This post will walk you through the best sites for finding free audiobooks in 2023.
Audiobooks are a form of literary entertainment that allows readers to listen to narrated versions of books rather than reading them in print or on a screen. Audiobooks are typically produced as digital recordings and can be downloaded and listened to on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and dedicated audiobook players.
Audiobooks have become increasingly popular as more people consider them a convenient and enjoyable way to consume literature. They offer many benefits, such as allowing listeners to enjoy books while commuting, exercising, or performing other tasks that might otherwise preclude reading.
Audiobooks are typically narrated by professional voice actors, who use various techniques to bring the characters and stories to life. Some audiobooks also include sound effects and music, which can further enhance the listening experience. There are numerous ways to find audiobooks online.
The most popular option is to subscribe to an audiobook service such as Audible, which offers a vast selection of audiobooks that can be purchased or accessed through a subscription model. Many booksellers, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, also offer audiobook versions of books for sale.
Public libraries often provide access to digital audiobooks through services such as OverDrive or Hoopla, and some independent bookstores may offer audiobooks through their websites. Finally, some websites specialize in offering free audiobooks. So let’s discuss those websites now.
Top 12 Sites To Download Audiobooks For Free 2023
1. LibriVox
LibriVox is a platform that offers a huge range of free audiobooks.
You can listen to these audiobooks on computers, iPods, and other mobile devices or even burn them onto a CD. The platform provides access to about 18,000 audiobooks, which can be streamed or downloaded later. You can search for books based on title, author, genre, or keyword and find books from your favorite narrators.
The LibriVox Audio Books app also includes features such as a sleep timer and unlimited bookmarks for each book. The platform’s collection includes novels, history, biography, short stories, poetry, and more, and it is made possible by the work of dedicated volunteers.
The platform offers a user-friendly browsing experience, allowing you to search for the perfect audiobook based on various criteria. To explore the catalog by author, title, genre/subject, or language, visit the LibriVox website and access the “Browse Catalog” option in the main menu.
LibriVox is a community-driven platform where volunteers contribute their time and effort to create free audiobooks. To support and appreciate these volunteers, LibriVox has a “Thank a Reader” feature. That allows listeners to express their gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the volunteer narrators.
You can send a thank-you message or post a comment on the reader’s catalog page or the forum. Acknowledging the readers’ contributions fosters community and encourages volunteers to continue their efforts. The “Donate to LibriVox” feature is another way to support the platform.
LibriVox is a non-profit organization that relies on donations to cover operational costs, such as maintaining the website and paying for server space. By donating, you help ensure the continued availability of free audiobooks to the public. Donations can be made through PayPal or by mailing a check to the organization.
2. Lit2Go
Lit2Go is an online collection of stories and poems in audiobook format created by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at the University of South Florida.
The collection includes classic literature and educational resources, such as novels, short stories, and poems commonly taught in schools. The Lit2Go website provides access to over 1,000 titles, each of which can be downloaded in MP3 or iTunes format. In addition to the audiobooks, the site also offers PDF versions of the written texts, along with other educational resources, such as lesson plans, quizzes, and podcasts.
Lit2Go is designed to be used as a tool for teaching and learning and is a great resource for students, teachers, and anyone interested in classic literature. The collection includes works by authors such as William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Jane Austen, and many others.
You can explore the website in several ways, including by title, author, genre, collection, and reading level/readability (based on Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level). You can browse the collection alphabetically by title or by author name.
You can also search for works by genre, such as adventure, fantasy, mystery, and poetry, or by collection based on themes like American Literature, British Literature, and Fairy Tales. Additionally, Lit2Go provides audiobooks and texts appropriate for different reading levels, from elementary to high school, which you can browse to find works that match your level.
3. DigitalBook
DigitalBook is a digital platform offering a wide range of audiobooks, ebooks, and podcasts you can purchase and download for offline reading and listening.
The platform has many titles, including bestsellers, classics, and self-published works. You can browse various genres, authors, and publishers to find the books you’re interested in. The platform offers a user-friendly interface and allows you to customize your reading experience by adjusting font sizes, backgrounds, and other settings. For example, you can switch it to night mode.
While some titles are free, most require payment, and the prices vary depending on the book’s popularity and length. It’s available in multiple languages, including English, German, French, Italian, etc. It has genres like Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Childen’s, etc. Further, it also shows trending books.
4. Learn Out Loud
Learn Out Loud offers diverse educational content, including audio and video courses, podcasts, documentaries, and speeches.
You can browse various categories, such as business, health, history, and science, to find the content you’re interested in. The platform also provides a section for free content, including courses and audiobooks, and a subscription service that gives you exclusive content and discounts.
The website is user-friendly and allows you to stream or download content for offline use. Learn Out Loud is a great resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge and skills in various fields. The website also shows the top of the most popular audiobooks of 4000+ titles available.
5. Open Culture
Open Culture is a website that provides a wealth of educational resources accessible to you for free.
The platform features an impressive collection of over 1,500 online courses, with offerings from some of the world’s top universities, such as Stanford, Yale, and MIT. You can also access a vast selection of e-books and audiobooks, including classics and contemporary works, as well as language lessons for over 40 languages.
The platform is also home to a wide range of free movies and documentaries, making it an excellent resource for individuals like you who are looking to learn and expand their knowledge in various fields. Open Culture’s intuitive user interface and well-organized content make it easy to find what you’re looking for, regardless of your level of experience or education.
In addition to courses, you can browse a diverse selection of e-books and audiobooks, with titles covering a variety of genres and subjects, from classic literature to contemporary works. The best part is that these audiobooks and e-books can be downloaded for free, and there are no restrictions on how many you can download.
Moreover, Open Culture provides access to numerous podcasts covering various topics such as history, science, philosophy, and literature. You can easily download or stream these free podcasts directly from the website.
