You can test an EPUB reader without buying a book. Thousands of public-domain classics and books released free by their authors are available to download as EPUB files.
The five sources below offered free EPUB downloads when checked in September 2026. Paid DRM-free stores are covered separately.
Quick comparison
| Site | Best for | EPUB | Account | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Gutenberg | Huge public-domain library | Yes | No | 75,000+ free ebooks |
| Standard Ebooks | Carefully produced classics | Yes | No | Excellent typography and proofreading |
| Global Grey | Literature, history, philosophy | Yes | No | EPUB, PDF, and AZW3 |
| ManyBooks | Browsing by genre | Yes | Yes | Public domain and free indie titles |
| BCCKS | Japanese indie and free books | Yes | Usually | Useful if you want Japanese EPUBs |
1. Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is one of the best-known sources of free ebooks. Its collection contains more than 75,000 titles, mostly older works whose U.S. copyright has expired.
Most books are available in several formats, including EPUB3. Project Gutenberg states that its EPUB and Kindle files have no DRM.
Popular titles include:
- Pride and Prejudice
- Frankenstein
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Dracula
No account is required.
How to download an EPUB
- Search for a title or author.
- Open the book’s page.
- Choose the EPUB3 download.
- Save the
.epubfile to your device.
Project Gutenberg’s direct downloads and account-free access make it a practical first test for an EPUB reader.
2. Standard Ebooks
Standard Ebooks turns public-domain texts into carefully proofread editions with consistent typography. Its work is visible in the parts of a book that readers encounter on every page:
- clean typography
- consistent formatting
- structured chapters and tables of contents
- proofread text
- modern ebook markup
If both Project Gutenberg and Standard Ebooks have the same classic, compare the two editions. Standard Ebooks is often the better choice when typography matters.
Standard Ebooks provides compatible EPUB files along with other formats such as advanced EPUB and Kepub.
3. Global Grey
Global Grey has older books on literature, history, philosophy, mythology, religion, and related subjects.
Many titles can be downloaded as:
- EPUB
- AZW3
- browser reading
No registration is required for the normal book downloads.
Global Grey says it checks that books on the site are out of copyright in the UK. Copyright terms vary between countries, so check the rules that apply where you live before downloading a work that may still be protected locally.
4. ManyBooks
ManyBooks combines public-domain books with free and promotional titles from independent authors. Its categories are useful when you want to browse fiction by genre instead of searching for a specific classic.
A free account is required to download ebooks.
Only free EPUB downloads are covered here. Check each book’s current price, format, and terms, and skip titles that require payment.
5. BCCKS: a useful source for Japanese EPUBs
BCCKS is a Japanese publishing platform where authors can publish digital books. Its catalog includes free titles, and acquired digital books can be downloaded as EPUB 3 files.
The catalog includes fiction, essays, technical material, experimental books, and independently published work. Choose a zero-priced book that includes an EPUB download. You may need a free account to add it to your library and download the file.
Read a downloaded EPUB in BlueReader
Once you have a suitable EPUB file, you can add it to BlueReader:
- Sign in to BlueReader.
- Upload the EPUB file.
- Wait for server-side processing to finish.
- Open the book from your bookshelf.
- Continue reading from your desktop, phone, or tablet.
→ Sign in to BlueReader and add an EPUB
Choose a site
Project Gutenberg has the largest selection of classic English books in this list. Standard Ebooks has fewer titles, but its editions receive more attention to proofreading and typography. For Japanese books, browse BCCKS and confirm that the selected title includes a free EPUB download.
Checked: September 25, 2026. Formats, account requirements, and availability can change over time.