How to Get Free College Textbooks : From 35 Top Websites

As a lifelong book lover, I’ve always cherished the weight of a novel in my hands, the crisp sound of turning pages, and the immersive escape of a good audiobook during a long commute.

But for college students, textbooks often bring more stress than joy—especially when the price tags soar into hundreds of dollars per semester. In 2025, with tuition costs climbing and student budgets stretched thin, finding free college textbooks is a game-changer.

The good news?

There’s a treasure trove of resources out there, from open-access libraries to digital repositories, waiting to help you study smarter without breaking the bank.

This guide is your roadmap to accessing free college textbooks, whether you’re diving into biology, literature, or quantum physics. I’ve scoured the web, tapped into my passion for books, and compiled a list of 35 trusted platforms where students can find high-quality textbooks at no cost.

From PDFs to e-books, these resources cater to every subject and learning style, ensuring you can focus on acing your classes instead of worrying about costs. Let’s explore how to make education affordable and accessible, one free textbook at a time.

Why Free College Textbooks Matter

The cost of college textbooks is no small hurdle. According to the Education Data Initiative, students spend an average of $285 to $1,200 annually on course materials, with some majors like STEM facing even steeper bills.

For many, this expense forces tough choices—skip a book and risk falling behind, or cut back on essentials like food and rent. Free textbooks eliminate this burden, leveling the playing field and empowering students to succeed without financial strain.

Beyond affordability, free textbooks align with the growing open education movement. Open Educational Resources (OER) are peer-reviewed, openly licensed materials that anyone can use, adapt, and share.

They’re often created by educators and institutions committed to making knowledge accessible, ensuring quality rivals traditional textbooks. Plus, digital formats like PDFs and e-books offer flexibility—study on your laptop, tablet, or phone, and even pair your reading with an audiobook-style lecture for a richer experience.

But it’s not just about saving money. Free textbooks reduce stress, support diverse learners, and promote equity. Students in underserved communities, non-traditional learners, and those juggling jobs alongside classes benefit immensely from zero-cost resources.

As someone who’s lost hours in the stacks of a library and the playlists of Audible, I know the power of accessible knowledge. Let’s dive into 35 places where you can find free college textbooks in 2025.

35 Places to Find Free College Textbooks

Website	What It Offers	Best For	Access Format
OpenStax	Peer-reviewed textbooks	Core college subjects	PDF, Web
LibreTexts	Textbooks & courses	STEM & Social Sciences	Web
BCcampus OpenEd	Open Canadian curriculum	Health, Business, Tech	PDF, Web
Saylor Academy	Textbooks & full courses	Independent learners	Web, PDF
Bookboon	Free textbooks by experts	Business, Engineering	PDF (with sign-up)
Internet Archive	Digital library & textbooks	General & research use	Borrow online
Project Gutenberg	Public domain books	Literature, Classics	PDF, ePub, Kindle
Google Books	Previews & free books	Quick textbook search	Online
Open Textbook Library	Reviewed open textbooks	US college students	PDF
MIT OpenCourseWare	Free courses & books	Engineering, Science	Web, PDF
OER Commons	Open educational resources	K–College curriculum	Web
MERLOT	Teaching & learning materials	Higher education	Web
Open SUNY Textbooks	SUNY college textbooks	New York students	PDF
Open Michigan	Health & education materials	Health sciences	Web
Open Yale Courses	Recorded lectures + reading	Humanities, History	Video, Web
Open Culture	Courses, audiobooks, eBooks	General education	Web
OpenLearn	Short courses + readings	UK students, general use	Web
OpenEd CUNY	CUNY OER textbooks	New York colleges	Web
Open Oregon	Oregon OER resources	Community colleges	Web
Open Washington	Open courses & texts	Educators & students	Web
OpenStax CNX	Modular textbook system	Instructors	Web
Open Textbook Store	Ready-to-use OER books	Teachers, instructors	PDF
Open Library	Borrow scanned books	All academic levels	Borrow online
DOAB	Open access books	Humanities & Sciences	PDF, ePub
IntechOpen	Research & academic books	Science, Technology	Web
NAP	Reports from Nat’l Academies	Health, Science, Engineering	PDF, Read online
College Open Textbooks	Curated OER resources	General college use	Web
Open Book Publishers	Peer-reviewed books	Humanities, Social Sciences	PDF, ePub, Online
Open Textbook Initiative (UMN)	College-level OERs	US college students	PDF
Open Textbooks for Hong Kong	Asia-based open textbooks	International students	Web, PDF
Orange Grove (Florida)	Florida-based OER	Local colleges	Web
OAPEN	Academic open books	Research & library use	PDF
University of Georgia OAT	Affordable learning resources	Georgia students	Web
BCcampus (duplicate for OpenEd)	See #3 above	See #3 above	See #3 above
UBC Open	UBC’s open resources	Canadian students	Web

