Where Can I Download Free Public Domain Books? (HUGE List of Resources For 2023 )

Whether you are looking for free public domain books to download and read for yourself or to reproduce, rebrand, and sell as your own, there are a number of different sources you can explore.

Here we will take a look at some of the best places to find public domain books and what you need to know before downloading them.

If you want to learn more about publishing public domain books by first researching gaps in the book market and how to make money on Amazon KDP and other online publishing platforms, we have many great posts.

Project Gutenberg

Since 1971, Project Gutenberg has been digitizing public domain books and making them available for free on the web. It was the first ebook initiative in the world, and it continues to be one of the top destinations for free ebooks.

Project Gutenberg books are available in a variety of formats, including PDF, ePub, and Daisy. They can be read online or downloaded for offline reading.

In addition to sharing public domain books pdf, Project Gutenberg also offers a wide selection of public domain audiobooks, podcasts, and other digital content.

With over 60,000 titles available, Project Gutenberg is an essential resource for anyone interested in free ebooks or finding public domain books for commercial use.

Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is a top free public domain books download resource! This is digital repository of over 5 million public domain books and other items from 1,500 collections.

The collections include the Library of Congress, public libraries, and university libraries.

The website is free to use and browse, and you can read the books online. You can also download the books in PDF format for offline reading. The Internet Archive also has a huge collection of audio and video files, including public domain titles.

You can browse the collections by topic or collection, and you can also search for specific titles. The website is a great resource for students, teachers, and researchers.

Digital Public Library of America

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a non-profit organization that aims to give universal access to over 44,000,000 digital resources of American libraries and archives.

It was launched in 2013 with the goal of making cultural and scientific heritage available to everyone, regardless of location or background.

The DPLA partners with over 1,000 institutions, including public libraries, universities, and historical societies. These partners contribute public domain books, photos, documents, and other materials to the DPLA's digital collections.

Anyone can access these collections through the DPLA's website or mobile app. The DPLA also offers educational resources, such as lesson plans and public programs, to help people engage with its digital collections. 

DailyLit

If you're looking for a platform that offers a great selection of ebooks delivered in daily installments, DailyLit is a great option. Whether you're interested in classic novels or contemporary fiction, you'll find something to suit your taste.

One of the best things about DailyLit is that it's very convenient for busy people who don't have time to sit down and read for long periods of time.

With the daily installments, you can easily fit reading into your schedule, even if you only have a few minutes to spare.

And if you ever miss an installment, you can always go back and catch up. So if you're looking for a platform that makes reading easy and convenient, DailyLit is definitely worth checking out.

Europeana

Europeana is a massive online digital library that offers free public access to millions of digitized items from European museums, libraries, and archives.

It contains public domain books, images, videos, sounds, and more from countries all across Europe. More than 2,000 European institutions contribute to the site, including the British Library.

In addition to being a great resource for researchers, historians, and students, Europeana is also a great way to experience the cultures of Europe. With so many amazing items to explore, it's easy to spend hours lost in the collections of Europeana.

Feedbooks

If you're looking for a site where you can download free ebooks directly to your tablet or smartphone, then Feedbooks is worth checking out. It's a French site that's been designed with mobile reading in mind, so it's easy to use on smaller screens.

And because it's tailored for mobile browsers, you won't have any trouble downloading ebooks onto your device. Whether you're looking for classic literature or bestsellers, you'll find plenty of titles to choose from on Feedbooks.

So if you're looking for an ebook reader that's specifically designed for mobile devices, then this is a good option to consider.

Open Library

Open Library is a unique digital library with the stated goal of having “one web page for every book ever published”. This incredible undertaking is a project of the Internet Archive, and as of now there are over 1,000,000 free ebook titles available.

The public domain books make up the majority of what you'll find here, but there is also a growing lending library of 200,000 contemporary ebooks. Finding a title is easy - just search for it or browse by subject.

And if the book is available in digital form, you'll see a Read button next to its catalog listing. Open Library is an amazing resource that is free to use, and it's sure to have something for everyone.

Manybooks

If you're looking for a huge selection of free ebooks, Manybooks is a great place to start your search. With over 30,000 titles to choose from, you're sure to find plenty of options to suit your reading preferences.

What's more, the books are available in a wide range of file formats, so even if you're looking for something less popular, like Plucker or FictionBook2, you're likely to find it here.

Best of all, downloading an ebook from Manybooks is completely free, so you can stock up on all your favorites without spending a dime.

So why not head over to Manybooks and start browsing through their impressive catalog today? You're sure to find plenty of titles that pique your interest.

Google Book Search

Google Book Search is a great way to find some old books and texts that have been digitized and made available for free. The selection is vast, and you can often find works that are otherwise difficult to track down.

In addition, the search tool is very user-friendly, and you can usually find what you're looking for quite easily.

The only downside is that not all books have been digitized, so you may not be able to find everything you're looking for.

However, if you're looking for a specific work or want to explore a particular topic in-depth, Google Book Search is definitely worth checking out.

Books Should Be Free/Loyal Books

Books Should Be free is a site that offers free public domain books in various formats. The site features titles in 30 languages, making it a great resource for readers around the world. 

The beauty of this website is that it offers free books that are otherwise difficult to find. For example, many classic novels are out of print and can only be found in libraries.

However, Books Should Be free makes these classics accessible to everyone. In addition, the site also offers free contemporary books that are still in copyright.

This makes the site an excellent resource for both students and adults alike. Whether you're looking for a classic novel or a contemporary bestseller, Books Should Be free is sure to have something for you.

