If you love to read, obtaining new books regularly can be an expensive past-time.
So how do you get free books by mail to provide more reading material for your family? There are lots of sources that provide books to both kids and adults.
Here are some great free book programs for readers.
How to Get Free Books by Mail
1. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
This is the most popular and easiest way to receive a child’s book via the mail. This non-profit organization, created by Dolly Parton, was created to help promote early childhood literacy by giving children, ages birth to age five, a FREE book. To date, the organization has sent more than 109 million kids books… for free! When you sign up, you will receive a free specially aged book EVERY month straight to your mailbox, with NO strings attached.
To learn more, go to ImaginationLibrary.com to see how it works and check availability. On that URL, you can order your free books by mail. As of right now, the program is only available for select communities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
2. Read Comingo
When you become a member of Read Conmigo, the company will not only offer you access to 45 free eBooks, but the company will also deliver printed books, as long as your city qualifies, to your door for free.
What the heck is Read Comingo?
Read Comingo is a bilingual literacy program that provides books in both Spanish and English and was created by Infinity Insurance in 2010 to help parents and children alike gain a love of reading.
To date, the program has delivered to more than 160,000 families.
3. LibraryThing
This strategy will not guarantee you a free book by mail, but on LibraryThing, authors will send you a book in exchange for a review and it will require no payment on your end.
If you’re a fan of trying out new books, then you can add your name to the request list for the book that interests you, but remember, this isn’t guaranteed as most of the books will have more requesters than the copies available.
But from the looks of it, if you requested at least 20-30 books, your chances of getting one can greatly increase.
At any moment, you can expect at least 50-100+ books on the list, so choosing one won’t be that hard.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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!
6. NetGalley
If you want to discover new books, then I highly recommend NetGalley, a website which “help books succeed.”
Consider it a place where authors are looking to get feedback on their pre-released book.
Here, becoming a member is free and the website asks you to review the book you choose and provide feedback.
Unlike GoodReads and LibraryThing, however, leaving and sharing your reviews is mandatory if you want to participate.
While a lot of the books available are digital copies, you can find a hard copy book once in a while.
7. JIFFY Recipe Book
From the creators of the “JIFFY” mix, the “JIFFY” Mix Recipe Book is yours for free if you simply fill out the form on the official website.
If you’d rather have the online version, which is said to have even more recipes than the book, the company also offers hundreds of recipes for free as well via this electronic list.
Or of course, you can have both the hard copy and eBook if you choose as well!
8. Sun-Maid Recipe Booklet
Like the idea of free recipe books?
Just like the JIFFY freebie, Sun-Maid will send you a free recipe booklet via the mail and all you need to do on your part is simply fill out the form. This is a totally free book by mail if interested.
9. Lola’s Blog Tours
I found Lola’s Blog Tours while searching online and it appeared she would list a few book offerings here and there in which you could sign up for and receive a book copy for free.
In exchange for the free book, you would be asked to leave a review.
The offerings were slim, but it could be a consideration.
10. Enchanted Book Reviews
Like Lola’s Blog Tours, EnchantedBookPromotions.com worked in a similar way.
You could request a book, and if selected, you would be asked to leave a review in exchange for the free copy.
While the selection was slim, it’s a resource to keep on your radar if you want to check the website periodically.
11. Fresh Fiction
Fresh Fiction is yet another website that will send you books in exchange for a review.
With more than 250 options when I checked it out while writing this, the genres ranged anywhere from children’s to non-fiction.
If interested, the company asks that you fill out a reviewer application to see if you qualify. Not everyone will qualify, however.
12. Natural Inquirer Coloring Book
The Natural Inquirer offers children in Kindergarten to 2nd grade a FREE 16-page coloring book, which was produced by the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association (CFAIA) in partnership with the Forest Service.
While the coloring book is often out of stock due to high demand, I recommend you keep checking or if you’re impatient, consider downloading the PDF version for free.
13. 100% FREE Adult Coloring Book
From ThatDailyDeal, visitors can sign up for a random adult coloring book for free.
The website does note that you do need to provide your credit card, but it will not be charged and/or stored for any reason. If hesitant, see if you can get a virtual credit card number for your card, which deletes after a month.
Limit one per household and allow up to eight weeks for delivery.
14. ReaderService.com
While I do not know much about this service, nor did I try it, the main website says they will send you 2 FREE books of your choice and no commitment or obligation is involved. In fact, they even pay for shipping and handling.
