The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best purchases I’ve made recently because it makes reading so much more convenient and accessible. I wind down at night with a good book instead of scrolling mindlessly through social media, and I see long commutes as an opportunity rather than an annoyance.
When I first got my Kindle, I was under the impression that all ebooks were cheap, and while they’re certainly more affordable than a paperback or hardcover book, some still go for up to $15.
If you’re an avid reader with an ever-expanding library, these costs can add up quickly. And if you’re like me and hesitate to spend that much on a book that you’re not sure you’ll enjoy or want to keep forever, then you might also feel stuck. I set out to figure out how to access more books without the financial burden and discovered options that ensure I’ll never have to pay full-price for an ebook again.
Whether you’re looking to cut down on costs or are more of a book borrower than a book owner, these five sites and subscriptions will help you maximize your book consumption for less money and commitment.
OverDrive
OverDriveHow it works: If you have a public library card (which you should because it’s free and easy to sign up for!), OverDrive is invaluable. Find your local library, sign in with your library card number, then browse all the ebook and audiobooks your library has to offer by subject, language, and keywords.
You can also place holds on titles and add books to a wish list. After you click “Borrow,” you’ll be directed to your Amazon account to download the title to your Kindle device. Once the loan period expires, the book will automatically be deleted from your account. I was very excited to discover OverDrive because it offers all the options and affordability of a library, without the inconvenience of visiting a physical location.
Cost: Free with a library card
Find your local library and borrow books at OverDrive here
Download the Libby, by OverDrive app for iOS here
Download the Libby, by OverDrive app for Android here
Scribd
ScribdHow it works: Scribd is Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton’s all-time favorite reading app and it’s not difficult to see why: for only $8.99 a month, you get truly unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and documents.
Since it lives on your phone and you don’t need to buy another device, Scribd makes consuming books easier than ever. You can also download books for offline reading, so not having service won’t be a problem.
Cost: Free 30-day trial, then $8.99/month
Start your free 30-day trial of Scribd here
Download Scribd for iOS here
Download Scribd for Android here
Kindle Unlimited
AmazonHow it works: With Kindle Unlimited, you get access to over one million titles, including audiobooks and the latest issues of popular magazines. You can have up to 10 Kindle Unlimited titles in your library at one time, so you can keep a rotating selection of old favorites and new discoveries.
I’ve used Kindle Unlimited to finally read the books I’ve been meaning to for years, like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Interpreter of Maladies,” and I’ve been able to revisit childhood classics like the “Harry Potter” series.
Cost: Free 30-day trial, then $9.99/month
Start your free 30-day trial of Kindle Unlimited here
Prime Reading
AmazonHow it works: Amazon’s latest perk for Prime members is Prime Reading, which gives free access to more than a thousand of the most popular books and magazines. You can download up to 10 titles at a time to your Kindle, Fire tablet, or Kindle app. These titles are updated every month.
It also includes Amazon First Reads, which gives you early access to one free Kindle book a month, chosen from a collection of editors’ picks. After diving into this month’s choice, I’m a big fan of this exclusive feature.
Cost: Free for Amazon Prime members
This is really amazing. I really loving reading books a lot because it inspires me and gives me more knowledge and the only way to become a better person is to keep reading books. This is a big and huge helpful review I must confess because I have been searching for means to get new books at a cut down price without stress… Thanks for engaging in this research and coming up with this list…I can’t wait to tour them.
Hey Willy,
Glad you liked the post. If you find others yourself, please let us know!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is a really valuable post. I’ve always wanted to read more and I figure that I should read on my phone instead of playing games or watching videos all the time. I just never knew what sites to use to get started. OverDrive and Amazon Kindle and Prime Reading sites look like they’re great places for me to get started. Recently I have also been looking at some other sites, particularly Rakuten Kobo. What’s your opinion on Rakuten Kobo? I’d like to know how some of the sites you wrote about compares to Rakuten Kobo. Thanks so much!
Hey Kevin,
Kobo is good as well. It does not have Amazon’s ecosystem, nor is so popular, but it has decent devices, and quite a good selection of books. Recently I reviewed Kobo Clara HD. Check it out 🙂
Marios