Free audiobooks · Last checked November 8, 2026
Free Audiobooks: The Best Legal Ways to Listen
You can listen to full-length audiobooks without paying, including recent bestsellers. The best way is your public library. Beyond that there are free classics, a few services that include listening, and trials. Here is what each option really gives you, and what it takes to use it.
By Peter Clemens · Originally published June 2023 · Updated November 2026
A few links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. The free options are listed first, and I have only included sources I would send a friend to. Read my affiliate disclosure.
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Start here: which free option fits you?
Pick the line that sounds like you.
Free from your public library
This is the best free option for new books, and it is legal, high quality and unlimited. You need a library card, which is free from most libraries.
LibbyThe app most libraries use. You borrow audiobooks for a set period, download them for offline listening and join a waitlist when a title is out. Libby is the first place to look for new and mainstream titles.
HooplaA second library app with a different catalogue. Titles are always available, with no waitlists, but libraries pay for each borrow, so most cap how many you get a month. Check your library’s limit.
Palace ProjectA library app that some libraries use instead of, or alongside, Libby. It is worth a look if your library does not offer Libby.
Another library platform some systems use. If Libby and Hoopla do not show up for your library, ask which service it uses.
Tips that make library audiobooks much better
- Try more than one app. The same library can offer different titles on Libby, Hoopla and others, so check all of them before you give up on a book.
- Get a digital card. Many libraries let you sign up online. Some larger libraries also issue cards to people elsewhere in their state or region, free or for a small fee. Policies vary and some libraries are restricting this, so check yours.
- Place holds on several books at once. Libby will let you know when one is ready, so you always have something to listen to.
- Sample before you borrow. A narrator you cannot stand uses up a Hoopla borrow, so listen to the sample first.
- Ask your library to buy a book it does not have. Most have a suggestion form, and it often works.
- Outside the US? Libby works with libraries in many countries. Search for your library inside the app.
Already paying for Spotify Premium?
Spotify Premium audiobooksPremium includes 15 hours of audiobook listening a month at no extra cost, from a large catalogue that includes many popular titles. Unused hours do not roll over, and you can buy extra hours if you run out. The catalogue is not everything, so check that the book you want is included before you plan around it.
Free classics and public-domain audiobooks
Books whose copyright has expired are free to record and share. That covers most of the classics, but not recent bestsellers. These are the sources I would use.
LibriVoxVolunteers record public-domain books, and everything is free to stream or download with no account. The site lists more than 21,000 works in dozens of languages. Quality varies by reader, and some books have several versions, so listen to a sample.
An easier way to browse LibriVox recordings, with covers, genres and a most-popular list. Good if the LibriVox site feels clunky.
Project GutenbergBest known for free ebooks, and it also offers audiobooks. Some are human-read, and thousands more use computer-generated voices that sound human but flat. I would pick a human reader where I can.
A huge, uneven collection of older recordings, including an audio books and poetry section. Fun to browse for rare finds, but expect inconsistent quality.
LearnOutLoudA free section of educational and nonfiction audio, plus public-domain classics, organised by topic. Good for history, science and self-development.
A free collection of classic stories and poems from the University of South Florida, with the text beside the audio. Good for students and language learners.
Free audiobooks for kids
Two easy places to start.
StorynoryFree audio stories for children, including fairy tales, myths and original stories, with new ones added regularly.
Libby and HooplaBoth have large children’s sections, and a library card often covers your whole household. Lit2Go, above, is also useful for early readers.
When you want a specific new book now: trials and deals
These are not free forever, but they are the cheapest ways to get a bestseller without waiting for a library hold. All of them need a payment method to start. Set a calendar reminder so you do not pay by accident.
AudibleThere is no free trial right now. The current offer is $0.99 a month for 3 months plus a $20 Audible bonus, then $8.99 a month. Ends December 28, 2026. Audible has run free trials before, and I will update this page if one returns.
Audiobooks.comA 30-day free trial that includes 3 audiobooks (1 from the main library and 2 from the VIP section), then $14.95 a month. If you cancel during the trial you lose the trial books, so use them first.
ChirpNo subscription. Chirp sells audiobooks at deep discounts, often for a few dollars, and runs free-audiobook promotions such as Freebie Fridays. Available in the US and Canada.
Libro.fmThere is no free trial, but it is a good way to buy audiobooks you keep as DRM-free files while supporting an independent bookstore.
Offers change often. For every current deal and its end date, see my best audiobook deals right now page.
What to avoid
Free is not always legitimate. These are the ones I would skip.
- “Free download” sites for current bestsellers. These are pirated copies. Beyond the legal issue, they are a common source of malware, and the authors and narrators are not paid.
- Full bestsellers on YouTube. Uploads of recent books are usually copyright violations, so they disappear without warning and the quality is poor. Public-domain classics are fine.
- Apps that promise unlimited free audiobooks. If a current bestseller is “free” with no library or subscription behind it, be suspicious. Expect ads, in-app purchases or worse.
- Robotic voices. Some free sites and videos read books aloud with computer voices. Skip them unless you have no other choice.
- Trials you forget to cancel. Read the terms and note the date the trial ends.
Free audiobooks: common questions
Are free audiobooks legal?
Yes, when they come from a legitimate source: your library, public-domain collections like LibriVox, a service you subscribe to, or a free trial. Pirated downloads of current books are not legal.
Can I get new bestsellers for free?
Yes, through your library. Libby and Hoopla carry many recent bestsellers. Popular titles have waitlists on Libby, and Hoopla has monthly borrow limits.
Do I need a library card?
For Libby, Hoopla and similar apps, yes. Many libraries let you sign up online. You do not need a card for LibriVox and other public-domain sources.
Is there an Audible free trial?
Not at the moment. Audible’s current offer is $0.99 a month for 3 months plus a $20 bonus, which ends December 28, 2026. Audible has run free trials in the past, so check its sign-up page for the latest.
What is the best free audiobook app?
For most people it is Libby, because it connects to your library and carries recent titles. Use Hoopla alongside it for instant borrows.
Can I download free audiobooks?
Yes. Libby and Hoopla let you download borrowed audiobooks for offline listening, and LibriVox offers free downloads of its public-domain recordings. Avoid sites offering free downloads of current bestsellers.
Can I listen to audiobooks for free without a library card?
Yes. Use LibriVox and other public-domain sources, Spotify Premium if you already pay for it, or a trial such as the Audiobooks.com 30-day trial.
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