In the digital age, access to knowledge and literature has never been easier. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or casual reader, these 60 legal websites offer millions of free books across genres to download. Below, we break down each site’s official URL, copyright compliance, and pros/cons to help you build your digital library ethically and affordably.
Top 30 Legal Websites to Download Free Books in 2025
1. Planet eBook
- URL: https://www.planetebook.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Hosts high-quality public domain classics. Users must verify local copyright laws before downloading.
- Pros: Mobile-friendly design; no ads.
- Cons: Limited to older classics; no audiobooks.
2. Free-eBooks.net
- URL: https://www.free-ebooks.net/
- Copyright Compliance: Mix of public domain and original works. Requires registration; limits downloads to 1 book/month for free users.
- Pros: Diverse genres; includes audiobooks.
- Cons: Aggressive ads; premium upsells.
3. ManyBooks
- URL: https://manybooks.net/
- Copyright Compliance: Curates public domain and Creative Commons titles. Partners with Project Gutenberg.
- Pros: User-friendly; multilingual options.
- Cons: Some outdated sections; limited new releases.
4. LibriVox
- URL: https://librivox.org/
- Copyright Compliance: Volunteer-read audiobooks of public domain works.
- Pros: Free audiobooks; community-driven.
- Cons: Inconsistent narration quality.
5. Internet Archive
- URL: https://archive.org/
- Copyright Compliance: Hosts public domain and licensed works. Offers controlled digital lending.
- Pros: Vast multimedia library; rare manuscripts.
- Cons: Cluttered interface; slow downloads.
6. BookBub
- URL: https://www.bookbub.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Promotes free/discounted books from publishers.
- Pros: Bestseller deals; email alerts.
- Cons: Limited to promotions; requires account.
7. Open Library
- URL: https://openlibrary.org/
- Copyright Compliance: Borrows books via controlled digital lending. Linked to Internet Archive.
- Pros: Catalogues every published book; editable entries.
- Cons: Borrowing limits; some titles unavailable.
8. BookBoon
- URL: https://bookboon.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Offers free textbooks and business eBooks with ads.
- Pros: Focus on education; ad-supported model.
- Cons: Ad interruptions; limited genres.
9. Feedbooks
- URL: https://www.feedbooks.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Mix of public domain and original works.
- Pros: Clean interface; customizable fonts.
- Cons: Paid content mixed with free.
10. Smashwords
- URL: https://www.smashwords.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Self-published works; authors retain rights.
- Pros: Indie authors; multiple formats.
- Cons: Variable quality; no audiobooks.
11. Project Gutenberg
- URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/
- Copyright Compliance: Public domain only. Users outside the U.S. must check local laws.
- Pros: 75,000+ titles; no registration.
- Cons: Mostly pre-1920s works; limited languages.
12. Google Books – Best Websites to Download Free Books
- URL: https://books.google.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Offers previews and full public domain books.
- Pros: Advanced search; integrates with Google services.
- Cons: Mixed free/paid content; limited downloads.
13. PDFBooksWorld
- URL: https://www.pdfbooksworld.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Public domain classics in PDF format.
- Pros: Simple downloads; no registration.
- Cons: Limited to classics; outdated design.
14. FreeTechBooks
- URL: https://www.freetechbooks.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Focuses on free tech/engineering books.
- Pros: Academic focus; updated frequently.
- Cons: Niche audience; ads.
15. Bookyards
- URL: https://www.bookyards.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Aggregates links to free eBooks; verify sources.
- Pros: Massive collection; multiple languages.
- Cons: Broken links; unclear copyright status.
16. GetFreeBooks
- URL: https://www.getfreebooks.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Curates free eBooks; some may require permissions.
- Pros: Updated daily; diverse categories.
- Cons: Redirects to external sites.
17. eBookLobby
- URL: https://www.ebooklobby.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Links to free books; verify legality per country.
- Pros: Wide range of topics.
- Cons: Outdated interface; ads.
18. FreeComputerBooks
- URL: https://freecomputerbooks.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Specializes in free computer science books.
- Pros: Categorized by topic; no registration.
- Cons: Cluttered layout.
19. OpenCulture
- URL: https://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks
- Copyright Compliance: Lists public domain and legally free books.
- Pros: Curated quality; includes courses.
- Cons: Not a direct download site.
20. LibGen (Library Genesis)
- URL: http://libgen.rs/
- Copyright Compliance: Hosts pirated content; use with extreme caution.
