5 Free And Legal Alternatives To Z-Library
Everyone is familiar with Z-Library or Z-Lib, whether they are teachers, researchers, or writers. The website has been a useful tool, considering it provides free access to any book or academic research paper. However, due to its free nature, Z-Library has faced numerous copyright lawsuits, resulting in restrictions in various regions, including India, the USA, and France. While workarounds such as using the Tor browser exist, they often require users to navigate through major hurdles. As a result, here are five legal alternatives to Z-Library.
1. LibriVox
Founded in 2005, LibriVox is a volunteer-driven project aimed at providing free access to public domain texts and books whose copyrights have expired through audiobooks. Volunteers record themselves reading books, making these audiobooks available at no charge. Moreover, with a library of over 10,000 audiobooks and growing, LibriVox caters not only to students seeking specific knowledge but also to audiobook enthusiasts who can enjoy listening for free.
- Head over to their website [here].
- Navigate to your desired subject/genre.
- Download the preferred audiobook.
2. Standard ebooks
Standard Ebooks is another volunteer-run effort specializing in creating modern ebook versions of public domain books. Unlike other websites, Standard Ebooks evaluates each book, correcting typos and giving them a modern touch, making them a preferred choice for readers. Moreover, all Standard Ebooks are available on platforms like Google Play Books and Apple Books.
However, it’s important to note that Standard Ebooks currently offers only around 1000 ebooks in its collection. Nevertheless, users can access non-corrected versions of over 70,000 ebooks on Project Gutenberg.
3. Free-ebooks.net
As the name suggests, Free-ebooks.net provides ebooks and audiobooks for free, which are in the public domain. Additionally, its catalog of 40,000 books surpasses its competitors. However, it is important to note that users can only download five free ebooks every month. To download a book:
- Head over to the Free-ebooks.net website [here].
- Enter your email on the home page.
- Download your desired ebook.
4. Internet Archive
Internet Archive is perhaps the largest Internet library, offering free access to over 44 million books, 835 billion websites, videos, music, print materials, and software. The company houses not only public domain books but also copyrighted material obtained through legal solutions.
This comprehensive approach provides users with a one-stop solution, addressing the need for alternatives to Z-Library. However, it’s important to note that not all books or papers are available for download, requiring users to access them directly from the website.
- Head over to the Internet Archive website [here].
- Search for your desired book/audiobook.
- Download it or read it on the website.
5. Open Library
Developed by the Internet Archive, the Open Library project aims to create “one web page for every book ever published,” providing students and researchers free access to over 22 million resources. However, you might wonder: what sets Open Library apart from the Internet Archive? While Open Library grants access to books from the Internet Archive, it also features an online book-borrowing function and allows users to organize their collections neatly through a digital shelf.
