This article may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information.

While many of us have embraced the world of e-books, you can’t say you wouldn’t be excited to get free books mailed to your home.

Luckily, no matter which type of book you’re interested in, there are sites out there willing to send them to you at no cost.

Perhaps you’re looking for free books for kids by mail, recipe books, magazines or even your very own copy of the US Constitution. Whatever it is, we’ve collected a ton of ways for you to get free books by mail.

And not only will they help add to your reading list, but if you’re trying to cut your spending and save money, getting free stuff is the way to do it!

Free books for kids by mail

Encouraging kids to read is one of the best things you can do for them. And as someone who used to sneak a torch under the covers to keep reading after my bedtime, trust me when I say that there are plenty of kids who love a good book.

That said, finding children’s books that are affordable can be a struggle. In my case, when we didn’t know that getting free books for kids was even an option, I’m sure my parents spent a small fortune on funding my book addiction.

So if you’re looking to get free children’s books in the mail, you’ve come to the right place.

These sites have some great programs for sending out books for kids of all ages. You can even get free baby books using some of them!

1. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton established her Imagination Library for the sole purpose of sending out free kids books by mail. 

She sees this as a way to inspire kids to achieve anything they can dream of. It’s truly an incredible program.

free books mailed to your house by dolly parton's imagination library which gives free books for kids by mail

After all, to date, the organization has sent out almost 134 million books to over 1.5 million kids.

Any child from birth to age 5 can be signed up for the program, which sends out one book per month completely free of charge.

You do have to be located in participating communities within the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Republic of Ireland, so jump on their site to see if your child qualifies.

2. Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA has a program in which they will send free books for kids by mail to anywhere in the US.

These activity books are aimed at promoting environmental awareness in kids while ensuring they have fun in the process. They’re also adapted to different age groups and even have some available in Spanish.

Take a look at the five options available here to grab one for your child.

3. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Programs

Barnes & Noble has a great summer reading program every year in which they’ll send free books for kids by mail to any child from grades 1 to 6 who reads eight books.

child reading a free children's book that she got through a free books for kids by mail program

There are around 10 books to choose from for each age level and all your child has to do is fill in a form available at the link above where they say the title, author and favorite part of each book they’ve read.

Simply hand this completed form in at any Barnes & Noble store and the free book is theirs!

4. Read Conmigo

Read Conmigo provides free books for kids by mail in Spanish and English to children ages preschool to fifth grade.

Since its establishment in 2010, this program has donated over one million books to families, schools and libraries.

This means it’s also a great way for teachers to get free books in either language!

It’s currently only available in California, Florida and Texas but if you sign up for their mailing list, they’ll let you know if the program expands to other US states.

5. American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults

If your child is blind or low vision and can read braille, this program offered by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults will be amazing for you.

Children who sign up for this will receive 12 free books for kids by mail, all of which are titles that haven’t previous been made available in braille before.

Check out their site to find out more.

How to get free books by mail

6. Amazon

We all know Amazon as one of the main places to buy books but, with a few clicks, you can actually have free books mailed to your home from them too.

Swagbucks is an app that gives you free money for doing a range of things you’d probably be doing already, such as shopping online, searching the internet (yep, you get paid for Googling) and playing games.

(You even get a free $10 sign up bonus just for verifying your email address!)

And one of the ways it pays out the money you earn is through gift cards – including Amazon ones.

This means that a nifty way to get free books by mail from Amazon is simply by using Swagbucks to do things you’re doing online anyway.

Swagbucks

Free sign-up bonus: $10

A great app for making extra money, including with cash back from online shopping, watching videos, playing games and more.

And given it’s paid out over $400 million through Amazon, Paypal and other gift cards, it’s 100% legit.

7. Audible

While this isn’t going to get you actual free hardcover books, it’s worth mentioning that another way to get a free book from Amazon is with Audible

You can get a free 30-day trial by signing up with Audible here. During that time, you’ll get one free audiobook of your choice.

And even if you don’t stick around after the free trial, you’ll continue to have access to that audiobook!

8. GoodReads

GoodReads is a massive site for anyone who loves reading. Thousands of people have used this to provide book recommendations, so it’s a great site for finding the next book on your reading list.

