Do you want to know which apps give access to free e-book reading? If so, then you have come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll share with you almost 15 best apps to read books for free. Also, we’ll highlight the pros and cons of e-book reading.
Besides, we’ll share with you useful tips to balance your kids’ digital reading time. So, keep reading!
Why do people use apps to read?
In this digital era, where activities like shopping, teaching, and businesses have shifted to an online mode, the way people read books has also changed. Unlike in the past, where people had to carry heavy physical books, in the modern world, tablets and phones have made reading convenient.
Let’s dive in and explore more reasons why people now love to use apps for reading books!
- Accessible around the clock: Firstly, you can access any type of book you want to read at one click, whether you are travelling or even lying in bed. Thus, you don’t have to wait to go to the library or bookstore.
- Clutter-free and easier to manage: Next, physical books take up space in your home, thus it becomes difficult to manage them over time. Unlike physical books, apps make it easier to store hundreds of books. People are better able to manage their space and their reading materials.
- Value for money: Another reason for reading via apps is the economic benefit. Unlike traditional stores, many apps offer free books or affordable subscriptions.
- Tailored to suit you: Furthermore, most reading apps allow users to customize the user interface to suit their personal needs. For instance, while reading, you are able to change the font, background, or even enable dark mode. These functionalities facilitate vision navigation, particularly in dim environments.
- Built-in learning tools: In addition, most applications feature additional functionalities, such as a built-in dictionary and translation. This enables instant word definition access. Thus, it enhances the usefulness and educational value of reading.
- Voice and audiobook features: Lastly, certain applications possess the ability to perform text-to-speech functionalities. This is especially beneficial if someone is blind, or even when you feel that your eyes get fatigued.
Pros and cons of using apps to read books
You might also prefer apps to read books. However, keep in mind that while technology has made our lives comfortable, it also comes with some downsides, which we must be aware of. Similar is the case with book apps. Therefore, let us examine both the pros and the cons so that you can make your own balanced decision.
Pros
- Easy note-taking: Each reading app allows for note-taking on the app itself. Thus, you can store all your notes in a single place and can access them whenever you want to review your notes.
- Search within seconds: In the same way, you can search for a word or phrase in the app, and you will get the proper material in a second. This feature is beneficial for people who tend to misplace things or want to bookmark specific sections in the book.
- Sync across devices: It is also good that you can access all your books on all your devices. Let’s say you stop reading on your phone; you can seamlessly continue on your tablet. So you don’t have to worry about losing the all-important place.
- Privacy and safety: Moreover, reading apps maintain your privacy. No one can access your reading material unless you decide to share it. If you tend to be embarrassed about your book selections, this makes your reading life more enjoyable.
- Fun reading features: Finally, many apps have interesting features like reading streaks and progress bars, even quizzes. Such features make reading interesting and motivate you to engage more often.
Cons
- Screen fatigue: Unfortunately, the biggest drawback of reading on the screen is that it can badly impact your eyes. Focusing on the screen can lead to your eyes feeling tired or strained. This is what is referred to as screen fatigue.
- More distractions: In addition, as phones also give you access to gaming, social media scrolling, and texting, your attention may get diverted. Also, notifications on phones and tablets make it hard to concentrate.
- Battery limitations: Furthermore, reading apps rely on the battery life of your phone or tablet. If your device runs out of charge, you are unable to read.
- Less emotional connection: Also, some individuals believe that reading on a screen makes it harder to engage with the material. The act of turning pages and holding onto a book is more intimate and personal than scrolling and tapping on a screen.
- Exposure to inappropriate material: Lastly, if kids are using reading apps, especially free ones, then there is a small risk involved. As many free apps support ads, which may contain age-inappropriate content.
15 best apps to read books for free
Now, in this section, we’ll share with you 15 best apps that give you access to a variety of e-books for free. Also, we’ll tell you the age rating of each app and why it’s best for you.
1. Libby
- Age rating: Everyone (parental controls available)
- Best for: Children, teenagers, and adults with a library card.
With Libby, you can download ebooks and audiobooks, which you can read directly from the app. It feels like having access to an entire library. To get started, you only need to link your public library account.
Also, there is no need to worry about late fees, as all ebooks and audiobooks are returned automatically. It is absolutely free, super helpful, and enjoyable.
2. Hoopla
- Age rating: 12+ (Kids Mode available)
- Best for: Families seeking a wide selection of books and other forms of entertainment on a single application.
Besides offering ebooks and audiobooks, Hoopla provides an array of additional content like comics, movies, and music. Just like Libby, signing up is as easy as having a library card.
It allows streaming and downloading of the content. Furthermore, accounts with children also get special access to a kids’ mode, ensuring safety and enjoyment for children.
3. Amazon Kindle
- Age rating: 4+
- Best for: Readers who want basic to intermediate level reading and a wide range of free materials.
Kindle offers you access to a substantial number of free books, including literature and books on promotion. With Kindle, you have access to books on Kindle devices as well as on the free application.
Also, what makes Kindle literally the best is that your books are synced across devices, enabling you to read seamlessly. It is easy to use and ideal for any age.
4. Wattpad
- Age rating: 13+
- Best for: Teen users who enjoy writing stories set in romance, fiction, or any contemporary thematic releases.
Wattpad is the ultimate destination to access extraordinary literature from different everyday people. The Wattpad Package provides reading, liking, commenting, and even authoring stories.
