So, you got a new Kindle! Maybe you’ve been on Booktok and have noticed how reading is cool again. Or maybe you’re a seasoned reader, and need some money-saving tips. Either way, let’s talk about some ways to add books to your Kindle for FREE!
I’ve had my kindle for a couple years now, and I’ve bought ONE ebook. Yes, one. If you’re a big reader, buying book after book can really break the bank. Kindle and e-reading in general can really help manage your book budget.
To read and get started on your Kindle, you’ll need an Amazon account connected to it. Be sure you’ve got that set up before reading this list. Also, while you’re at it, make sure it’s connected to the internet.
You will also want to go to your local library, either physically or online. Not only can you use this to physically rent library books (for free, obviously), but you’ll use this for one of our methods later!
There are a few tried-and-true methods in the book community to get free Kindle ebooks, which are all legit, no pirating needed. Let’s jump into them now!
Send ebooks via email to your Kindle
Many people don’t know you can actually download ebooks and send them straight to your Kindle!
There are a few reputable sites out there to browse absolutely FREE ebooks, in an effort to both archive important historical media, and make it accessible for all (we love that). Project Gutenburg, OpenLibrary and ManyBooks.net are all options for downloading absolutely free ebooks.
All you need to do is send the ebook file via email to your Kindle device!
Rent library ebooks
Another way you can add books to your Kindle for free (and my most-used method) is simply borrowing them from your local library, via one of two apps, Libby and Hoopla.
They both make it super easy to connect your card, search for books and read on your Kindle. You will need a library card for this, but as mentioned before, you can often get library cards online! However, you should definitely go to your local library at least a few times in person. These services are so important and deserve our support.
I really loved this article by BiblioLifestyle on the importance of our local libraries.
My library even allows for a *temporary* online library card that you can use for immediate access. Eventually though, a lot of libraries require you to at least physically visit once.
So get on that hot girl walk and go on a library adventure. After all…
You essentially need to link both your library card and your Amazon account to be able to send books directly from the app to your Kindle device.
When you get your app set up with your library card, you’ll see a prompt to “read with Kindle.” Follow the prompts to connect. It’s instantaneous, and your book loan duration will just depend on your library. There’s also a ton of audiobooks to choose from!
Stuff Your Kindle Days
Every quarter, a group of independent authors and readers put on what’s known in the book community as “Stuff Your Kindle Day,” where they accumulate a large list of FREE ebooks so you can “stuff your kindle” with lots of options.
– my recent Stuff Your Kindle haul
These selected ebooks are directly available on Amazon, so there’s no extra steps. All the books are promoted as an effort to get their stories out there; allowing others to start a new series, discover an author or genre they’ve never read before, or just get a hefty TBR stacked up for the season.
Stuff Your Kindle Day is organized by Romance Bookworms, and happens in March, June, September and December.
If you or someone you know uses a different ereader, like a B&N Nook or iPad, Romance Bookworms has a list for those as well.
To search for FREE ($0.00) books in Amazon, there’s a bit of a maze to navigate through, and you can see that in a step-by-step guide here.
Kindle Unlimited & Prime Reading
Amazon currently offers a free Kindle Unlimited membership for three months when you buy a new Kindle device. I’d suggest you take advantage, and find some of your most-anticipated reads available in the Kindle library first. Three months is a great offer and you can get through a lot of books this way for free!
It also gives you a good idea if KU is something you want to continue to purchase. Unfortunately though, they did recently (May 2023) raise the price from $9.99 to $11.99.
Prime Reading is another library offered from Amazon if you are a current Prime subscriber. This is different from Kindle Unlimited. It’s not exactly free, since you’re paying for Amazon Prime. However, if it’s already something you budget for, you can read anything on Prime Reading at no additional cost.
If I missed any other free ways to add books to your Kindle, please let me know in the comments.
Happy reading!