However, it also has a giveaways section where authors (and, sometimes, publishers) give away free books.

While competition can be fierce, this can be a good way to get things like free novels by mail if you’re lucky enough to win.

You may also be interested in: The Personal Financial Plan Example You Can Use To Reach Your Financial Goals

9. FreeCycle

FreeCycle is made up of groups all around the world involving people who are giving away free things in their local areas – and the people who are taking advantage of these free things.

They regularly have free books available, although sometimes you do have to pick them up rather than receiving them by post.

But as a way to get free novels by mail that may be from a few years ago, FreeCycle will always have something available.

examples of free books mailed to your home

10. Craigslist

You probably know Craigslist as a way to get (sometimes) dodgy furniture or (often) questionable housemates, but it can also be a great source of free books.

While, usually, you can find books for cheap on Craigslist, people will often also give away free books on this site when they’re trying to clear up some space.

And their loss is your gain!

11. Harlequin Reader Service

Reader Service offers two free books mailed to your home, no questions asked.

The catch is if you don’t cancel, they’ll continue to send two books every month but, after the first month, you’ll be charged a “members-only discount price”.

But as long as you do that, this is an easy way to receive free books by postal mail.

And while it’s marketed at women, there’s no reason why men can’t take advantage of this too!

12. Your local library 

Many libraries offer a “book by mail” program in which books are mailed to your home. In some cases, you have to request specific books but, in others, you’ll provide your reading interests and the library will send books it thinks you’ll like.

(And postage is free both ways!)

For example, the New York Public Library offers this to people who are homebound.

Check the libraries in your area to see if this is available to you.

And don’t forget that if you’re trying to save money, libraries have a range of other free things on offer that have nothing to do with books. This list of 200 items is a great place to start.

Related: Why Living Stingy Could Be The Key To Achieving All Your Financial Goals

13. Hillsdale College

If you’re on the hunt for a free copy of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, you can have it sent to you for free by Hillsdale College.

It’s “only” pocket-sized – but maybe that’s a good thing if you think you’ll need to whip it out in future!

14. Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is a collection of over 60,000 books, all of which are free, mostly because their copyrights have expired.

Let’s be upfront: these are free ebooks, so you won’t get free books by postal mail here.

But the collection is amazing and definitely worth mentioning for any avid reader looking for free books – even if they’re “only” ebooks.

15. JIFFY Recipe Book

If you’re looking for free recipe books by mail and you live in the continental US, the Jiffy Recipe Book may be what you need.

It’s completely free and you can even check it online at that link first to confirm that it’s something you want.

16. Sun-Maid Recipe Booklet

You probably know Sun-Maid as the go-to for raisins, but they also offer three recipe booklets.

You can either download them as a PDF or order a hardcopy if you prefer and, before you know it, your free recipe book will be in your mailbox.

17. NetGalley

In some cases, there are sites that let you get free books mailed to your home – but only if you review them.

Sure, it means you have to do some work to earn your free book. But given you were going to read it anyway, getting free books by mail in exchange for a review barely counts as work at all!

NetGalley is one of the main sites that offer free books in exchange for reviews.

And noting it partners with some of the biggest publishers in the world, the books on offer are really impressive.

(And it’s not just limited to the US, as it also has versions of its site for visitors from France, Germany, Japan and the UK.)

You may also be interested in: How to Live Without a Job: 8 Steps to Thrive

18. Lola’s Blog Tours

Lola’s Blog Tours is smaller than NetGalley, meaning that it doesn’t necessarily offer as many free books by mail.

That said, there are options available from time to time and your only payment is to leave a review. So check back occasionally to see if there’s something that suits you.

19. Enchanted Book Promotions

Enchanted Book Promotions may not have a large number of free books available, but it’s got a fairly good variety of genres on its site.

Simply select your book and post your review within one month to meet their requirements for even more free books.

20. Fresh Fiction

Fresh Fiction is similar to the others listed above in that you can select from one of their hundreds of offerings and you’ll receive a free book by mail.