- Pros: Extensive academic resources.
- Cons: Illegal in many countries; ethical concerns.
21. Goodreads
- URL: https://www.goodreads.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Recommends books; some free titles via authors/publishers.
- Pros: Community reviews; reading lists.
- Cons: Limited free downloads.
22. Obooko
- URL: https://www.obooko.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Original works from authors; free with registration.
- Pros: Unique content; no ads.
- Cons: Small collection.
23. O’Reilly
- URL: https://www.oreilly.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Free trial for tech/professional books.
- Pros: High-quality tech content.
- Cons: Subscription required after trial.
24. PDFdrive
- URL: https://www.pdfdrive.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Hosts a mix of public domain and copyrighted material.
- Pros: Massive PDF library; no registration.
- Cons: Legal gray area; ads.
25. Anna’s Archive
- URL: https://annas-archive.org/
- Copyright Compliance: Mirrors controversial libraries like LibGen.
- Pros: Extensive database.
- Cons: Legal risks; ethical issues.
26. PDFroom
- URL: https://pdfroom.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Public domain and user-uploaded content.
- Pros: Fast downloads; clean interface.
- Cons: Unclear copyright for some files.
27. PDF Coffee
- URL: https://pdfcoffee.com/
- Copyright Compliance: User-uploaded documents; verify legality.
- Pros: Niche academic papers.
- Cons: Risky copyright status.
28. Dokumen Pub
- URL: https://dokumen.pub/
- Copyright Compliance: Academic and professional documents; some pirated.
- Pros: Technical resources.
- Cons: Legal ambiguity.
29. Z Library
- URL: https://singlelogin.re/
- Copyright Compliance: Controversial; hosts copyrighted books illegally.
- Pros: Vast collection.
- Cons: High legal risk; domain changes frequently.
30. Ocean of PDF
- URL: https://oceanofpdf.com/
- Copyright Compliance: Notorious for pirated bestsellers.
- Pros: Popular titles.
- Cons: Illegal; site was often taken down.
60 Best Websites for Free Ebooks (Updated 2025)
Here is an expanded list of 60 legal websites where you can download or read free books online in 2025. This updated list blends top recommendations from your previous section alongside additional reputable sources from recent guides and free ebook directories:
| # | Website | URL | Main Focus/Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet eBook | https://www.planetebook.com/ | Public domain classics |
| 2 | Free-eBooks.net | https://www.free-ebooks.net/ | Mixed genres, registration required |
| 3 | ManyBooks | https://manybooks.net/ | Public domain, Creative Commons titles |
| 4 | LibriVox | https://librivox.org/ | Free audiobooks, public domain |
| 5 | Internet Archive | https://archive.org/ | Massive multimedia, digital book lending |
| 6 | BookBub | https://www.bookbub.com/ | Deals and free books, email alerts |
| 7 | Open Library | https://openlibrary.org/ | Millions of books, digital lending |
| 8 | BookBoon | https://bookboon.com/ | Free textbooks, business books |
| 9 | Feedbooks | https://www.feedbooks.com/ | Public domain, original works |
| 10 | Smashwords | https://www.smashwords.com/ | Self-published, indie authors |
| 11 | Project Gutenberg | https://www.gutenberg.org/ | Over 75,000 public domain ebooks |
| 12 | Google Books | https://books.google.com/ | Scanned books, previews, many public domain |
| 13 | PDFBooksWorld | https://www.pdfbooksworld.com/ | Public domain classics as PDF |
| 14 | FreeTechBooks | https://www.freetechbooks.com/ | Tech and engineering |
| 15 | Bookyards | https://www.bookyards.com/ | Aggregates free eBooks, multiple languages |
| 16 | GetFreeBooks | https://www.getfreebooks.com/ | Curated free eBooks list |
| 17 | eBookLobby | https://www.ebooklobby.com/ | Wide range of topics |
| 18 | FreeComputerBooks | https://freecomputerbooks.com/ | Computer science, IT, math |
| 19 | OpenCulture | https://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks | Curated public domain, course materials |
| 20 | Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/ | Community, some free books |
| 21 | Obooko | https://www.obooko.com/ | Original works, registration needed |
| 22 | O’Reilly | https://www.oreilly.com/ | Tech & business books (trial) |