If you’re a fan of inspirational, romance or suspense books, then this may be one to consider, but again, I didn’t try it and can’t talk about it too much. If you did, let me know in the comments and I can add it here.
Just from the “how it works” section, it says you get to keep the free books no matter what, BUT if you do not cancel, you will receive another set of books, which, if you do not return them, you may be charged.
Again, if this is worth the hassle, then consider it, but make sure you cancel if you do not want to be charged.
15. Bibles of America
For those looking for a free religious Christian book by mail, Bibles of America will send you a free study bible recovery version when you click the “order for free” button on their website.
This option is 100% free and will require NO credit card number.
They simply ask that you order for yourself only and not on the behalf of others.
Aside from the mailed version, the website also offers a variety of free Christian e-books.
16. Teaching of Buddha
The Teaching of Buddha complies the basic teachings of the Buddhist canon, organized into convenient chapters, according to BDKAmerica.org.
Following the link, you can sign up for a free 289-page hardcover copy free of charge.
At this moment, the hardcover is only available to United States residents only.
17. Christian Pocket Book
666Truth.org, another free religious book-like option, wants to reveal how “Satan is now preparing people all over the world to fall for his most powerful last-day delusion — and to accept the mark of the beast.”
This 32-page book is 100% free, including the shipping.
If interested, fill out the form on the official website.
18. FREE Book Offer From WAKE UP
While you can read the book online, the organization, Wake Up America Seminars, will send you a free book to your mailbox if you so choose.
This 180-page book, written by Larry Wilson, reveals the outcome of prophecies in the Bible.
Due to high demand, it may take up to six weeks to deliver.
19. Book of Mormon at Mormon.org
Follow the instructions of the official website to receive a free Book of Mormon.
To learn more about the book, the website has a quick one-minute video explaining it.
20. Free Bible from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
You can also request a free bible from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by going to this submission form.
The Church does ask that you limit it to one per household.
21. LEGO Magazine
Not quite a book, but if you have kids in the household, LEGO will send your child a FREE LEGO magazine four times a year.
Best of all, it’s provided courtesy of LEGO and no credit card is required to start your subscription.
This is an awesome choice for anyone who loves LEGO in your household.
22. Check Your Local Library
Some libraries, such as the LA County Library, offer a “books by mail” program, which is a free service offered to residents, in which they will send you the library books you request straight to your door. And yes, you can oftentimes get the same exact books you would get if you were visiting the library.
Depending on your library, some may ask you to meet certain restrictions, while others do not have any restrictions at all.
Granted, while this method may not be available at your local library, it doesn’t hurt to ask or even search online.
Usually, searching for “your library city/name + the keyword ‘books by mail’” can yield some results. If your library has the option, they will have a page as to how to take advantage of the program and what you need to do in order to qualify.
Again, if your library offers this method, postage will be free both ways.
23. 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 previously been made available in braille before.
24. 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 here with Audible. 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!
25. 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.
26. 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!
27. 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!
28. 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!
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. My Reader Rewards Club
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.
33. 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”.
34. 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.
35. Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation
This program is available for Tennessee residents only, but if you reside there, the state will send you a book once a month, designed for children from birth to age five.
I didn’t dig deep into this program since I do not reside here, but it appears the state works in conjunction with the Dollywood Foundation, as mentioned above, so I’m unsure if the two are the same or different.
Everyone is eligible and is available at NO cost. Again, you need to live in Tennesse, however, to qualify for this free program.
36. BookCrossing
BookCrossing claims itself to be the “world’s library” and will let you swap any book with its community — more than 1.5 million people at the time I’m writing this.
To use, label your book, release it into the wild to share and follow it as it goes around the world.
In return, you can connect with close to 1 million members to find new books of interest.
If you have some books to spare and are willing to spend about a dollar in postage, then why not?
37. BookMooch
With BookMooch, you cannot just apply and get free books, but rather, you will type in the books you want to give away and you will receive requests from others for your books.
Whenever you mail in your books, you can receive points and then ask for other books when you redeem the points you earn.
38. PaperbackSwap
Like BookMooch, PaperBackSwap members can list books they’d like to swap with other members, and once a book is requested, you mail it to that member.
Yes, you do have to pay shipping to ship it to the recipient, however, the books you request (it can be any book) and receive will have its postage already paid for.
Again, ALMOST free, but it will cost about $1 in shipping.
Whenever you request a book, it’s your to keep or swap again in the future, the choice is yours!
39. 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.
Simply enter your name and address and your new free magazine will be on its way to you.
40. 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.
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!