10 Places Where You Can Read Books Online for Free Without Downloading
As a voracious reader without money to burn on expensive books or an e-reader, one question you end up asking yourself is: “Where can I read books online for free without downloading?” Luckily there are tons of ways to read books online for free. On these sites, you don’t need to download a file and can read right in your browser. Instead of waiting around for a book to be delivered, you can start enjoying it right away. Here are ten places where you can read books online for free without downloading.
If you’ve spent any amount of time looking for books to read for free online, you’ve probably already come across Project Gutenberg. With over 60,000 free ebooks, it’s one of the largest free e-libraries the Internet has to offer. Here you’ll find many public domain classics. To read online, just select the “Read this book online: HTML” option on a book’s page.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
2) Google Books
Google Books is another option when it comes to reading public domain classics. You’re also often able to see a decent preview of books that are not in the public domain. All you have to do to read a full book is search for the title you’re looking for, then select “Full view” at the top of the search results. Then you can read the book right in your browser—just make sure to select “Clear search” so each instance of the book’s title isn’t highlighted.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
- Dracula: A Mystery Story by Bram Stoker
One very cool facet of the Internet Archive is that the books are virtual versions of the physical copies, so you can flip through them and enjoy original illustrations. To start reading, you can use the arrows on the bottom bar to flip through the virtual version of the book. You can make the image full screen by clicking on the full-screen button on the bottom right.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
- The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
4) Open Library
The Open Library is a project of the Internet Archive. It is more like a traditional library than other e-libraries on this list in that you borrow titles from the library’s digital stacks. You will find far more than just classic titles here. While some titles won’t be available, you have a good shot at finding whatever you want to read.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- It by Stephen King
The public domain books on Standard Ebooks are beautifully formatted and extremely readable. Each book has been fully proofed with careful corrections and has a quality cover drawn from a vast collection of public domain fine art. To find a book, just search by subject or keyword, then click either “Start from the table of contents” or “Read on one page” under “Read online”.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
- Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville
6) ManyBooks
ManyBooks has an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-use interface that will make finding a book to read a breeze. There’s a mix of public domain titles and indie novels (mostly romance) on this site. You can search by title, author, or keyword or you can browse genres like romance, historical fiction, and fantasy. On a book’s page, just select “Read Online” to read in your browser.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
- The Call of the Wild by Jack London
- The Unveiling: Book One (Age of Faith 1) by Tamara Leigh
7) Smashwords
Smashwords is a popular fiction platform where indie authors publish their work. Here you can read contemporary fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, screenplays, and more. Just click “Free” at the top of the main page to peruse free titles. On a book’s page, look for the option “Online Reader” if available and select it to read in your browser.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- Fighting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles, Book 1) by Amelia Hutchins
- Prince of Wolves, (Grey Wolves, Book 1) by Quinn Loftis
- Cole (Desert Rebels MC, Book 1) by Tory Richards
8) Wattpad
Wattpad is another fiction platform where authors share their work online. You can browse titles by genres like science fiction, thriller, and humor. The site also features nonfiction and poetry. If you’re not sure what you want to read, you can check out Editor’s Picks and Watty Award winners.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- The Search for Juno by J. Nicole
- Magika by Jaxon M. Tempest
- Kiss and Tell by Marianna Leal
9) Royal Road
Like Smashwords and Wattpad, Royal Road is a popular fiction platform for indie authors to post their stories. Many of the stories on Royal Road are ongoing so you can enjoy the fun anticipation of waiting for new chapters of your favorites. Many Royal Road authors also have links to their Patreon pages so you can support their work. Just click “Start Reading” in order to read a story in your browser.
Here are some of the titles you can read for free online without downloading:
- Mother of Learning by nobody103
- Beware Of Chicken by Casualfarmer
- Paranoid Mage by InadvisablyCompelled
10) Fictionate.Me
Fictionate.Me is a newer fiction platform, which means you’ll get the chance to discover brand new writing talent you won’t find anywhere else. “Trending” and “Consistent Writers” lists will help you find which title to read. Some books are entirely free while others have a hefty free preview and cost as little as $0.99. The site has an aesthetically pleasing online reader. Just click “Read” on a book’s page to get started.
Here are some of the titles you can read partially or entirely for free online without downloading:
- Inheritance by RatTheBrave
- The Dagger of Darkness by Blake Stackman and Kelly Lye
- Duel by Kenath Moffat
Author’s Bio: Jillian Karger was born in Ohio but has lived in and around New York City for over a decade. Since graduating from NYU in 2009, Jillian has had a long string of jobs doing things like scouting books to be adapted for film and researching trivia questions for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”.
She has done freelance writing as well for sites like Cracked.com and had her Twitter jokes featured on BuzzFeed and funnyordie.com. Jillian has also self-published two novels on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Karger/e/B07B894DNW).
Follow her blog posts about books and writing advice, read books and publish them for free at: https://www.fictionate.me.