You will have to complete this form to apply to be a reviewer. But once you qualify, the range on Fresh Fiction will make sure you always have a variety of free books available.

examples of free books by mail that you'll get

21. LibraryThing

On LibraryThing, you can see a list of books, how many free copies are available to review and how many members have requested them.

It’s rare to see less than 100 people requesting a book even though there are usually only between 15 and 50 free copies available. But with some luck and persistence, there’s no reason you can’t get a free book to review through this site.

22. Baker Publishing Group

Baker Publishing Group is another site where you can apply to review books in exchange for free copies.

They primarily have Christian books and state that they are looking for people with a “strong platform that can help authors”. So if you have a fairly well viewed YouTube channel or a well-established blog, you may have more luck here.

Simply apply here then wait to hear back.

23. Book Look Bloggers

Page Chaser (previously called Book Look Bloggers) is aimed at bloggers who are keen to post reviews on their sites.

If this sounds like you – and noting you’ll have to have a minimum amount of traffic to qualify – check out this site to see what free books you can pick up here.

24. My Reader Rewards Club

There are several sites that offer free spiritual books by mail.

Whether you’re already a follower of that particular faith or just interested in learning more, one of these sites may have what you’re looking for.

My Reader Rewards Club used to be called Tyndale Blog Network, based on the fact that it’s run by Tyndale Publishers, a publisher of primarily Christian books.

On this site, you can earn points towards free books. Points are earned by doing things such as buying books (from Tyndale Publishers), referring friends, taking surveys and signing up for newsletters.

While all the available books are religion-oriented, there are choices for all ages so take a look to see if there’s something to add to your library.

25. Bibles of America

Bibles of America has given away 1.6 million free Bibles since the year 2000

By simply filling in your information, they offer a free Bible as well as other free books containing Christan teachings.

26. BDK America

BDK America provides free hardcover copies of The Teaching of Buddha to anyone in the continental United States (and if you live in Hawaii, you can contact them here).

If you’re looking to learn more about Buddhism, this could be a great way to do so.

27. Christian Focus Publications

Christan Focus Publications has a list of 13 free “pocket guides” which, as they describe, offer “an introduction to key concepts and people, that are important to the Christian faith”.

28. Wake Up America Seminars

Wake Up America Seminars also offers free books based on Christian principles. 

In some cases, the books themselves are free but you will be asked to pay for postage – but not always.

29. Mormon.org

If you’re looking for a free copy of the Book of Mormon, you can have this sent to you at Mormon.org.

30. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

You can also obtain a free copy of the King James Version of the Bible by completing this form on the website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

31. Natural Inquirer

If you’d ever thought you might like to “bee” a scientist, then the free coloring book mailed to your home as offered by the Natural Inquirer could be for you.

They’ll send you a free book by mail once you submit your details, with the current one at the time of writing being a “Bee a Scientist” coloring book.

Who could resist?!

32. ThatDailyDeal

Coloring books for adults have become super popular in recent years as a way to destress and unwind.

Well, ThatDailyDeal offers a free coloring book for this exact purpose. It may take up to eight weeks for delivery, but this is a free book that’s going to be healthy both for your wallet and your mind.

33. ValueMags

ValueMags has an incredible array of free magazines on offer – and you don’t even have to enter a credit card to access them.

examples of free magazines sent by mail

Simply enter your name and address and your new free magazine will be on its way to you.

34. LEGO

The free LEGO Life Magazine is the closest you’ll get to getting free comic books by mail.

This magazine is aimed at kids from five to nine years old and is full of comics, activities, posters and more.

And the best part is they’ll deliver it to you for free four times a year.

35. Guide2Free

Guide2Free has a range of free books on offer, but it’s main offerings are free magazines.

At the time of writing this article, it’s got a free Marie Claire subscription, a free Popular Science subscription and a free subscription to People Magazine, among others.

In some cases, you’ll need to provide a credit card, so make sure you read the fine print to know when the free period ends. 

Otherwise though, this is a great way to get some free magazines mailed to your home.

36. BookCrossing

Sometimes there’s a bit of give and take in life. In this case, you can get free books by mail, but only if you give a different book in return.

In this case though, you get a double benefit: you’ll declutter your home a bit and get something new in return for your reading list!

BookCrossing brings together a community of almost 2 million book-lovers from around the world who like to share their books with others.

