Editorial note: This post was first published when free e-book platforms were less common. Some of the websites originally listed have since changed, disappeared or adopted paid subscription models. The list has therefore been updated to include active and legal sources of free books.
Information may be freely available, but finding reliable books can sometimes be frustrating. As more publishers and authors embrace digital publishing, the cost and accessibility of books have been positively affected.
More importantly, many publishers, universities and organisations now make books available to the public at no cost.
Below are some carefully selected websites where books can be read or downloaded legally and free of charge.
So, get reading and downloading!
Open Textbook Library
The Open Textbook Library contains free textbooks covering subjects such as accounting, business, computer science, education, law, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences.
The books are openly licensed, meaning they can be legally read, downloaded and, depending on the licence, adapted with proper acknowledgement.
OpenStax
OpenStax provides free, peer-reviewed textbooks for secondary-school and university-level courses.
Its collection includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Business, Psychology and other subjects. The books can be read online or downloaded in digital formats at no cost.
NCBI Bookshelf
NCBI Bookshelf is an online collection of books and documents in medicine, healthcare and the life sciences.
It contains materials on biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, public health and other biomedical subjects. Most materials can be searched and read online, while available download options depend on the particular publication.
Directory of Open Access Books
The Directory of Open Access Books, commonly known as DOAB, provides access to scholarly, peer-reviewed books made available under open-access licences.
Its collection covers different academic subjects and languages. Users can search by title, subject, author or publisher and follow the link to the full book.
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is one of the oldest and largest sources of free electronic books.
It contains thousands of books, particularly classic works whose copyrights have expired. Books are available in formats such as EPUB, Kindle and plain text, and they can also be read online.
Readers should still consider the copyright laws applicable in their own countries.
Online Programming Books
Online Programming Books provides free books and learning materials on programming, computer science, software development, artificial intelligence, web design and computer hardware.
Users can search by programming language or subject and follow the provided links to books that are legally available online.
Planet eBook
For readers who enjoy classic novels and literature, Planet eBook is a useful option.
It provides a smaller, carefully prepared collection of classic books in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formats. Since copyright laws differ between countries, users should check whether a particular work is in the public domain where they live.
Free-eBooks.net
Free-eBooks.net contains fiction, non-fiction, academic and self-published books.
A free account allows users to download a limited number of books each month. Unlimited downloads and additional formats require a paid membership, so book choices should be made carefully.
Open Library
Open Library allows users to search, read and borrow millions of books online.
Some public-domain books may be freely read or downloaded, while copyrighted books are generally available for digital borrowing for a limited period. A free account is required for borrowing.
Download Responsibly
A website offering a book without payment does not automatically mean that it has permission to distribute it.
Readers should use recognised open-access libraries, public-domain collections, official publishers and legitimate digital-lending services. Authors and publishers deserve acknowledgement and protection for their work.
This list will be updated as more useful and legal sources become available.
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