If reading is one of your hobbies, you are lucky you were born in this era. Technology has made it more accessible than ever. For example, some websites that let you read ebooks for free. The best thing about it is you can access them anytime, anywhere. Amazing, right? Here, we have listed your best options. Continue reading to discover the top 10 free online book websites.
In this article
That is not all. You will also learn how to read ebooks offline, so you do not have to worry about having an internet connection.
Top 10 Free Online Platforms to Read Books
Here are the 10 websites you need to check if you are looking for free ebooks you can read online.
1. Project Gutenberg
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Project Gutenberg was the first website to ever offer free online ebooks. Because it has been around for a long time, the website's collection of public domain books. The website lists the top 100 books, so you know which are the must-reads. Searching is also easy. You can put the title, author, or series name in the search bar, and the website will look for the book you want.
2. OpenLibrary
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Open Library is an initiative by the Internet Archive that aims to create a universal catalog of books, offering free access to millions of titles. It allows you to borrow digital copies of books for a limited time. With that, you don't need to purchase the book yourself.
OpenLibrary also lets you set yearly reading goals and track your progress. On top of that, it lets you track your favorite books, allowing you to know when they're available again.
3. Internet Archive
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Internet Archive has a very large collection of books that include both fiction and non-fiction works. There are over 5 million books to read online for free in English! There are also thousands of books in other languages. Despite this large collection of books, searching for specific ones or ones that may interest you is still easy. That is thanks to the filters on the sidebar.
4. Wattpad
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Wattpad is one of the most popular websites and apps for aspiring writers. On this platform, established and new writers post their works. That said, you can find unique books to read online for free. Those books can't be found anywhere else. Also, you can connect with the authors and other readers by commenting on their books. So, it is also a good platform for connecting with like-minded individuals.
5. Google Books
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Google Books is an online service from Google that allows you to search, preview, and read books digitally. It provides access to a vast library of books from publishers, authors, and library collections worldwide. However, please remember that not all books on this platform are free. Many offer limited previews only, and you need to purchase them to access the rest of their content.
6. BookBub
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BookBub is among the best sites to read books for free, especially if you want to discover new books from genres you are already interested in. After an account registration, it will ask you about your reading preferences. Then, it will base its recommendation on the data that you provided.
7. Manybooks
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Manybooks is similar to BookBub. It also points you toward free books to read online. But on top of giving you recommendations, it also serves as an actual free book-reading site. You can read the books online or download them for offline reading.
8. Smashwords
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Smashwords is a platform where you can read books online for free and discover books for sale. What sets it apart is that indie authors often make their books available for free. It gives readers a chance to enjoy new titles before they gain widespread popularity—all at no cost.
With a diverse collection of genres, ranging from fiction and non-fiction to poetry and essays, Smashwords caters to all kinds of readers. The website also offers flexible formats compatible with e-readers, smartphones, and computers, making it easy to access books anywhere.
9. PDF Drive
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PDF Drive is a website that lets you read entire books for free in PDF. Its collection consists mainly of non-fiction books. It is a good site to visit if you are looking for books that can give you motivation, parenting tips, and more. However, please note that PDF Drive does not let you read whole books online. You can only preview them. If you want to read the whole book, you need to download it as a PDF.
10. Libby, by Overdrive
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Libby, by OverDrive, is a user-friendly app that connects you to your local public library, allowing you to borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines for free. With just a library card, you can access a vast collection of titles directly from your library's digital catalog. Libby ensures a hassle-free borrowing experience, combining convenience with the joy of reading.
How to Read eBooks for Free
You can read eBooks for free by using online reading websites or offline document readers. If you choose to read online, you can access the eBook anywhere you go and with any device. On the other hand, downloading the books for offline viewing allows you to access them even if you have no internet connection. Below, we will explore these methods more.
Online Reading
With online reading, you can access the books anytime, anywhere, and with any device. Some websites will also record your progress. Thus, when you open a book, even if you are using a new device, it will automatically go to the last page you read.
To read books online for free, visit one of the websites listed above. Find a book that interests you and read it. Most of these websites provide you with an online reader.
Offline Reading
The problem with offline reading is that you can't continue if you lose your internet connection. When you're out, you may need to connect to public wi-fi to open the websites. These networks are not very secure, so connecting to them for extended periods of time is risky.
That said, you may want to read the books offline instead. The websites above allow you to download the books in different formats. If you choose to do that, you need a good program to read the downloaded book. Wondershare PDFelement is a fantastic choice for that.
Wondershare PDFelement includes many features that can make your reading experience great. For example, it allows you to add notes and comments. You can use this feature when you need to jot down important information and set reminders for yourself.
Furthermore, Wondershare PDFelement offers different page views. It allows you to find a setting that's comfortable for your eyes. For example, it has an Eye Protection view, which is great for reading at night.
To read books offline for free using Wondershare PDFelement, follow these steps:
- Go to a website that lets you download books for free.
- Select the book that you want to read and download it as a PDF.
- Open Wondershare PDFelement and click Open PDF.
- Select the book you have downloaded.
- Start reading.
- Go to View if you want to change the page view.
- Go to Comment if you want to add notes.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're using a computer, tablet, or phone, these platforms make finding free books to read easier than ever. They have huge collections and can even notify you about deals that let you get usually paid books for free. Indeed, they can help you expand your eBook library.
You can also download those books for free. We recommend doing that so you don't have to be connected to the internet to read the book. You can use Wondershare PDFelement to read the downloaded book. It offers several features that ensure you'll have a fantastic reading experience.