Let’s get right to it..
Some ways to find free audiobooks online –
- Public libraries – Many public libraries offer free access to audiobooks through apps like OverDrive, Libby, or Hoopla. A valid library card is required to “check out” audiobooks.
- YouTube – There are some channels that upload full public domain audiobooks for free on YouTube. Search for “audiobooks” on YouTube and you’ll find many options.
- Librivox – a site where volunteers record and distribute free public domain audiobooks. You can search and stream or download audiobooks from their site.
- Internet Archive – The Internet Archive has a large collection of free audiobooks that are in the public domain. You can browse by genre, author or title to find what you’re looking for.
- Project Gutenberg – Project Gutenberg offers free ebooks of mostly public domain titles. Some of the titles are also available as audiobooks for free at their website or through their App for iOS or Android.
- Spotify – Spotify has a limited number of free audiobooks and audiobook samples you can access without a premium account. However, the selection is more limited compared to their paid audiobook options.
Those are some good places to start your search for free audiobooks online.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated for qualified purchases from links in this article, at no cost to you. Thank you ! You can read full disclosure, here.
Some Things To Be Aware of When Looking For Free Audiobooks Online:
- Quality can vary – Since many free audiobooks are produced and read by volunteers, the quality can vary significantly. Some are professionally produced while others are read by amateurs. Listen to samples before downloading.
- Mostly older titles – The majority of free audiobooks are of older titles in the public domain. Newer, popular titles generally are not available for free due to copyright.
- Downloading options – You’ll often have the option to just stream free audiobooks online or download them to listen offline. Downloading gives you access even without an internet connection.
- Download formats – Audiobooks are typically downloaded as MP3 files, but some sites may offer WAV or other formats as well. MP3 is a good universal option.
- Smartphone apps – Many of the sites mentioned have accompanying smartphone apps where you can browse and download audiobooks directly to your device for listening.
- Limited membership benefits – Free membership levels on sites like audible.com and scribd.com provide limited access to just a few free audiobooks and samples. However, full access requires a paid subscription.
- Consider subscriptions – For the widest selection of newer titles in high quality, an audiobook subscription from a service like Audible is generally the best option, though it does come at a monthly cost.
What are some of the best smartphone apps for downloading free audiobooks ?
Here are some of the best smartphone apps for downloading free audiobooks:
- Libby – This app connects you to your local public library’s digital collection. You can access thousands of free audiobooks with a library card. Android and iOS both have the app in their stores.
- OverDrive – Similar to Libby, OverDrive connects you to your public library’s ebooks and audiobooks. Available on both iOS and Android.
- Project Gutenberg – Lets you download and listen to thousands of free audiobooks in the public domain. Available for iOS and Android.
- Hoopla Digital – Another app that connects to your local library’s digital collection. Offers a wide range of free audiobook titles. Works with iOS and Android.
- Internet Archive – Lets you stream or download audiobooks from their huge public domain collection. Available for iOS and Android.
- YouTube – The YouTube app is a decent option for listening to free audiobooks that people have uploaded. Great for listening on the go. Both iOS and Android versions available.
- Free Audiobooks – As the name suggests, this app offers thousands of free audiobooks that you can download and listen to offline. Available for iOS and Android.
Those are some of the best app options for accessing large collections of free audiobooks on your smartphone. Connecting to your local public library’s digital collection through apps like Libby and OverDrive will typically give you the widest selection of free audiobook titles.
Do Any Apps Offer Audiobooks in Languages Other Than English ?
Yes, some of these apps do offer audiobooks in languages other than English:
- OverDrive/Libby – These apps connect you to your local library’s digital collection. Many libraries have audiobooks in languages other than English, so you may be able to access titles in Spanish, French, German and other languages through these apps.
- Internet Archive – While the majority of their audiobook collection is in English, the Internet Archive also has some audiobooks available in other languages like Spanish, French, German, Italian and more.
- Free Audiobooks – This app claims to have audiobooks in over 20 different languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian and more.
- YouTube – There are many channels on YouTube that offer free audiobooks in languages other than English, including Spanish, French, German, Russian, Arabic and more. You can access these through the YouTube app.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated for qualified purchases from links in this article, at no cost to you. Thank you ! You can read full disclosure, here.
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Katy B. Rutland
My name is Katy, and storytelling is pretty much my jam. Snuggling up with a good book and escaping into a thrilling movie has been my addiction since I was a little kid. I studied English Lit in college which was literally heaven for a word nerd like me. Since graduating I've focused my passion and energy on writing my own novels and screenplays.