The platform also offers certificates and degrees from prestigious universities and institutions worldwide, allowing you to earn recognized credentials in your field. Overall, Open Culture is a great resource for anyone seeking to expand their knowledge and skills.
6. BBC Sounds
BBC Sounds provide access to a vast collection of audio content, including radio shows, music, podcasts, and live events.
The platform is free and accessible to anyone worldwide, and its content is provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). You can browse various categories, such as comedy, drama, news, and sport, to find the content you’re interested in.
BBC Sounds also provide access to various live events, including concerts, festivals, and sports matches. You can listen to live commentary and analysis of major events, such as the Olympics and the World Cup, and catch up on past events.
The platform offers a range of features to enhance the user experience, including downloading content for offline listening and creating personalized playlists. Additionally, you can access content recommendations based on your listening history and preferences. BBC Sounds is a great resource for anyone who enjoys audio content, whether music, news, or podcasts.
7. Free Classic Audio Books
Free Classic Audio Books gives free access to a vast collection of classic literature audiobooks.
The platform features audio versions of timeless works of literature, such as “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville, and “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. You can browse various categories, such as adventure, romance, mystery, and fiction, to find the audiobooks they’re interested in. Additionally, the platform allows you to download audiobooks for offline listening, and the audio quality is typically high.
Free Classic Audio Books is a great resource for anyone who loves classic literature and enjoys listening to audiobooks. With its extensive collection of free audio versions of classic works, it’s a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy some of the greatest literature ever written. Lastly, the books are available in MP3 and M4B (for iPod) formats.
8. Audio Books Now
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DigitalBook is a platform that offers a vast library of eBooks and audiobooks for offline reading and listening.
You can purchase and download the books, which include bestsellers, classics, and self-published works. Prices vary depending on the book’s popularity and length, with audiobooks costing under $30. However, it also has free audiobooks available on the website.
You can sort the free books by relevance, best-selling, new arrivals, highest rated, and other categories. Similarly, you can add filters of categories like Action & Adventure, Anthologies, etc. The site lets you listen to a sample for a preview to assess the audio quality and reading voice. It also mentions the length of the audiobook, its cover, category, title, and author.
9. Loyal Books
Loyal Books is a website that offers 7000+ free audiobooks and ebooks in the public domain.
The website has a large collection of classic literature, including works by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain. You can browse the website by author, title, or genre and download the books in various formats, such as MP3, M4B, and EPUB. Loyal Books also has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, which makes it easy to listen to audiobooks on the go.
It has books in languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, etc., and you can also look for books in their languages. It has categories like Top 100, popular categories, and Genre-based categories. It has a great collection of books, including classics like Ayn Rand’s Anthem, Gulliver’s Travel, Peter Pans, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, etc.
10. Internet Archive
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Internet Archive’s audio section offers free downloads and streaming of a wide range of audio files.
That includes recordings of Grateful Dead concerts, alternative news programming, and religious sermons and lessons in Arabic. The collection also contains audio files of various genres and categories uploaded by users on different dates, including some with unclear descriptions.
You can browse the collection by date, creator, language, topic, and more. The oldest audio file in the collection dates back to 2004, while the newest was uploaded in 2022. Its collection includes hundreds of thousands of titles under the Audiobooks and Poetry category. You can browse the books by year, type, subject, collection, creator, and language.
11. OverDrive
OverDrive is a digital content platform that helps organizations and businesses create digital book collections for library patrons, students, and employees.
They offer two apps, Libby and Sora, which allow you to read ebooks and listen to audiobooks for free from their public library or school. OverDrive is used by many libraries, schools, and businesses to provide easy access to digital content, including books, audiobooks, and videos. To use OverDrive, you must sign in using your library card information.
You can browse for a book by looking for it in its search engine or through its collection. Note that the site has more ebooks than audiobooks. Secondly, the libraries aren’t available for many titles, which could be disappointing. To access its content, you need a Public Library or K-12 schools associated with OverDrive within 50 miles of your home.
12. Storynory
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Storynory is a great resource for anyone looking to enjoy classic audiobooks.
The website has a vast archive of classic authors like Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Dickens, and Brother Grimm. Storynory’s audio versions of the stories are perfect for listening to on long car rides or just before bedtime. The website also offers many original stories and fairy tales that delight children and adults alike.
The audio quality is excellent, and the narrators are engaging, making an enjoyable listening experience. Whether you’re a fan of classic literature or just looking for some quality entertainment, Storynory’s audiobooks are worth checking out. It has categories like Original, fairytales, Classic Authors, Myths & World, Educational, and Poets & Music.
Lastly, it has a great interactive interface, especially for kids, as it offers a lot of visual storytelling through images. In addition, it also allows you to download the audiobook.
Conclusion
In conclusion, many great resources are available online for free or affordable audiobooks. The 12 sites highlighted in this article offer various options, from classic literature to modern bestsellers, educational resources, and original content. LibriVox and Loyal Books are great free public domain works options for finding classics, while platforms like DigitalBook and Audio Books Now offer more recent free and paid titles.
Additionally, sites like Learn Out Loud and Open Culture, provide a wealth of educational resources in audio format, making learning more accessible than ever. Whether you’re a fan of classic literature, educational content, or just looking for some quality entertainment, there is an audiobook out there for everyone.
Shaurya Bhatia, is an Indian Music Producer, Composer, Rapper & Performer, who goes by the stage name MC SNUB, and is also 1/2 of the Indian pop music duo, called “babyface”. A certified Audio Engineer & Music Producer, and a practicing musician & rapper for more than 6 years, Shaurya has worked on projects of various genres and has also been a teaching faculty at Spin Gurus DJ Academy.