13 Legit Sites That Send You Free Books By Mail (No Purchase, 2026)

Best Free Books By Mail for Adults (2026)

Here are legit companies, publishers, and organizations that send free books to adults in the mail.

1. NetGalley – Get Advance Reader Copies

NetGalley is one of the best ways to get free books before they’re released to the public. Publishers send advance copies to readers who will review them.

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up for free (no cost to join)
• Browse upcoming releases
• Request books you want to read
• Publishers approve or deny your request
• Read and post your honest review

What you get: Digital or physical advance reader copies of books before they hit stores.

The catch: You need to actually review the books you receive. Most reviewers post on Goodreads, Amazon, or their own blog.

Best for: People who already review books online or want to start. The more reviews you write, the more likely publishers are to approve your requests.

• Sign up: NetGalley

2. Goodreads Giveaways – Win Books Before They’re Released

Want to read books before they come out? Goodreads offers the chance to win pre-release books from publishers and independent authors.

Most giveaways are for Kindle editions, but there are plenty of print books you can win too.

How it works:

• Browse active giveaways
• Click to enter (takes 2 seconds)
• Wait to see if you win
• Book arrives in the mail if you’re selected

What you get: Brand new books, often signed by the author.

The catch: You’re entering to win, not guaranteed to get books. But entering is free and takes seconds.

Tip: Goodreads changed their layout recently. Make sure you filter by “Print” instead of “Kindle” in the Giveaway section if you only want physical books mailed to your house.

• Browse giveaways: Goodreads Giveaways

3. LibraryThing – Become an Early Reviewer

LibraryThing is a site that catalogs books from across the web. It’s free to join, and they’ll send you free copies of new and upcoming books to review if you’re part of their Early Reviewer program.

How it works:

• Join LibraryThing for free
• Sign up for the Early Reviewer program
• Request books you want to read
• They randomly select winners each month
• Review the books you receive

What you get: Physical books mailed to you for free.

The catch: You need to write a review and post it on LibraryThing. They also have regular giveaways for members.

• Sign up: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

4. FreshFiction – Free Books for Reviewers

If you don’t mind sharing your opinion on the books you read, FreshFiction might be perfect for you.

When you join, they’ll send you free books. All you have to do is review each one you get, and the books will keep coming.

What you get: Romance, mystery, thriller, and other popular genres.

The catch: You must review every book they send you. If you stop reviewing, they’ll stop sending books.

• Sign up: FreshFiction

5. Lola’s Blog Tours – Review New Releases

This is a cute site that offers blog-based tours of fiction books and their authors.

You can participate in open reviews of new releases, where they’ll send you a review copy of a book in exchange for posting a review on your blog or social media.

What you get: Free review copies of new fiction releases.

The catch: You need a blog or active social media where you can post your review.

• Sign up: Lola’s Blog Tours

6. Publisher Newsletters – Enter Sweepstakes to Win Books

Many big publishers run sweepstakes where you can win free books just for being on their email list.

You can sign up for newsletters from publishers like Macmillan or Hachette Book Group to learn about sweepstakes, new releases, and author news.

Publishers with sweepstakes:

• Macmillan
• Hachette Book Group

Other publishers with newsletters:

• Penguin Random House
• Simon & Schuster

What you get: Chances to win free books, plus exclusive coupons and promo codes.

The catch: You’ll get emails from them. But you can always unsubscribe if it’s too much.

Joining their newsletter is 100% free and even if you don’t win books, you might get exclusive coupons that could save you money on books you buy.

7. Read It Forward – Weekly Book Giveaways

Every week, subscribers to Read It Forward’s newsletter get a chance to win a book along with other book-related stuff.

You’ll also get weekly reading recommendations and a look at what the staff is reading.

What you get: Weekly giveaway entries plus book recommendations.

The catch: None really. Just free newsletter content and chances to win books.

• Sign up: Read It Forward

8. Bookloons – Contests for Book Lovers

This is a book review site that also has a collection of contests you can enter to win books.

They feature giveaways for both young readers and adults, so you can find something that matches what you like to read.

What you get: Chances to win books through various contests.

The catch: Most winners are expected to review the books they receive.

• Browse contests: Bookloons

Free Specialty Books By Mail

Looking for something specific? These programs send free specialty books to anyone who requests them.

9. Bibles for America – Free Study Bibles

You can get a free study bible sent to you in the mail if you sign up for Bibles for America.

You can also sign up to get email notifications when other Christian texts are available.

What you get: Free study bible mailed to your home.

The catch: None. It’s funded by donations and completely free.

• Request yours: Bibles for America

10. HotelGuides – Free State Travel Guides

Whether you’re planning a trip or just want a cool coffee table book, this site has links to request full-color travel guides from all 50 states!

They also have options for specific cities and locations in Canada.

What you get: Beautiful, full-color travel guides for every state.

The catch: Some states charge a small shipping fee, but many are completely free.

• Request guides: HotelGuides

11. Jiffy Recipe Book – Free Cornbread Recipes

You can request a copy of the Jiffy cornbread company’s recipe book for free if you live in the continental US.

