choose to share free, and library lending through your library card. Your public library almost certainly has a digital lending app — usually Libby or OverDrive — that works on phones, tablets, and e-readers. Project Gutenberg holds over 70,000 books in the public domain, mostly classics published before 1928 in the United States. Standard Ebooks offers the same public domain books but with better formatting and design.

Each route works differently and has different books, so the fastest way to find what you want is to check your library app first, then search Project Gutenberg if the library doesn't have it. You can also search author websites and platforms like Smashwords for contemporary free books, though these are usually first-in-series titles meant to lead you to paid sequels.

Key Takeaways

  • Your public library's app (usually Libby or OverDrive) lends e-books and audiobooks for free with your library card, and you can borrow multiple books at once.
  • Project Gutenberg and Standard Ebooks hold over 70,000 free books in the public domain, mostly older titles, and you can download them directly to any device.
  • Many contemporary authors post free books on their websites or on platforms like Smashwords and Draft2Digital to build readers.
  • You need to know what format your device reads — Kindle devices use MOBI or AZW, most tablets and phones read EPUB, and computers read almost anything.
  • Downloading from unknown sites or torrent networks risks malware and copyright violation, even when the site claims books are free.

How to borrow free books through your library

Start by finding your library's app. Most public libraries in the United States use either Libby (owned by OverDrive) or OverDrive itself. Go to your library's website, look for "Digital Library" or "E-Books," and follow the link to download the app. You will need your library card number and PIN. If you do not have a card, most libraries let you get one online now without visiting in person.

Once you are logged in, search for the book you want. If it is available, you can borrow it immediately — it will appear on your device within seconds. If it is checked out, you can place a hold and the app will notify you when it becomes available. Loans usually last 14 or 21 days depending on your library, and the book automatically returns itself when the loan ends. You cannot accidentally keep it past the due date.

Libby and OverDrive work on iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and e-readers like Kindle and Kobo. The app syncs across devices, so you can start reading on your phone and pick up where you left off on your tablet. If your library uses a different system, the process is the same — search, borrow, read — but the app name will be different.

Downloading books from Project Gutenberg and Standard Ebooks

Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org) and Standard Ebooks (standardebooks.org) both host books in the public domain — works whose copyrights have expired or were never copyrighted. Most of these are older books: classics, historical texts, and out-of-print works. You can search by title, author, or subject, and download directly to your computer or device.

When you find a book, Project Gutenberg offers it in multiple formats: EPUB (for most tablets and phones), Kindle format, HTML, plain text, and others. Standard Ebooks offers EPUB and Kindle format with better typography and design than the raw Project Gutenberg versions. Choose the format that matches your device. If you are not sure what your device reads, check the device's manual or settings — most phones and tablets default to EPUB, Kindle devices read MOBI or AZW, and computers read almost any format.

Download the file to your computer, then transfer it to your device. For phones and tablets, you can often open the file directly from your downloads folder and it will open in your reading app. For e-readers, you may need to connect the device to your computer with a USB cable and drag the file into the device's books folder, or email the file to your Kindle's special email address (found in your Amazon account settings).

Finding free books from authors and publishers

Many authors, especially in romance, science fiction, and mystery, post free books on their websites or on platforms like Smashwords and Draft2Digital. These are usually the first book in a series — the author's strategy to build readers for the paid books that follow. Search "[author name] free book" or "[genre] free books" to find them.

Some publishers also release free books as promotions. For example, Tor Books (a major science fiction publisher) releases free e-books regularly. Checking a publisher's website or signing up for their newsletter will tell you when these are available. Author newsletters are another good source — many writers announce free book periods to their subscribers before anyone else.

When you download from an author's or publisher's website, you get the file directly — usually an EPUB or PDF. Save it to your computer, then transfer it to your device the same way you would a Project Gutenberg book.

Understanding file formats and which ones work on your device

E-books come in different formats, and not every device reads every format. The three most common are EPUB, MOBI, and PDF. EPUB is the standard for most phones, tablets, and dedicated e-readers except Kindle. MOBI and AZW are Amazon's formats and work on Kindle devices and the Kindle app. PDF works on almost everything but does not reflow text to fit the screen, so it can be hard to read on small devices.

When you download a book, the site will offer a choice of formats. Pick the one that matches your device. If you pick the wrong one, the file will not open or will look wrong. If you are unsure, EPUB is the safest choice for phones and tablets, and MOBI or AZW for Kindle. You can always go back and download a different format if the first one does not work.

Some reading apps can convert formats for you. For example, Calibre (a free program for computers) can convert EPUB to MOBI or vice versa. This is useful if you find a book in the wrong format, but the conversion is not always perfect — sometimes the formatting breaks or special features like embedded fonts disappear.

What to avoid when looking for free books

Do not download books from torrent sites, file-sharing networks, or unknown websites that claim to have "all books free." These sites often contain malware, and downloading from them may violate copyright law even if the site claims the books are free. Legitimate free book sources — your library, Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, and author websites — do not require you to use these risky methods.

Be cautious of sites that ask you to create an account, provide payment information, or download software before you can read a book. Legitimate free book sites do not do this. If a site feels suspicious, it probably is. Some sites claim to have millions of free books but actually have very few, or they host pirated copies of recent books that are still under copyright protection.

Stick with the sources listed above, which are legal and safe. Your library is always the best first stop because librarians have already vetted the content and the site is secure.

How to read books on different devices

Once you have downloaded a book, you need a reading app to open it. Most phones and tablets come with a built-in reading app, or you can download one for free: Apple Books (for iPhones and iPads), Google Play Books (for Android), Kindle (for any device), or Libby (which you may already have). Download the app, then open the book file — it will usually open in the app automatically.

On a computer, you can read e-books in a web browser using sites like Standard Ebooks, or you can use a program like Calibre or Adobe Digital Editions. On a dedicated e-reader like Kindle or Kobo, transfer the file to the device and it will appear in your library automatically. Most e-readers have their own built-in reading software, so you do not need to download anything extra.

Most reading apps let you adjust text size, font, background color, and brightness. They also sync your reading progress across devices if you are logged into the same account, so you can switch between your phone and tablet without losing your place. This is especially useful if you read on your phone during the day and on a tablet at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a library card to use Libby?

Yes, you need an active library card from a public library that uses Libby or OverDrive. Most public libraries in the United States participate. If you do not have a card, visit your library's website — many now let you get one online without going in person. Some libraries also let non-residents get cards for a small fee.

Can I keep a library book forever if I really like it?

No. Library loans automatically return after 14 or 21 days depending on your library. The book will disappear from your device on the due date. If you want to keep reading it, you can borrow it again if it is available, or you can buy a copy.

Is it legal to download books from Project Gutenberg?

Yes. Project Gutenberg only hosts books in the public domain — works whose copyrights have expired or were never copyrighted. These are legal to download and share. Most are older books published before 1928 in the United States.

What happens if I download a book in the wrong format?

The file will not open in your reading app, or it will open but look wrong — text might not reflow, or the file might not display at all. Go back to the download site, choose a different format that matches your device, and download again. If you are stuck, Calibre (a free program) can convert between formats.

Can I share a downloaded book with a friend?

It depends on the source. Books from your library are tied to your account and cannot be shared. Books from Project Gutenberg and Standard Ebooks are in the public domain, so you can share them freely. Books from author websites or Smashwords may have restrictions — check the license or terms before sharing.