If you've got an eReader, such as Amazon's Kindle or your using your Apple iPhone, iPad or Google Android device as eReader, the first thing you're going to want to do once you've set-up the device, is download eBooks so you can start reading.
You don't have to pay to read content on your eReader
However, before you start worrying about the cost of buying eBooks. it's worth remembering that there are a number of places you can download eBooks for free and its legal. In the case of Amazon or Apple, promotion deals with publishers may have been put in place to ensure certain eBooks are offered for free. Meanwhile, there's also a host of out-of-copyright works you can also get your hands on. When the copyright expires anyone can republish the works, which means they can be distributed without charge. Here's how to get your hands of eBooks for free.
Step one
First of all head to the Amazon's Kindle store itself, if you're a Kindle owner, while iOS device users should head to Apple's iBooks, which can be accessed from your device, as there will be a selection of eBooks available for free here. And they're not just out-of-copyright works, you'll also find a number of new titles covering a range of genres. The Kindle Bestsellers selection has a paid-for and a free list for you to peruse. In Amazon's Kindle store, simply click the eBook to view the description and then press Buy and, providing your Kindle is connected to a Wi-Fi network, it will be automatically downloaded on your device. The same applies for eBooks from Apple's iBooks.
Google also offers its own eBookstore that contains free and paid for eBooks. The store is compatible with devices running Google Android, Apple iPhones, iPads and iPod touches and any eReader that supports the Adobe eBook format, including the Sony and Kobo eReaders. However, they're not supported on Amazon's Kindle. If you're using an iOS or Google Android device, the eBooks from Google's eBookstore will be downloaded directly to your smartphone or tablet PC. However, eReader owners will have to connect their device to their PC and manually transfer the eBook.
Step two
There are also a number of website sites such as Free-eBooks.net, Oboko and Project Gutenberg that offer free out-of-copyright eBooks that can be downloaded. Project Gutenberg houses 36,000 free eBooks and includes links to a total of 100,000 hosted on other sites meanwhile BooksOnBoard.com offers a selection of free Harlequin romances and a range of cut-price titles. The only snag here is they can't be downloaded directly to your device using a Wi-Fi or 3G connection. You'll have to download them to your PC and then transfer to your eReader by connecting the device to your computer via its bundled USB cable. Although Free-eBooks.net has an app for Google Android and iOS devices which means you can download the eBooks straight to your mobile phone.
Alternatively, Lovereading.co.uk lets you download digital extracts of books so you can see if you like the book before shelling out for it. It's also worth visiting specific author or publisher websites and signing up for newsletters from them, as sometimes cheap or free eBooks are offered, or even follow them on Twitter.
WH Smith offers a handful off free ebooks, along with a selection of 'Bargain eBooks' which start from 99p and certainly won't break the bank. Waterstones also offers cheap eBooks.
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Comments
Jayprime said: If you can get around the UK publishers possibly illegal ban on purchasing books on-line from non-UK sites, head for Fictionwise.com.They not only offer a very wide range of eBooks but the site is also very easy to search - other websites take note!
Bob LiVolsi said: BooksOnBoard titles can, in fact, be downloaded directly via Wi-fi and 3G on iPads, iPhones, android phones, android tablets, Kindle Fire. (BooksOnBoard was the first store to offer this capability on the iPhone in 2008.) What's needed is the Bluefire reader app on all but the Kindle Fire, or the Aldiko app on the android devices and the Kindle Fire. Once the Bluefire reader is on the iPad or iPhone, you can get eBooks from the BooksOnBoard website on the Safari browser. (Apple no longer allows ebook stores to sell directly from within the apps.) When you click download, the Bluefire Reader automatically opens. In the case of Android devices, you don't even need to go the browser; instead you can get all the books inside the Android apps (Aldiko and Bluefire), although the browser remains an option. Stanza was a reader app option for iOS devices, but Amazon (who bought Stanza a few years ago) had not added support for iOS5.
Carrie-Ann Skinner said: well spotted guest. The copy has now been changed to reflect this
Guest said: WH Smith DOES offer free eBooks, they probably just don't advertise them as clearly:http://www.whsmith.co.uk/Catal...