If you’re not sure whether that’s something you’d want, you can check out their online version first.

What you get: Free recipe book mailed to your home.

The catch: None. It’s a promotional item they send for free.

• Request yours: Jiffy Recipe Book

Book Exchange Programs (Almost Free)

These aren’t totally free because you have to pay shipping on books you send out, but they’re still great ways to get books without buying them.

12. BookMooch – Trade Books for Points

Win points by giving books away, then use those points to request free books!

BookMooch is free to join. You only pay shipping on books you send out, but you only have to send out one book for every two you receive, which is a pretty good deal.

What you get: Free books in exchange for books you send to others.

The catch: You pay to ship the books you give away (usually $3-$5 per book).

• Join: BookMooch

13. PaperBack Swap – Trade Your Old Books

Got a book you don’t want anymore? Trade it in!

With over a million available books at any given time, you’re sure to find something worth reading.

How it works:

• List books you want to trade
• Someone requests your book
• You mail it to them (you pay shipping)
• You earn a credit
• Use credits to request books you want

What you get: Free books in exchange for ones you’re done with.

The catch: You pay to ship books you send out.

• Join: PaperBack Swap

How to Get Free Books Locally

If you’ve tried all these online programs and still want more books, check out these local options.

Little Free Libraries

There are now over 150,000 small wooden book boxes around the world where you can take a book for free.

The idea is simple: take a book, leave a book. But if you don’t have one to leave, you can still take one.

You can find a map of Little Free Libraries near you on the Little Free Library website.

Craigslist Free Stuff

People give things away for free all the time on Craigslist. Sometimes it’s furniture, but other times it’s books!

Keep in mind that free stuff goes fast on sites like Craigslist, so keep an eye out and act fast if you see something you want.

• Search: Craigslist

Freecycle Network

Freecycle is a network that connects people who want to give things away with people in their community who want free stuff.

There are tons of things on offer on the site, books included.

• Join: Freecycle

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really get books for free with no catch?

Yes! Programs like NetGalley and LibraryThing are funded by publishers who want reviews. Giveaways from Goodreads and publishers are marketing expenses. You pay nothing.

The “catch” with review programs is that you’re expected to actually review the books. But if you already review books online, it’s not really a catch at all.

Do I have to write reviews for all of these?

No. It depends on the program:

• Review required: NetGalley, LibraryThing, FreshFiction, Lola’s Blog Tours
• No review required: Publisher sweepstakes, Goodreads Giveaways (unless winner instructions say otherwise), Read It Forward, specialty books (Bibles, recipe books, travel guides)

Are these books used or new?

Most programs send brand new books. The only exception is book exchange sites (BookMooch and PaperBack Swap), which involve trading used books.

How many books can I get per month?

It varies by program:

• NetGalley: Request as many as you want, but publishers approve based on your review history
• LibraryThing: Usually 1-2 books per month
• Goodreads: Unlimited entries, but winning is random
• Publisher newsletters: Varies by sweepstakes

Do I need a blog to get free review books?

Not always. Here’s what each program accepts:

• NetGalley: Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, your blog, or social media
• LibraryThing: Just post on LibraryThing itself
• FreshFiction: Post on their site
• Lola’s Blog Tours: Blog or social media preferred

If you don’t have a blog but want one, you can start a free blog on WordPress.com or Blogger in about 10 minutes.

Can I get audiobooks for free too?

Some programs offer audiobooks:

• NetGalley: Yes, they have audiobook ARCs
• Libro.fm: Occasionally has free audiobook promotions
• Your library: Free audiobooks through apps like Libby or OverDrive

Tips for Getting More Free Books

Here are some strategies to maximize your free book haul:

1. Sign up for multiple programs

Don’t just pick one. Sign up for NetGalley, LibraryThing, Goodreads, and a few publisher newsletters. The more programs you’re in, the more books you’ll get.

2. Build your reviewer profile

The more reviews you write, the more publishers will trust you with advance copies. Start by reviewing books you’ve already read on Goodreads or Amazon.

3. Be honest in your reviews

Publishers want honest feedback, not just praise. Don’t be afraid to give a book 3 stars if that’s what you think it deserves. Honest reviewers get more books.

4. Check back regularly

New giveaways and book offers pop up all the time. Check Goodreads Giveaways and NetGalley at least once a week to catch new opportunities.

5. Join Facebook groups for book lovers

Many authors and small publishers run giveaways exclusively in Facebook groups. Search for “book giveaways” or “arc readers” to find active groups.

Final Thoughts

Free physical books are harder to come by than free ebooks, but they definitely exist if you know where to look.

Between review programs, publisher giveaways, book exchanges, and local options, you can easily get 5-10 free books per month without spending a dime.

Start by signing up for NetGalley and LibraryThing if you’re willing to write reviews. If you just want to enter giveaways, focus on Goodreads and publisher newsletters.

For more ways to get other kinds of free stuff online, check out our other articles in our freebie category.

Your turn: Have you ever gotten a free book in the mail? Which program worked best for you? Leave a comment below and let me know!