1. OpenStax

OpenStax, a nonprofit from Rice University, offers peer-reviewed textbooks in subjects like math, science, business, and humanities. Download PDFs for free or purchase low-cost print versions. Their catalog is a go-to for core courses, trusted by millions of students globally.

2. Open Textbook Library

Hosted by the University of Minnesota, Open Textbook Library provides over 1,600 open-licensed textbooks. From accounting to zoology, these books are free to download and adapt, with user reviews to guide your choice.

3. LibreTexts

LibreTexts is a collaborative platform with open-access textbooks for STEM, social sciences, and more. Its customizable content and interactive tools make it ideal for tailored learning, serving over 223 million students.

4. Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg hosts over 70,000 free e-books, focusing on public-domain works. Perfect for literature, history, and philosophy students, it offers classics like Pride and Prejudice in multiple formats.

5. Internet Archive

The Internet Archive’s Open Library lets you borrow digital textbooks and access millions of scanned books. It’s a goldmine for rare texts and supplementary readings across disciplines.

6. Bookboon

Bookboon specializes in free textbooks for STEM and business students, written by top professors. Sign up for a free student account to download PDFs on topics like programming and finance.

7. Saylor Academy

Saylor Academy provides free textbooks alongside its open courses. Covering business, economics, and computer science, these resources are perfect for self-paced learners seeking credit.

8. MIT OpenCourseWare

MIT OpenCourseWare shares free textbooks, lecture notes, and assignments from MIT’s curriculum. It’s a haven for advanced STEM and humanities materials, ideal for self-study.

9. BCcampus OpenEd

This Canadian initiative offers free textbooks for college and high school courses. Subjects range from psychology to environmental science, with a focus on accessibility and quality.

10. Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB)

DOAB indexes thousands of peer-reviewed academic books, free to download. It’s a must for research-heavy fields like sociology, history, and law.

11. HathiTrust Digital Library

HathiTrust provides access to over 18 million items, including textbooks, via institutional memberships. Check if your college offers access for free downloads.

12. Wikibooks

Wikibooks, a Wikipedia sister project, offers open-source textbooks in multiple languages. While user-edited, it’s great for introductory STEM and language learning.

13. Digital Book Index

Digital Book Index links to thousands of free e-books, including textbooks for humanities and social sciences. It’s a one-stop hub for obscure titles.

14. OER Commons

OER Commons curates free textbooks and lesson plans for all academic levels. Search by subject or course to find vetted resources for your studies.

15. ScholarWorks (Grand Valley State University)

ScholarWorks offers free textbooks and research papers from GVSU faculty. It’s a solid source for niche fields like education and architecture.

16. OpenStax CNX (Connexions)

OpenStax CNX provides modular educational content, including free textbooks. Build custom study guides from its diverse collection of academic materials.

17. The Assayer

The Assayer catalogs free books, including textbooks, with user reviews. It’s a lesser-known gem for finding math and science resources.

18. Bookshare

Bookshare offers free textbooks for students with print disabilities, covering non-mainstream fields like graphic arts. Membership is free for qualifying students.

19. CiteSeerX

Created by Penn State, CiteSeerX provides free pre-2000 textbooks and papers, ideal for computer science and engineering students needing historical context.

20. PDF Magazine

PDF Magazine hosts thousands of free resources in 40 languages, including textbooks. Its global reach makes it perfect for multilingual learners.

21. Freeditorial

Freeditorial focuses on public-domain and self-published works, great for literature and creative writing courses needing supplemental readings.

22. E-Books Directory

E-Books Directory lists over 10,000 free e-books, including textbooks for engineering, physics, and programming. It’s a reliable source for technical fields.

