Standard Ebooks
Focus: typography and epub. Shares ebooks and public domain with Project Gutenberg. Same 4.4 rating.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit
Website
Project Gutenberg
Over 70,000 free ebooks, with a focus on classic public-domain literature.
Rating
4.4 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
Web
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What is Project Gutenberg?
Project Gutenberg is the original free ebook library, offering more than 70,000 public-domain books to read online or download in EPUB, Kindle and plain text. Volunteer-run and free of charge, with no account needed.
Pros: what Project Gutenberg does well
- Huge library of classic literature
- No account, no cost
- Multiple formats including EPUB and Kindle
Cons: where it falls short
- Mostly pre-1930 works
- Plain, basic design
Who Project Gutenberg is for
Students and readers who love classics and public-domain works.
Who can skip it
People looking for recent bestsellers.
Project Gutenberg alternatives
Not sold on Project Gutenberg? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
LibriVox
Focus: audiobooks and non-profit. Shares public domain and classics with Project Gutenberg. Rated 4.6 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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ManyBooks
Focus: reading, library and e-reader. Shares ebooks and free books with Project Gutenberg. Same 4.4 rating.
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The Public Domain Review
Focus: art history, images and essays. Shares public domain with Project Gutenberg. Rated 4.7 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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Open Culture
Focus: free courses, audiobooks and education. Shares ebooks with Project Gutenberg. Rated 4.6 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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Wellcome Collection
Focus: images, archives and history. Shares public domain with Project Gutenberg. Rated 4.6 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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Free alternatives to Project Gutenberg
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Libby
Focus: audiobooks, library and reading. Shares ebooks with Project Gutenberg. A mobile app, not a website. Adds iOS and Android. Rated 4.8 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
Mobile AppFreeiOS, Android
4.8Visit
OpenStax
Focus: textbooks, open education and courses. Shares free books with Project Gutenberg. A book, not a website. Rated 4.8 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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Komga
Focus: comics, manga and self-hosted. Shares ebooks with Project Gutenberg. A web app, not a website. Rated 4.6 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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Calibre-Web
Focus: calibre, reading and open source. Shares ebooks with Project Gutenberg. A web app, not a website. Rated 4.5 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.5Visit
Kavita
Focus: reading server, self-hosted and open source. Shares ebooks with Project Gutenberg. A web app, not a website. Rated 4.5 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.5Visit
Wikipedia
Focus: encyclopedia, reference and research. Also in Learning and Reading, like Project Gutenberg. Adds iOS and Android. Rated 4.8 (Project Gutenberg: 4.4).
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