Top free audiobooks sites

 

Where to Legally Download Free Audiobooks (and How to Listen on iOS)

Listening to audiobooks is a great way to enjoy literature while commuting, exercising, or relaxing. The good news is, there are legal ways to download  audiobooks for free — especially works that are in the public domain or provided by public library services. Below is a guide to reputable sources and tips, and how you can listen to them comfortably using the MP3 Audiobook Player on iOS.

Legal Sources for Free Audiobooks

Here are some of the most trusted sources where you can find free (legal) audiobooks:

1. LibriVox

LibriVox is one of the best-known platforms for public domain audiobooks. All recordings are read by volunteers and released into the public domain, so they can be downloaded for free without any subscription or account. LibriVox+2Authors Alliance+2
You can stream or download in mp3 format. Authors Alliance+1

2. Internet Archive / Audio Archive

The Internet Archive hosts a wide variety of audio content, including audiobooks, radio shows, poetry reads, and more. Their Audio Archive is a rich collection of free audio files. Wikipedia
Many LibriVox files are also mirrored via Internet Archive. Authors Alliance+1

3. Project Gutenberg / Open Library

Project Gutenberg, known primarily for free e-books, also offers a selection of free audiobooks (especially for works in the public domain). guides.loc.gov+2proofreadingservices.com+2
Open Library (a project under Internet Archive) sometimes offers audio versions or links to audio files, along with e-book versions. Wikipedia+1

4. Other Public Domain / Educational Collections

Several other sites or projects aggregate public domain audiobooks or offer audio versions of classic texts:

  • Loyal Books (also called Books Should Be Free)

  • Lit2Go

  • Open Culture

  • PodioBooks (serialized audiobooks)

  • Storynory (for children’s stories) Ada Community Library+2proofreadingservices.com+2
    These may vary in scope, language, and completeness, but they are legal and free.

5. Public Library Digital Services (Libby, Hoopla, etc.)

If your local or regional public library participates in digital lending services, you may borrow audiobooks for free via apps like Libby or Hoopla. Many Reddit users recommend Libby as a reliable free audiobook app when you have a library card. Reddit+2Reddit+2
This method gives you access to more recent titles (not just public domain works), under digital loan rules.

Notes & Cautions

  • Copyright and regional restrictions: Just because something is free somewhere doesn’t always mean it’s legal in your country. Public domain status depends on local copyright law (for example, many works are public domain in the U.S. but still under copyright in other countries).

  • Quality and completeness: Volunteer-read audiobooks may have variable quality or missing chapters. Always check whether a recording is complete.

  • No piracy or illegal sharing: The sources listed above are legal. Discussion of piracy or links to illegal downloads is disallowed in many forums (including the r/audiobooks subreddit). Reddit+1

  • Formats: Many of these sources use standard mp3 or similarly compatible formats, making them easy to play on many devices.

Listening on iOS with MP3 Audiobook Player

If you have an iPhone or iPad, one excellent way to listen to downloaded audiobooks is using the MP3 Audiobook Player app. Here’s why it works well:

  • It supports chapter-based navigation, bookmarks, playback speed adjustment, and remembering your last playback position.

  • You can import mp3 or m4b files (depending on their format) directly into the app.

  • It’s designed specifically for audiobooks, unlike generic music players, so the controls and features are optimized for long-form listening.

How to use with free audiobook downloads:

  1. Download your chosen audiobook files (e.g. from LibriVox or Internet Archive) — many come as zip or mp3 collections.

  2. Transfer them to your iPhone via iTunes/Finder, Files app, or via cloud services (Dropbox, iCloud, etc.).

  3. In MP3 Audiobook Player, import those files (or open them) so the app adds them to your library.

  4. Use its playback features (speed, skip, bookmarks) to enjoy the audiobook seamlessly.

Because the files from free sources are often standard audio files, they integrate well into the app.