| 23 | Libby/OverDrive | https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby | Borrow ebooks via your local library card |
| 24 | Freebook Sifter | https://www.freebooksifter.com/ | Pulls from Amazon’s free Kindle books |
| 25 | Loyal Books | https://www.loyalbooks.com/ | Encodes LibriVox books, public domain texts |
| 26 | Bartleby | https://www.bartleby.com/ | Literary classics, research |
| 27 | Authorama | http://www.authorama.com/ | Public domain, easily readable |
| 28 | Classic Reader | https://www.classicreader.com/ | Classic literature |
| 29 | HathiTrust | https://www.hathitrust.org/ | Academic & research libraries |
| 30 | Standard Ebooks | https://standardebooks.org/ | Highly formatted editions |
| 31 | Bibliomania | https://www.bibliomania.com/ | Classic novels, study guides |
| 32 | BookRix | https://www.bookrix.com/books.html | User-published, self-publishing platform |
| 33 | PublicBookshelf | https://www.publicbookshelf.com/ | Fiction genres, romance, mysteries |
| 34 | Chest of Books | https://chestofbooks.com/ | Reference, general topics |
| 35 | Sacred Texts | https://www.sacred-texts.com/ | Religion, mythology, folklore |
| 36 | Free Book Bay | http://freebookbay.com/ | Fiction and literature |
| 37 | WikiSource | https://wikisource.org/ | Source texts, public domain, translated works |
| 38 | FreeBookSpot | http://www.freebookspot.es/ | Technical, academic, fiction |
| 39 | Project Laurens Jz Coster | https://www.laurnscoster.com/ | Dutch, classic literature |
| 40 | Classic Literature Library | https://classic-literature.co.uk/ | Classic British & American texts |
| 41 | DailyLit | https://dailylit.com/ | Books delivered via email, online reading |
| 42 | byGosh | https://www.bygosh.com/ | Illustrated children’s stories |
| 43 | Europeana | https://www.europeana.eu/ | European culture, digitized books |
| 44 | DPLA (Digital Public Library of America) | https://dp.la/ | US digitized library resources |
| 45 | Baen Free Library | https://www.baen.com/free-library.htm | Free science fiction, fantasy |
| 46 | Free Booksy | https://www.freebooksy.com/ | Curated daily free eBooks |
| 47 | Free Stuff Times | https://www.freestufftimes.com/ | Free Kindle book deals |
| 48 | OneHundredFreeBooks | https://www.onehundredfreebooks.com/ | Finds free Kindle/Amazon deals |
| 49 | BookGorilla | https://www.bookgorilla.com/ | Daily alerts, bargain and free ebooks |
| 50 | Freebookbay | https://www.freebookbay.com/ | Fiction, literature |
| 51 | E-Books Directory | https://www.e-booksdirectory.com/ | Academic, technical, fiction |
| 52 | OpenStax | https://openstax.org/ | Free, peer-reviewed textbooks |
| 53 | Wikibooks | https://en.wikibooks.org/ | Open-content textbooks |
| 54 | Classic Bookshelf | http://classicbookshelf.com/ | Accessible ePub, MOBI, HTML |
| 55 | Booksee | http://booksee.org/ | Academic books |
| 56 | Hathi Digital Trust Collections | https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/mb | Multilingual collection |
| 57 | Planet Publish | https://www.planetpublish.com/ | Classic fiction, research |
| 58 | Internet Sacred Text Archive | https://www.sacred-texts.com/ | Ancient texts, sacred scriptures |
| 59 | Read Print | https://www.readprint.com/ | Online library, student dashboard |
| 60 | Free-eBooks-Canada | http://www.free-ebooks-canada.com/ | Canadian titles, international |
Key Guidance for Use:
- Prioritize public domain sites (e.g. Project Gutenberg, Standard Ebooks, Loyal Books).
- Use library-based lending (Open Library, Libby/OverDrive, HathiTrust).
- Some sites (like Freebook Sifter, Booksy, and Freebookbay) specialize in aggregating free Kindle, Amazon, or promotional offers.
- Avoid or use with caution: sites known for pirated content or legal gray areas (e.g. LibGen, ZLibrary, PDFdrive are excluded from this “purely legal” list).
Note: Always check each site’s copyright policy to ensure compliance with your local laws. Many library resources can be accessed worldwide with a digital card.
Conclusion
From timeless classics to modern indie gems, these 60 websites democratize access to literature. Always verify a site’s copyright compliance to stay on the right side of the law. Prioritize ethical platforms like Project Gutenberg or Open Library, and avoid illegal repositories to support authors and publishers. Happy reading!
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