It allows you to receive constant new content through new chapter updates, so expect to remain entertained. Also, this platform serves a shocking number of novel and diverse purposes.
5. Google Play Books
- Age Rating: All ages with content filters available.
- Best for: Android users who want easy access to free books.
Now, if we talk about Google Play Books, then it also allows you to access free ebooks without any subscriptions. The books are available for searching, downloading, and even reading offline at no cost.
Moreover, reading done with a Google account is accessible across all platforms, which is helpful for users with Android devices.
6. Audible (Free Trial & Originals)
- Age Rating: 13+
- Best for: Listeners who have not yet experienced audiobooks.
As the name suggests, with Audible, you have access to their wide library of audiobooks. During the free trial, you can pick a number of audiobooks and access unique Audible Originals. This is helpful for relaxation or when your eyes are too tired to read. Also, you can listen to audiobooks during relaxation, walks, or even while cleaning your room.
7. ManyBooks
- Age Rating: Everyone
- Best For: Fans of classic literature and the unabridged works of great authors.
This site offers users the opportunity to access older books that have entered the public domain. You’ll discover a wealth of classic authors and timeless books. Also, the site is user-friendly and allows for multi-format downloading, which is helpful for older literature lovers.
8. Web Novel
- Age Rating: 13+
- Best for: Enjoy stories that are detailed and lengthy.
This app allows access to a variety of new stories uploaded by writers across the globe. As New chapters are added almost every day. So, it’s the best app for people who enjoy fantasy, action, romance, and many other stories.
9. Project Gutenberg
- Age Rating: Everyone.
- Best for: Readers seeking fantastic books, classics, and timeless literature.
Project Gutenberg has more than 60,000 books that can be downloaded for free, many of which are considered classics. Because of the public domain books, people are able to read them without paying and proprietary restrictions. For people who are seeking the history of literature, Project Gutenberg is one of the best tools.
10. OverDrive
- Age rating: Everyone
- Best for: Users whose libraries are more compatible with OverDrive than Libby.
OverDrive is yet another app that allows the borrowing of books from libraries. It is also the parent company of Libby. Some libraries still use OverDrive’s older interface, but Libby has a more modern look. If Libby is not available for your library, then OverDrive probably is.
11. Scribd (Free Trial)
- Age rating: 13+
- Best for: Readers using a free trial to explore tiered content.
OverDrive is yet another app that allows the borrowing of books from libraries. It is also the parent company of Libby. Some libraries still use OverDrive’s older interface, but Libby has a more modern look. If Libby is not available for your library, then OverDrive probably is.
12. Read Era
- Age rating: Everyone
- Best for: Readers who cherish a straightforward design to browse their ebook folders.
ReadEra allows users to access books saved on their devices with ease. It is compatible with a variety of formats, including EPUB and PDF. In addition, its offline and ad-free functionality provides a calm environment which is ideal for readers, particularly for those with ebooks awaiting to be read.
13. Goodreads
- Age rating: 13+
- Best for: Readers who prefer listed materials and value reviews and recommendations.
Goodreads may not provide full ebooks, but it surely helps one find their next book to read. The site allows reviewing materials, recording read books, and even setting reading goals. Moreover, it offers links to free samples and excerpts. Thus, it helps a lot in making decisions on what to read next.
14. Apple Books
- Age rating: 4+
- Best for: Apple gadget users hoping to find free materials for reading with ease and in no time.
The Apple Books application is available on almost all Apple devices. It features a segment dedicated to free books, especially classics. The downloaded books are kept in the Apple Library. Thus, reading is very easy for iPhone and iPad users.
15. Kobo Book
- Age rating: Everyone
- Best for: Users of Kobo devices and patrons of libraries who like borrowed and free materials.
Through OverDrive, Kobo Books allows access to free titles and borrowable books. Reading can be done on a Kobo e-reader or through the app. Furthermore, it helps track reading milestones across various devices.
How to balance your kids’ digital reading time?
Although e-book reading apps give you access to books across the globe for free. However, when it comes to kids, you need to take steps to balance digital reading. Thus, your child can learn with maximum enjoyment and minimum screen fatigue.
So, I’m going to share with you some actionable tips that would greatly assist in ensuring a healthy digital environment for kids!
Combine digital with print books
If you want to minimize the screen time of kids, then you also need to encourage your kids to read printed books alongside. For instance, you can tell them to read tablet stories today and paper stories tomorrow. This method not only reduces eye strain, but maintaining a balance makes reading more enjoyable.
Include regular eye and body breaks
Moreover, you need to explain the 20-20-20 rule to your child and ask them to maintain it. For instance, tell your kids that while using screen media, after every 2 minutes, they need to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Also, to extend reading breaks, ask your child to do stretching exercises or light walking for a few minutes. These short intervals significantly benefit their eyes and health.
Use of parental control tools
Although the above-mentioned are smart tricks to balance screen time. However, for effective control over kids’ digital activities, using FlashGet Kids parental control apps is a smart move. This app combines advanced monitoring features with real-time alerts.
For instance, it allows you to set time restrictions on individual reading apps for specific hours, like during sleeping or study time. Thus, if kids try to breach the limit, you will get an instant alert.
In short, e-book readings give us a lot of benefits in the form of accessibility, clutter-free space, and many fun learning tools. However, eye-strain problems are its major drawbacks, which you can overcome by following the above-mentioned tips.
