You can get free audiobooks legally from library apps that lend recent titles with a library card, and from public domain projects where volunteers record classic books. Library apps are best for new releases, while public domain sites are best for classics you can download and keep. Start with your library card, then add a classics site for everything else.
Audiobooks have turned dull jobs into something to look forward to. The washing up, the school run and the dog walk all feel shorter with a good story in your ears.
Here are ten places to find free audiobooks, listed in no particular order and sorted alphabetically. Some lend new books through your public library, some host classic books read by volunteers, and a couple focus on children's stories and learning.
The quickest win for most people is a library card. It's free to get, and it opens up recent titles that you'd otherwise only find in a shop. Classic sites fill the gaps with books that are old enough to be out of copyright.
One detail catches people out, though. A recording that's free to share in one country isn't always free in another, so read the next section before you download a pile of classics.
Free audiobook sites at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the site's own pages describe free access, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated there. Free access often comes with limits, so check what's included before you rely on it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| hoopla | Library streaming app | Audiobooks, ebooks and films from your library | Yes |
| Internet Archive | Digital library | Public domain recordings, talks and old radio | Yes |
| LearnOutLoud | Learning audio directory | Free lectures, speeches and educational audio | Yes |
| Libby | Library app | Borrowing recent audiobooks with a library card | Yes |
| LibriVox | Volunteer audiobook project | Classic books read by volunteers | Yes |
| Lit2Go | Educational audio collection | Classic stories with text to read along | Yes |
| Loyal Books | Public domain audiobook site | Downloading classic audiobooks to keep | Yes |
| Open Culture | Curated directory | A hand-picked list of free audiobooks | Yes |
| Project Gutenberg | Ebook library with audio | Its audio book category alongside ebooks | Yes |
| Storynory | Children's audio stories | Free stories for children | Yes |
Ten places to find free audiobooks
hoopla
Best for: Library members who'd like audiobooks, ebooks and films in one app through their local library.
Internet Archive
Best for: Curious listeners who enjoy digging through a huge library of public domain recordings, talks and old radio shows.
LearnOutLoud
Best for: Lifelong learners who'd rather listen to free lectures, speeches and educational audio than novels.
Libby
Best for: Anyone with a library card who wants recent titles on loan, not just old classics.
LibriVox
Best for: Classic literature fans who are happy with volunteer narrators and books that are out of copyright.
Lit2Go
Best for: Students and teachers who want to listen and read along with the same classic text.
Loyal Books
Best for: Listeners who want to download classic audiobooks and keep them on their phone for later.
Open Culture
Best for: Readers who'd like someone else to sort the free audiobooks worth their time by author and genre.
Project Gutenberg
Best for: Readers who already use it for free ebooks and want to try its audio book category too.
Storynory
Best for: Parents who want free audio stories for children at bedtime or on long car journeys.
The copyright catch with free classic audiobooks
Here's the detail most people miss. LibriVox's own public domain page says its recordings are public domain in the USA, but not necessarily in other countries. It recommends that if you're outside the USA, you check the copyright status of the work in your country before downloading its recording.
That doesn't mean you're breaking the law by pressing play in the UK or Australia, but it does mean the free classics on volunteer sites are built around US copyright rules. If you're unsure about a title, a library app is the safer route, because your library has already sorted the rights.
Library app or classics site: how to choose
- New releases: use a library app, because classics sites only carry older books.
- Old favourites you want to keep: classic audiobook sites let you download files.
- Children: look for sites built for kids, with short stories and calm narration.
- Learning: lecture and talk directories beat fiction sites for study.
- Narration: volunteer readers vary, so sample a chapter before you commit.
Getting your first free audiobook today
- Check your library's website for a free card if you don't have one.
- Install your library's audiobook app and sign in with the card.
- Search for a title and borrow it, or place a hold if it's out.
- For classics, browse a public domain site and download a book.
- Set your phone to download over Wi-Fi so you can listen offline.
Making audiobooks part of your day
Audiobooks and podcasts scratch the same itch, and plenty of people swap between them. If you've ever wondered why spoken audio is so relaxing, here's why podcasts help people relax and sleep.
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And if listening has made you want to make your own audio, here's how Spreaker helps you publish and distribute a podcast.
Do you make audiobook apps or audio libraries? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on free audiobooks
Get a library card first. It's the single best free audiobook tool there is, and most people who say they can't find free audiobooks simply haven't tried their library's app.
Then keep one classics site bookmarked for the books that aren't on loan. Between the two, you can listen every day of the year without spending anything at all.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I listen to audiobooks for free?
Library apps lend audiobooks free with a library card, and public domain sites offer classic books recorded by volunteers.
Are free audiobook sites legal?
The sites on this list offer books through libraries or books that are in the public domain, which is legal.
Can I get new audiobooks for free?
Yes, through your public library's app, though popular titles may have a waiting list.
Do I need a library card for free audiobooks?
For library apps, yes. Public domain sites don't need one.
Can I download free audiobooks to keep?
Public domain audiobooks can usually be downloaded and kept. Library loans expire after the lending period.
Are free classic audiobooks free everywhere?
Not always. Copyright rules differ by country, so check a title's status where you live if you're outside the USA.
Who reads the books on volunteer audiobook sites?
Volunteers record them, so narration styles vary from book to book.
Are there free audiobooks for children?
Yes. Some sites focus on children's stories and are made for bedtime listening.
Can I listen to free audiobooks offline?
Yes. Download the book or borrow it in the app while you're on Wi-Fi, then listen anywhere.
Which free audiobooks are best for learning?
Lecture and talk directories are better than fiction sites if you want to learn something new.
Do free audiobook apps have ads?
Library apps usually don't. Some free directories show ads on their websites.
How do I find a good narrator on a free site?
Play the first chapter before you download the whole book, and switch versions if the reading doesn't suit you.