Simply put your book on their “Book Map” and then see what’s available near you. With books in Europe, North America, Australia and more, you’re bound to find something nearby.

37. BookMooch

BookMooch works in a similar way. Every time you give someone a book, you earn a point. This then lets you get any book you want from anyone else on their platform.

And if you send a book to someone overseas, you’ll earn three points!

You will have to pay for postage when mailing a book to others. This means, though, that receiving a book is totally free.

38. PaperbackSwap

PaperbackSwap is the same idea as the others, in that you make books available to other users.

Once someone takes it, you’ll then have access to one of the free books they have on offer. And at the time of writing, there are more than 1.2 million books in their library!

You’ll also pay postage for books you send which means, again, that it’s free when you receive your book.

39. Hunt4Freebies

Hunt4Freebies lists a bunch of free books (and magazines) that you can find all over the internet.

Some of the books are only available in Kindle form but there are also free hardcover books available, so it’s worth checking from time to time to see what’s there.

40. Scam Free Samples

Scam Free Samples is, in addition to it not being a scam, a good site for finding free samples.

(So I guess you could say it’s pretty well named…!)

It has a range of free hardcover books, comic books, ebooks and audiobooks, so take a look to see if any of its range interests you.

41. Sweet Free Stuff

Sweet Free Stuff has another fairly mixed range of free books available, as well as ebooks and magazines.

Out of all the sites that have random lists of free books on this list, the free novels on this one actually looked the most interesting to me.

So it’s worth checking out to see how they look to you too.

42. The Free Site

The Free Site has a solid list of freebies, many of which are religion-oriented but not all.

They’re mostly for US readers only, but there are also some available to Canadian residents which sets it apart from some of the other sites on this list.

43. Yo Free Samples

Yo Free Samples isn’t as focused on free books as the other sites on this list, but it does have them from time to time.

Its list of free ebooks is pretty impressive though, with over 100 options that are updated regularly.

What’s the catch in getting free books mailed to your home?

There’s no catch at all!

Sure, in some cases, you’ll have to provide your credit card number. But as long as you make sure you cancel your account before you’re charged, you’ll get to keep your free book.

Other than that, getting free books in the mail is simple. Just follow the instructions at each of the sites above and then keep an eye on your letterbox.

Can I get free books by mail worldwide?

Many of these sites are only for those based in the US – but not all.

Some examples from this list that let you get free books by mail worldwide (or at least in some countries outside of the US) are:

  • Amazon (via Swagbucks)
  • Imagination Library
  • The Free Site
  • NetGalley
  • FreeCycle
  • BookCrossing

How can I win a free book online?

Most of the options on this list aren’t competitions.

That is, all you have to do is sign up, follow the prompts and you should be on your way to having free books mailed to your home.

In a few cases, like where there are only a limited amount of books to review, it’s true that it’s similar to a competition.

But if you really want a sense of winning, there are dozens of ways that you can win a book online.

Googling any variation of “win books” and “competition” should show you some great options for this.

How do I get free books on my iPhone?

Many of the sites on this list also offer free ebooks.

So noting that the Books app on your iPhone is free, you can use these sites to get free books on your iPhone.

Android phones also come with a free book app, meaning that you don’t need to own a Kindle or other ebook reader to be able to take advantage of all the free ebooks that are available through the sites on this list.

How can I download PDF books for free?

Most ebooks are in the format EPUB, so when sites on this list offer free ebooks, that’s usually the file type in which you’ll find them in.

However, in some cases, you’ll be able to download PDF books for free through these sites, which may be easier if you’re planning to read your free ebook on your computer.

And, yes, these sites only have free PDF books that are legal. 

It shouldn’t have to be said, but don’t be tempted to download books to save a few dollars. Otherwise, you’re taking that money straight out of the pockets of the authors.

Final thoughts

If you’re a book lover, having free books mailed to your home feels like Christmas has come early.

And this range of sites should show you that you can basically get any genre of book sent to you – or even for any age range, as all the options to get free books for kids by mail should prove.

Sure, some of them will probably be of better quality than others.

But when you can save money while building up your own personal library, then what’s not to love!

Similar Posts