Who doesn’t love discovering new books without spending a dime?
With the right app, you can keep your TBR stacked and your budget intact. Whether you prefer ebooks, audiobooks, or a simple way to organize your library, here are the best apps to read books for free in 2025—plus quick tips to help you get more out of each one.
November Sunday Series: The Reader
Whether you’re shopping for the book lovers in your life—or treating yourself—this month’s collection celebrates everything about the joy of reading. From creating the perfect reading nook to finding thoughtful gifts, each post in this Sunday Series brings cozy inspiration for book lovers.
📌 Previously posted (Sept): How to Read More in Less Time (Without Losing the Joy)
📌 Previously posted (Oct): Discover 9 Practical Tips to Avoid a Reading Slump
So, whether you’re planning ahead for the holidays, a birthday, or a simple just-because surprise, I hope this series sparks ideas that make reading feel even more special.
Featured Posts:
• Creating the Perfect Reading Experience
• Which Kindle Should I Buy in 2025?
• Print vs eBooks: Which Fits Your Reading Life
• The Best Apps to Read Books for Free This Post
• Kindle Colorsoft Review
• Beyond the Shelf: The Ultimate Guide to Gifts for Readers Coming in December
Libby — Borrow Straight From Your Library
Why readers love it: Seamless access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks with a library card. Place holds, create wish lists, and send eligible titles to Kindle or read in-app.
Pro tip: Add cards from multiple library systems (if you have them) to widen selection and cut wait times.
Hoopla — Instant Borrowing, No Holds
Why readers love it: If your library supports Hoopla, you can instantly borrow ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and more—no waitlists.
Pro tip: Check your monthly borrow limit and download titles for offline reading before trips.
Kindle App — Freebies & Sync Everywhere
Why readers love it: You don’t need a Kindle device. The app is free and syncs across phone, tablet, and desktop. Amazon’s Top Free lists are full of rotating deals.
Pro tip: Sort by “Top Free” in your preferred genres and set a weekly reminder to scan new additions.
Apple Books — Polished Reader with Free Picks
Why readers love it: Built into iPhone/iPad/Mac with a curated Free Books section. Clean, simple, and synced across Apple devices.
Pro tip: Search “Free” and filter by category; add to your “Want to Read” to track promos.
Barnes & Noble Nook — EPUB-Friendly Freebies
Why readers love it: A good alternative to Amazon with a solid “Free eBooks” collection and EPUB support.
Pro tip: Explore Nook’s “Top 100 Free” and set alerts for your favorite authors.
Google Play Books — Hidden Freebies & Cloud Sync
Why readers love it: A clean reader with periodic free promotions. Syncs across devices and lets you upload personal files for private reading.
Pro tip: Check “Top Free” monthly; it varies by country (great for international readers).
A peek inside my NetGalley app — one of my favorite ways to preview upcoming releases.
NetGalley — Free ARCs for Honest Reviews
Why readers love it: Request advance reader copies from publishers for free in exchange for feedback. Perfect for bloggers and avid reviewers.
Pro tip: Keep your feedback ratio healthy (aim 80%+) to increase approvals.
ReadEra — Simple, Clean, and Offline
Why readers love it: An ad-free reader that supports EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more. Distraction-free and works offline once files are on your device.
Pro tip: Create collections for genres/authors to keep your shelves neat.
Aldiko & FBReader — Flexible EPUB/PDF Readers
Why readers love them: Both handle open formats beautifully and give you control over fonts, margins, and layout—great for DRM-free titles and classics.
Pro tip: Pair with Project Gutenberg or ManyBooks for a steady stream of quality free reads.
Calibre (Desktop) — The Organizer’s Dream
Why readers love it: Powerful library management—edit metadata, convert formats, and sync to many devices. It’s like reorganizing your bookshelves (without the dust).
Pro tip: Standardize series names and numbers so your reader groups books correctly.
Goodreads — Track, Discover, Discuss
Why readers love it: While it’s not a reading app, Goodreads is one of the best tools for organizing your books, joining yearly reading challenges, and discovering new favorites based on the taste of real readers.
Pro tip: Use custom shelves like “Library First,” “Audio,” or “DNF-for-now” to steer your next pick.
Global-Friendly Free Reading Options
Wattpad: Huge for free stories and fan fiction—great for discovering emerging voices worldwide. Read Wattpad
Project Gutenberg: 70,000+ free classics in EPUB/Kindle/PDF; ideal with Aldiko/FBReader. Visit Gutenberg
Internet Archive / Open Library: Nonprofit lending millions of digitized books (availability can vary by country). Internet Archive | Open Library
ManyBooks: Curated free and discounted ebooks, including public domain and indie titles. Browse ManyBooks
Draft2Digital (formerly Smashwords): Indie hub with plenty of free or “name your price” reads. Discover on D2D
Storytel (free trials): Popular in Europe, India, and LATAM for audiobooks; watch for trial promos. Explore Storytel
Scribd (free trials): Paid subscription with frequent 30–60 day trials that work in many countries. Try Scribd
Quick Tips to Find Quality Free Books
- Leverage multiple libraries: Add more than one card in Libby/Hoopla if you can.
- Stagger holds: Avoid everything arriving at once; set reminders around due dates.
- Hunt promos: Check “Top Free” lists weekly on Kindle, Nook, and Google Play Books.
- Go public-domain: Gutenberg + ManyBooks = a lifetime of classics in clean EPUBs.
- Stay organized: Use Calibre or Goodreads shelves to keep your next reads front and center.
Let’s chat: Which free reading app do you love most—and why? Drop your tips below so we can all find our next great read.
You Might Also Enjoy:
- Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates — a great pick if you're leaning toward team paperback
- Outlaw Lake — perfect for e-reader fans who love fast-paced stories
- Sunset by Sharon Sala — emotional, comforting, and great on any device
- In Need of a Cowboy — perfect for readers craving small-town charm
- Browse all reading categories
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