23. ManyBooks

ManyBooks offers free e-books across genres, with a section for academic texts. It’s useful for literature and media studies requiring novels or essays.

24. Open Library

Open Library, part of the Internet Archive, lets you borrow up to 10 books at a time. Its vast catalog includes textbooks for most majors.

25. Global Text Project

The Global Text Project provides free textbooks for developing regions, covering business, IT, and health sciences. It’s ideal for global studies students.

26. College Open Textbooks

This collaborative network promotes free OER textbooks, with a focus on community college courses like biology and accounting.

27. InTech Open

InTech Open publishes free textbooks in science, technology, and medicine. Its peer-reviewed books are a boon for research-driven students.

28. Open Culture

Open Culture aggregates free textbooks, courses, and audiobooks. It’s a curated hub for humanities and social science resources.

29. Textbooksfree

Textbooksfree offers downloadable PDFs for high school and college courses, especially in math and science, with no registration needed.

30. FreeBookCentre

FreeBookCentre provides free e-books for computer science, electronics, and medical students. Its straightforward interface makes downloading easy.

31. Z-Library

Z-Library offers a massive collection of free textbooks and articles, though users should verify legality in their region before downloading.

32. Library Genesis (LibGen)

Library Genesis is a popular file-sharing site for academic texts. Use caution and ensure compliance with copyright laws when accessing materials.

33. GetFreeEBooks

GetFreeEBooks lists legally free textbooks and novels, ideal for humanities students needing classic literature or creative texts.

34. CK-12 Foundation

CK-12 provides free digital textbooks, primarily for STEM, with interactive features like simulations for hands-on learning.

35. Your College Library

Don’t overlook your campus library! Many offer free digital textbooks through subscriptions to platforms like EBSCO or ProQuest, accessible with your student ID.

Tips for Maximizing Free Textbook Resources

Finding free textbooks is just the start—using them effectively can transform your academic experience. Here are some strategies to get the most out of these platforms:

Verify Compatibility with Your Course

Not all free textbooks match your professor’s required edition. Cross-check syllabi or ask instructors if an OER or older edition works. OpenStax and LibreTexts often align with standard curricula, making them safe bets.

Combine Formats for Flexibility

As an audiobook enthusiast, I love pairing text with audio for deeper understanding. Platforms like Open Culture and MIT OpenCourseWare offer lecture recordings alongside textbooks, letting you study on the go.

Stay Safe and Legal

Some sites, like Z-Library or LibGen, operate in gray areas. Stick to reputable platforms like OpenStax or Project Gutenberg to avoid copyright issues or malware risks. Always scan downloads with antivirus software.

Organize Your Downloads

Free textbooks often come as PDFs or ePubs. Use apps like Mendeley or Zotero to organize files, annotate pages, and cite sources efficiently, saving time during research.

Explore Supplemental Resources

Many platforms provide more than textbooks—think study guides, quizzes, or forums. Saylor Academy and CK-12 offer interactive tools to reinforce concepts, perfect for exam prep.

The Future of Free Textbooks

The landscape of free college textbooks is evolving rapidly. In 2025, initiatives like the Open Textbooks Pilot program, backed by $11 million from Congress, are expanding OER adoption, potentially saving students $220 million. Publishers are also experimenting with print-on-demand and digital-first models, while platforms like LibreTexts integrate AI-driven assessments for personalized learning.

For audiobook fans, the rise of text-to-speech tools and narrated OER content is exciting. Imagine studying calculus while jogging, with a free textbook synced to an audio lecture. As technology advances, expect more interactive, accessible, and equitable resources to emerge, making education a right, not a privilege.

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Last Word

Free college textbooks aren’t a pipe dream—they’re a reality for savvy students in 2025. From OpenStax’s peer-reviewed PDFs to Project Gutenberg’s classic literature, these 35 platforms offer something for every learner, whether you’re crunching numbers or analyzing Shakespeare.

As someone who’s spent years lost in books and audiobooks, I can’t overstate the thrill of accessing knowledge without a price tag.

browse Open Textbook Library, download a PDF from Bookboon, or check your campus library’s digital catalog. Share these resources with classmates, join OER communities, and advocate for affordable education.

With a little effort, you can slash textbook costs, reduce stress, and focus on what matters—learning, growing, and chasing your dreams.