How to get free audiobooks
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Wondering how to get free audiobooks? You can browse many public domain online libraries, join a public library, or use text to speech tools like Speechify.
How to get free audiobooks
Reading books promotes better brain function and introduces new ideas. These days, audiobooks are the go-to choice for many. They allow you to enjoy original stories, classic literature, and trending bestsellers on your commute to work or when doing chores.
While audiobooks are amazing, services like Amazon Audible or Spotify Premium charge hefty subscription fees. The good news is that there are ways to access free digital books, including eBooks and audiobooks.
The platforms allowing you to download audiobooks for free typically contain public domain books. And the best websites with books without copyrights are literary treasure troves. So, here's how to get free audiobooks you can enjoy.
Tips for getting free audiobooks
If you're on the hunt for free audiobooks, your local library is the first place you'd want to visit. You can rent an audiobook from the library if you have a valid library card. Under-funding often goes hand in hand with a typical public library, but many still have decent free audiobook collections.
Modern libraries use platforms like OverDrive and Hoopla, meaning you don't have to visit the library to rent an audiobook. All audiobook enthusiasts need to do is download the dedicated iOS or Android app to their mobile devices and access a vast network of public libraries.
But there are other platforms you can check out for free eBooks and audiobooks. These include:
- Scribl—This is the platform to consider if you love short stories and novels from indie authors. It is an eBook and audiobook retailer but also offer many free editions.
- Free Classic Audiobooks—The name of the website says it all. Catching up the classic literature takes time, and this platform will help you achieve your goal.
- Project Gutenberg—This is one of the oldest digital libraries. They provide public domain books exclusively and invite volunteers to narrate books and help keep the website alive.
- Mind Webs—Currently, this is a vast internet archive for eBooks and audiobooks. However, Mind Webs was a dramatized radio program. You can find many science fiction genre audiobooks and old radio episodes.
- Sync—This is the perfect platform if you're organizing a summer reading playlist for teenagers. Sync is a part of AudioFile Magazine that collaborates with OneDrive.
- Open Culture—The platform contains numerous public domain audiobooks, and its website has a user-friendly interface.
- Loyal Books—All the books on this platform have entered the public domain. The Loyal Books tagline is "Books should be free," and that's what the service offers.
Besides these, there are a few other avenues for free audiobooks to consider.
Use Storynory
Are you or is someone in your life fans of fairy tales or Aesop's Fables? If yes, consider checking out Storynory. This fantastic website offers so much educational content, including full-length audiobooks. While this platform primarily caters to younger audiences, anyone who loves timeless stories will likely appreciate it.
Check out Libby
Libby is a fantastic reading app that allows you to access all the public library audiobooks. It's an entirely free app created by OverDrive. All you need is your library card.
You can download it from the App Store or Google Play Store and access free audiobooks instantly. The app has features like changing the playback speed, setting a timer, and viewing the listening progress.
Try Lit2Go
If you haven't had the time to read classics like Moby Dick, Peter Pan, or Wuthering Heights, the Lit2Go platform can help. All the audiobooks available are free domain. It's one of the most popular free audiobook websites among audiobook fans.
Get free classic audiobooks from ThoughtAudio and Librivox
Many free audiobook websites offer timeless gems like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, but ThoughtAudio also includes philosophy classics. Readers can browse the wide selection of excellent philosophy titles and download free audiobooks.
Librivox is another non-profit service with loads of free audiobooks. Volunteers narrate the books, so the quality of the audiobook may vary. You can also find many of their productions on YouTube.
Try Learn Out Loud for educational content
Various people lean on audiobooks to better themselves and learn new skills. So, if you're looking for free multimedia for learning, Learn Out Loud is the website to consider. You can find over 3,000 free audiobooks, lectures, courses, speeches, and more.
Use iTunes if you have an Apple Music subscription
One of the reasons audiobooks are so popular is that you can listen to them anywhere. However, finding the right source for free audiobooks is sometimes a challenge. You're in luck, though, if you already have an Apple Music subscription.
You might find it surprising that Apple Music offers audiobooks. All the free audiobooks are under the "Spoken Word & Audiobooks" genre. You can listen to free audiobooks using iTunes on your iPhone, Android device, or computer—or you can use your Apple Music app.
Transform regular books into audiobooks with text to speech apps
Did you know that nearly any book can become an audiobook? The secret is text to speech (TTS) technology. Text to speech services are essentially screen readers designed for assistive purposes but are now widely used by all kinds of audiobook lovers and people who enjoy audio content.
You can use text to speech technology in many different ways. By installing a TTS app on your phone, your eBooks automatically become an audiobook. You can also use some TTS apps to scan printed text and have the TTS service read it out loud for you. This feature is called OCR, or optical character recognition, and only some TTS tools offer it.
These are some of the best text to speech screen readers available:
- Amazon Polly
- NaturalReader
- Voice Dream
- MetaVoicer
- Speechify
Use Speechify to create your own audiobooks
If you're unsure how to get free audiobooks, Speechify can help. This incredibly reliable text to speech platform offers comprehensive services and affordable subscription plans. Users can choose between 30+ natural-sounding male and female voices and over a dozen languages. The narration can be further customized by reading speed and accent to further improve your listening experience. All you need is the text, and Speechify will handle the rest.
You can install Speechify on your mobile device (iOS or Android) or use it online. Many will also appreciate the Chrome and Safari extensions allowing them to read any web page. You can try Speechify for free today and transform any book into your next audiobook.
FAQ
Is there a free audio book library?
Yes, there are many excellent free audiobook libraries available. You can visit your local library, rent a free audiobook, or use websites like Lit2Go, Scribl, and Librivox.
Do Amazon Prime members get free audiobooks?
Yes, Amazon Prime members can access some Audible books without an extra charge, but not all Audible books are free for Prime users. You also listen to audiobooks using your Fire or Kindle device.
How do I get free audiobooks on my phone?
One of the best ways to get free audiobooks on your phone is to download apps with public domain books. You can also install Speechify and transform eBooks into audiobooks.
What are some good websites to get free audiobooks?
Some of the best websites for free audiobooks include Libby, Librivox, Storynory, Open Culture, Project Gutenberg, Lit2Go, and Scribl.
How do I get free audiobooks from the library without a card?
Perhaps you can borrow a library card from someone you know. You will need a valid library card to use dedicated platforms like Libby and Hoopla to rent audiobooks from the public library system.
Can I get free audiobooks for kids?
Indeed, you can. Consider researching platforms like Sync and Storynory—but you can also use text to speech apps to turn children's eBooks into audiobooks.
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Cliff Weitzman
Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.