The Literature Network

The Literature Network is a searchable online database of literary works that are in the public domain. The site includes over 3,600 full-length books and over 4,400 short stories and poems from over 250 authors.

The key to exploring the site is the author index, which allows you to browse linked books, quotes, forum threads, and quizzes. The Literature Network is an excellent resource for students, educators, and enthusiasts of literature.

Authorama

If you're looking for a way to read classic literature without having to wade through complicated websites, Authorama may be the solution for you.

This site offers a list of public domain books, all of which can be easily accessed and read in your web browser.

The selection of authors is impressive, ranging from well-known classics like Mark Twain and Lewis Carroll to lesser-known writers like Bret Harte and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman.

Whether you're looking for a new favorite book or just want to explore the works of some forgotten authors, Authorama is an excellent starting point.

LibriVox

LibriVox is an online library of free public domain audiobooks. Founded in 2005, the library contains thousands of audiobooks that have been recorded by volunteers from all over the world.

The audiobooks are released in the public domain, and anyone can use them however they like. Whether you're looking for a classic novel to listen to on your commute or a history book to learn from, LibriVox has something for everyone.

Plus, because the audiobooks are released under a Creative Commons license, you can be sure that they're always available for free - no catch, no strings attached.

Open Culture

Open Culture is a wonderful resource for those who are looking for educational and cultural media. The blog curates a directory of over 500 free ebooks, most of which are in the public domain.

The ebooks can be downloaded in a variety of formats, including PDF, MOBI, and EPUB. Open Culture also provides access to free courses, podcasts, audiobooks, films, and more. 

This is an invaluable resource for students, educators, and anyone who loves to learn. The ebooks are organized by subject, so you can easily find what you're looking for.

And, because they're all free, you can download as many as you like without breaking the bank. So whether you're looking to learn more about history or brush up on your Shakespeare, Open Culture is the perfect place to start.

Legamus

Legamus is a blog that offers free audiobooks of texts that have entered the public domain in Europe. The texts are read by volunteer narrators, and the finished audiobooks are released under a Creative Commons license.

Legamus was founded in 2007 by a group of German students, and the site now features over 2,000 audiobooks in a variety of languages.

In addition to offering a convenient way to access public domain texts, Legamus also provides an opportunity for aspiring voice actors to gain experience.

The site is supported by donations, and users can also sign up to become monthly supporters.

The Online Books Page

The Online Books Page is a website managed by the University of Pennsylvania that offers an easy-to-use and navigate UI to browse for over 1 million free ebooks from around the web.

The website was launched in 1996 and has since been used by millions of people around the world to find books for their studies, work, or personal interests.

The Online Books Page is an essential resource for anyone who loves to read, and it is especially useful for students and researchers who often need to find specific books quickly.

The website is updated daily, so users can be sure that they are always getting the most up-to-date information about new and popular books.

Great Books and Classics

The Great Books and Classics website is a collection of works by some of the most renowned writers and thinkers in history.

Ranging from Sophocles to Epicurus to Sun-Tzu, the site provides visitors with a wealth of knowledge and insight into the thinking of these great minds.

The books are presented in digital format, making them easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Whether you're looking for a new perspective on life or simply want to explore the thoughts of some of history's greatest thinkers, the Great Books and Classics website is a great resource.

*I will note, however, that the site is very old and has not been updated in some time.

Planet Publish

Planet Publish is a website dedicated to providing high-quality, public domain literature to readers around the world. Their mission is to make classic works of literature accessible to everyone, and they have succeeded in assembling a impressive collection of popular titles.

The books are available in PDF format, so they can be easily downloaded and read on any device. In addition, Planet Publish offers a wide range of other resources, including audio books, study guides, and language learning materials.

Whether you are looking for a new book to read or a way to improve your literary knowledge, Planet Publish is an excellent resource.

Classical Chinese Literature

Classical Chinese literature is a treasure trove of ancient wisdom and knowledge. This site contains a wealth of Chinese classics, each character hyperlinked to its definition and etymology.

No Chinese software is necessary - characters are displayed as images and the links to English translations are included for most works.

The Tao Te Ching is an essential text for anyone interested in ancient Chinese philosophy. The Art of War is another classic work, still relevant today for its insights into strategy and human nature.

The Tang Poems are a must-read for anyone interested in classical Chinese poetry. The Analects, Doctrine of the Mean, and The Great Learning are essential texts for anyone interested in Confucianism.

Finally, the Classic of Filial Piety is a must-read for anyone interested in Chinese family values.

Wolne Lektury

Wolne Lektury is an impressively well-managed online library of free public domain books in the Polish language. With over 6,000 titles available, including literature, poems, and audiobooks, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The best part about this site, is its user-friendly interface which can also be translated into English with one click. Books can be read online or downloaded in epub, mobi, or pdf formats.

This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in reading classic works of Polish literature or exploring the country's rich cultural heritage.

Projekti Lönnrot

Projekti Lönnrot is a Finnish non-profit organization that offers public domain books in Finnish and Swedish. The organization was founded in 2006 by a group of volunteers who wanted to make public domain literature more accessible to readers in Finland and Sweden.

Projekti Lönnrot has since digitized over 200,000 public domain books and made them available for free on their website. In addition to public domain books, Projekti Lönnrot also offers a selection of modern Finnish and Swedish ebooks for purchase.

100% of the proceeds from ebook sales are used to support the digitization of more public domain books. If you're looking for a great way to support Finnish and Swedish literature, be sure to check

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