Introduction
Are you an avid audiobook listener who constantly struggles to justify the high cost of audiobooks? Despite their convenience and entertainment value, paying for audiobooks can quickly become a burden on your wallet, particularly if you listen to them frequently. However, there are many ways to listen to audiobooks for free! This article will offer top solutions for accessing free audiobooks, including online libraries, mobile apps, and alternative services.
Throughout the article, readers will be guided through the different methods of accessing free audiobooks including ten classic audiobooks and five top websites to listen to audiobooks without having to pay anything.
Top 5 Websites to Listen to Free Audiobooks
The internet has made it easier than ever to access free audiobooks. There are several websites dedicated to providing free audiobook downloads to those looking for a cheaper alternative to paid audiobooks. Here are the top five websites where you can listen to free audiobooks:
- Librivox: Librivox is an online database of free audiobooks that are in the public domain. The database is entirely volunteer-run and provides access to thousands of audiobooks across a vast variety of genres.
- Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg is another great resource for free audiobooks, particularly if you’re looking for classic literature. The website provides access to over 60,000 free eBooks and audiobooks that are in the public domain.
- Hoopla: Hoopla offers free audiobooks to those with a valid library card. The service has an extensive collection of audiobooks from various genres and can be accessed on both mobile and desktop devices. Additionally, Hoopla also offers eBooks and videos for free.
- Overdrive: Overdrive is another service that provides access to free audiobooks through a user’s library card. Overdrive can be accessed through both mobile devices and desktops, and users can choose from thousands of titles across different genres.
- Loyal Books: Loyal Books is another website that provides free audiobook downloads. The website has an extensive collection of audiobooks, and users can download them in various formats, including MP3 and iTunes Podcasts.
These websites are just a few examples of the many resources available online for free audiobooks. Users can read reviews and rank of these websites to select the one that best suits their audiobook tastes.
How to Listen to Free Audiobooks on Your Mobile Device
Mobile apps have made it even more straightforward for users to access free audiobooks on the go. Many apps like Audible also offer free audiobook downloads, but often require a monthly subscription to access their full library. Fortunately, there are several apps that offer free audiobooks by public domain authors, including:
- Librivox Audio Books: The Librivox Audio Book app provides users with access to thousands of free audiobooks that are in the public domain. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.
- Free Audiobooks HQ: The Free Audiobooks HQ app is another great app that provides users with access to thousands of free audiobook downloads. The app also offers a unique feature that allows users to download several chapters of an audiobook at once instead of doing it one by one.
- Audiobooks.com: Audiobooks.com offers a wide collection of free audiobooks through its app. Users can start with their free 30-day trial and after that use the app’s free section to download their chosen audiobooks. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.
Moreover, users can access free audiobooks on mobile devices legally by signing up for a service like Hoopla or Overdrive that provides free resources through your local library.
10 Classic Audiobooks to Listen to for Free
If you are a fan of classic literature, there are many audiobooks available for free that are in the public domain. Here are ten classic audiobooks that you can listen to for free:
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, read by Elizabeth Klett;
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville, read by Stewart Wills;
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, read by David Clarke;
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, read by Elizabeth Klett;
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, read by David Clarke;
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, read by Bob Neufeld;
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Bob Neufeld;
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, read by Mary Woods;
- Dracula by Bram Stoker, read by Greg Wagland; and
- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, read by Karen Savage.
Users can find these audiobooks on the websites mentioned earlier, including Librivox and Project Gutenberg, or on platforms such as YouTube channels or individual blogs.
Libraries: The Best Place to Listen to Free Audiobooks
Libraries are also a great resource for free audiobook downloads. Many libraries offer audiobook collections that can be used for free with a valid library card. To access these resources, you can:
- Visit your local library: You can visit your local library to browse its audiobook collection and to sign up for a library card, if you do not already have one.
- Access online libraries:Many libraries have digital collections of books and audiobooks that can be accessed entirely online.
Once you have access to your library’s resources, you can download audiobooks to your device or stream them directly from the library’s website. If you’re unsure of how to access these resources, you can ask a librarian for help. They can provide you with more information or walk you through the process of accessing the materials you’re interested in.
How to Listen to Audiobooks Without Paying for Audible
Audible is the most popular audiobook platform available, but it can be quite expensive for frequent listeners. Thankfully, there are alternative services available that can be accessed for free or at a lower price. These services include:
- OpenCulture: OpenCulture provides users with free access to hundreds of audiobooks from different genres.
- Downpour: Downpour provides users with access to audiobooks for a lower price than Audible, with no monthly subscriptions.
- Simply Audiobooks: Simply Audiobooks provides a rental service that allows users to rent audiobooks for specific periods, making it a cheaper alternative to purchasing audiobooks outright.
By using these alternatives, it is now possible to listen to your favorite audiobooks without breaking the bank. You can look through these services to find one that suits your audiobook needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many ways to access free audiobooks. With everything from online libraries, mobile apps, public domain classics, to alternatives to Audible, a vast world of listening is available to you for free. The resources outlined in this article provide users with various ways of accessing audiobooks without paying the high prices associated with Audible and similar platforms.
